FIFTY YEARS AGO Thursday July 15, 1971

Our ‘shanty town’

The Royal Burgh of Campbeltown had some flowery descriptions such as ‘frontier town’ and ‘shanty town’ attributed to it at the monthly meeting of the town council on Monday evening. Councillors were taking part in a general debate on noise in Main Street late at night and the unwelcome presence of undesirables in the town’s main thoroughfares.

The lengthy and lively discussion was sparked off by Councillor Dan Black who asked if the council had any control over taxis which stand in Main Street.

He said squads of teenagers came up the street late at night and he has had to get out of bed many times to complain about the noise.

‘It’s high time the taxi byelaws were made,’ he added.

It was pointed out by the town clerk that the proposed taxi byelaws had been turned down because what was included in them was not within the powers of the Secretary of State.

Councillor Harry Moffat told the meeting he knew of a driver who was at the wheel of a cab only two days after passing his test.

Bailie George McMillan said the council had no powers to do anything but licence the taxis. The debate then switched to the noise on Main Street.

Councillor Black said: ‘On Sunday night, a crowd of men went down Main Street arguing at the pitch of their voices and singing anti-Protestant songs.

‘A pack of oafs. It’s ridiculous in this day and age.’

Councillor Dan McKinven went further: ‘You can’t walk down the Main Street at night without being subjected to insulting language from people hanging about in shop doors. This place would be a cowboy town if the houses were more shanty looking.’

Councillor William Crossan told the meeting he had seen and heard drunk men, ‘winos having their trip’, singing loudly early in the morning.

Councillor Archibald McCallum said he had seen men having a breakfast time drinking session in Main Street near the Town Hall.