THE ARRAN BANNER TWENTY YEARS AGO

Saturday 25 January, 1997

Slipway delay

The main topic of discussion at the Brodick Boating Association Committee meeting was the lack of progress of the Brodick slipway project. The secretary reported that several letters had passed between the consultants and the construction company since the expiry of the agreed contract completion date of November. The consultants had eventually received a letter stating that the job would proceed as tide and weather allowed and would be completed by Easter 1997.

A lively and heated discussion ensued and many felt that there had been adequate days, since the project started in July, when tide and weather would have allowed work to take place. An urgent meeting will be requested with the contractor and another meeting held in February where the association will look at what further steps might be appropriate to advance the completion of the project. Businesses in Brodick who contributed financially felt that the unfinished work blighted the shoreline of Brodick and an explanation was required.

On the buses

Five years ago we had Arran Transport who ran the buses on Arran. Then came Western Scottish. As a result of competitive tendering they outbid Arran Transport and red buses gave way to black, grey and white ones. But Western’s bid was too keen. It got them the job but it did not allow them to make a profit and stay in business. So along came Stagecoach, young, brightly coloured and slick. But for how long?

The present contract runs out in October and the council feel that the costs of providing local and school bus services on Arran have become too much. It has now been confirmed that the North Ayrshire Council are actively looking into whether or not they could run their own bus service.

Self control

The building control department of North Ayrshire Council wields a powerful stick. If a building contravenes building standards there is no arguing with it. Now they have decided that the upper floor in the council’s own offices in Lamlash contravenes these.

Thus the council workers with upstairs offices must all move out. A £50,000 improvement of the council offices, they feel, will make ‘better use of certain members of staff if their accommodation was altered to provide better workspace’. Those staff who meet with customers are to remain and the others are to be relocated to the Arranton offices behind the High School.

B03twe04 Shoppers have received music tokens with purchases at Co-op stores on Arran over the last two months. Last Thursday Lamlash primary pupils who collected these tokens claimed 30 instruments from store manager Ian Struthers who is pictured with some of...

B03twe03 ‘Welcome A Bard’ was the name given to CalMac’s first seagoing Burns Supper held on board MV Caledonian Isles on Tuesday. Attending the event among others, was a large group from Lochranza Distillery.

B03twe02 The new head of the police U Division, Chief Superintendent Cameron, visited Arran to meet local constables. Mr Cameron is second from the left with other superintendents from the mainland.

B03twe01 The annual Arran Licensed Trade Association Ball was held in the Kinloch Hotel on Wednesday night. The local LTA committee are l to r: Robbie Crawford, Brian Boal, John Carpenter, Stuart Thompson, Tommy Gilmore and Russell Duncan.