Government competence
Sir, Just read the 5 October Banner and was most surprised to read that CMAL accuse Jim McCall and his team of being ‘hopelessly out of its depth’ regarding the construction of the new ferry. Yet, in the article on the Arran Action Group, it mentions the tests on the simulator which resulted in the ferry having alterations to the already built hull! In addition, CMAL was responsible for the new, not-fit-for-purpose, Brodick terminal which would not look out of place at Glasgow Airport, only difference being that escalators would be provided, instead of stairs (and not affected by an Easterly wind!). No doubt the concerns/ suggestions on the new Ardrossan terminal design will also be completely ignored.
The ferry fiasco could have been avoided if a proper technical feasibility study had been carried out to assess the suitability of using LNG in a relatively small vessel. At present only large ships have hybrid (LNG and diesel) engines due to the complex handling and storage of LNG.
This entire project is just another example of the Scottish Government’s abysmal record over the last few years on major issues, including education, NHS (both operational and infrastructure) and transport (railways and lifeline ferries). It appears that the level of competence can be measured in baby boxes, sanitary products, smacking and now workplace parking.
On the subject of the Scottish Salmon Company, the 4 October edition of Private Eye includes an article on the proposed SSC fish farm off Arran. Despite the company being ‘Scottish’, the major shareholder is now a Danish salmon farmer based in the Faroe Islands. It also describes the significant effect of untreated waste and chemicals on the native sea wildlife. According to the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, sea lice would also adversely affect the wild salmon and sea trout population. Last year Marine Scotland warned SSC about four farms for failing to control the sea lice, described in a previous edition of Eye (No 1498) as an epidemic. Since the beginning of 2019, data has highlighted that 3.1 million farmed salmon died due to disease, including 200,000 on an SSC site.
I suggest NAC planning department read this article when discussing the application, since the Danish government have now banned all new fish farm proposals due to the effect on the marine habitat.
Yours,
Robin Gardner Milton of Campsie