SIXTY YEARS AGO Tuesday March 24, 1964
The combination of a sizeable residential development and a leisure site on a popular waterfront could well attract a buyer to carry out the plans, which were warmly welcomed by local people when they were unveiled a year ago.
Mid Argyll pubs could open on New Year’s Day
Members of Mid Argyll District Licensing Court last week approved a proposal by Mid Argyll Licensed Trade Association to amend a byelaw and permit opening on New Year’s Day.
Although the court, presided over by Mr J G Mathieson, approved the proposal to permit licence-holders to open on January 1 for the same hours as on Sundays, the Secretary of State for Scotland has to give his consent.
The same court heard that fears the establishment of a betting shop in Tarbert would have a serious effect upon his children, were expressed by an agent for Mr Thomas Jackson, the owner of almost all of the property in Harbour Street in which a Campbeltown bookmaker, Mr Hugh MacKellar, planned to start business in the Lochfyneside port. Objections were also submitted by the Kirk Session of Tarbert Church of Scotland; the Presbytery of Inveraray; and the local Free Church of Scotland.
For Mr MacKellar, it was stated by his agent that by statute, the application must be approved unless it could be shown (a) that he did not possess a bookmaker’s permit; (b) that the premises were not enclosed; and (c) that there was access to them through other premises.
Referring to these prohibitions, the agent went on to say that as far as the Harbour Street premises were concerned, he was prepared to assure the court that they would be constructed in accordance with the court’s requirements, with the only access leading from the street.
Rebutting the objections submitted by Mr Thomas Jackson, the agent said that his main objection referred to the suitability and situation of the proposed betting shop.
“This is no specific objection, for although it may be in a tenement block, it has been held elsewhere that such premises are suitable.”
Referring to the contention of Tarbert Kirk Session that there was no demand, the agent dismissed this objection as being totally irrelevant.
“There is no onus on Mr MacKellar to show there is a demand – the onus to show that there is no demand falls upon the objector,” he claimed.
A claim that Mr MacKellar aimed to create a demand was expressed by an agent for the objectors, who added that 460 people, all residents of Tarbert, had signed a petition opposing the application.
Commenting on the suitability of the premises, 2014: Liam Long, David McCulloch, Kieran Cameron and Euan Merrilees enjoyed the music at the Duntrune Trekkers under 18 disco.
the agent said that Mr Jackson’s objection was serious.
“He is the owner of the property with the exception of that part where it is proposed to establish a betting shop, and he is afraid of the effect it will have upon his children.”
For Tarbert Church of Scotland, Rev William Eadie claimed that 65 per cent of the adult population of Tarbert was opposed to the application.
Adding that the Presbytery of Inveraray also supported the objections, Mr Eadie said that in three days, 460 signatures had been collected in Tarbert, compared with 250 collected by the applicant over a much wider area.
“Had we covered the same area, our numbers would have been very much greater,” claimed Mr Eadie.
He added that only 12 of the people approached in Tarbert had said definitely they would use the betting shop.
“If the demand exists, surely it would have been catered for by local people,” he said.
Referring to the suitability of the premises, Mr Eadie said that children could not help seeing what business was being conducted as the neighbouring grocer’s shop attracted children who were buying sweets.
“The harbour area is a playground for children and in other parts of the country licences have been refused because the premises were adjacent to a school.”
Speaking for the local Free Church of Scotland, Mr Graham, Tayvallich, said that on moral and spiritual grounds, the application should be dismissed.
“We are responsible for the moral and spiritual welfare of the whole community and betting can be a means of money being spent which could have been used for better purposes.
“The Presbytery of the Free Church of Scotland regards it as a social evil,” said Mr Graham.
No objections were offered on behalf of the chief constable and the licence was granted by six votes to two.