Castle closure concern

Sir,

Once again Arran shoots itself in the foot, this time by accepting Brodick Castle will remain closed when lockdown restrictions have eased, Arran Banner May 15 issue.

Do those in responsible positions on the island not realise and understand that Brodick Castle with all its history and wonderful interesting exhibits is the one, if not the main, holiday attraction and place of interest on the island?

I appreciate the castle is under the jurisdiction of the National Trust for Scotland and that finance is limited. But do these people not realise that if they shut the castle once again, as they did last year while it was being upgraded, they are jeopardising the future of Arran as a holiday island. Wandering around the beautiful gardens does not make up for a visit to the castle.

I am sure a request for Arran folk to act as volunteers would attract support and enable the castle to open at least at the weekends. I read in the Banner MSP Kenneth Gibson raised a question in the Scottish Parliament but the 'throw away' answer he received from the First Minister was a polite way of saying ‘do not bother me I have more important things to attend to' and thus nothing will be done unless a much stronger voice is heard from the people of Arran who must not allow the problem to be ‘swept under the carpet’.

I only have a holiday home on the island, but as a family we have been coming to Arran for many years prior to being fortunate enough to acquire our cottage 15 years ago and I do so much want to see this beautiful island (God’s island) prosper and not go into decline due to a lack of understanding by those who govern the island of Arran from the mainland.

Yours, Jack Cowan, Catacol.