Beachd Ailein

In light of last week’s article about proposed short and long-term developments of Craignure Pier, it is also time for Mull and Iona communities to consider the proposed design and effects of a new breakwater and ferry berth at Fionnphort, principally for the use of ferry operatives CalMac.

Relatively, the impact of a structure, more than three metres higher than the existing pier, on the village would be momentous. Last year CalMac received an award from Keep Scotland Beautiful. Both Argyll and Bute Council and CalMac need to uphold this principle.

The public were presented with a single ‘preferred option’, validated by the council for planning in November. Following numerous representations questioning the integrity of the design specifications and requests to consider further its effects, the council has belatedly decided to conduct a full environmental impact assessment which is to be welcomed. Photomontages have now been commissioned by the council to demonstrate the visual impact of the development which will change the outlook of Fionnphort, the ‘gateway to Iona’, for all time.

A further review is now to reduce the design life of the structure to 50 years rather than 120 years. Inevitably the legacy of such a short-term solution will be the problem and expense facing our future generations.

Alternative ideas which fulfil the needs of the ferry service to Iona and our communities but are more appropriate to the landscape have been dismissed without real evaluation or discussion.

Every day we are reminded of the extremes of climate change and our responsibilities to minimise the carbon footprint of our actions. It is vital we try to achieve our needs with appropriate scales of development for both our environment and economy.

Rosie Burgess, Kintra, Mull.

The banking regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), should stop TSB closing its branches in Helensburgh, Dunoon, Rothesay, Lochgilphead and Campbeltown.

These closures will leave only the Oban branch open in Argyll and Bute. Many TSB customers will have a long journey to reach their nearest branch. Not everyone uses internet banking.

The FCA has already pointed out that during the pandemic it will be hard for banks to reach ailean@obantimes.co.uk

‘S iomadh rud a dh’fheumas an euslaint, nach fheum an t-slàinte! Cha ghabh fìrinn an t-seanfhacail àicheadh, ach tha mothachadh cuideachd gum bheil dìon bho euslaint leithid Covid 19 deatamach. Tha leithid sin de dhìon air soirbheachadh feadh an t-saoghail thar bhliadhnaichean, agus tha galaran bàsmhor mar a bha leithid am fiabhras breac, a’ ghriùthrach, agus a’ chaitheamh, gan cumail fo smachd. Thigeadh dhuinn a bhith glè thaingeil gur ann mar sin a tha cùisean san dùthaich seo, agus bu mhath gum faodadh mòr-shluagh an t-saoghail uile buannachd agus dìon nam banachdaichean sin fhaotainn mar an ceudna.

Thàinig an t-adhartas slàinte sin ri linn innleachd dhealasach agus spàirn mhòran eòlaichean thar nam bliadhnaichean, agus tha làn-mhothachadh ann gum bheil slighe fhada fhathast mun lorgar leigheas èifeachdach air truailleadh iomadh seòrsa aillse agus euslaintean eile. Ach, feadh an t-saoghail, tha daoine ri saothair dhìcheallach, dhùrachdach, a’ sireadh fhreagairtean air gach dùbhlan tinneis sin, agus tha na mìltean cuideachd an sàs gach latha a’ cumail dìon air slàinte an t-sluaigh. Aig amannan faodaidh sinn mothachadh a chall agus a bhith neo-ar-thaingeil air na tha iad sin a’ dèanamh dhuinn.

Ged a bha sneachda air an talamh ’s i dìreach beagan os cionn ìre reothaidh bha am boireannach a choinnich oirnn aig doras an ionaid-slàinte beagan às dèidh ochd uairean sa mhadainn, aoigheil agus càirdeil a’ cur fàilte air duine mu seach a bha gu bhith a’ faotainn

customers and engage with them on closure proposals effectively. They also pointed out that customers may not be able to get to a bank to make the necessary preparations before the closure. Instead of just pointing out these difficulties, the FCA should tell TSB not to go ahead. Leaving only one TSB branch open in Argyll and Bute is unacceptable.

Councillor Alan Reid, Cowal.

The Oban Times’ coverage of Skyports Limited’s proposal for a temporary danger area to provide banachdach Covid19 an sin Disathairne seo chaidh. Cha b’ e sgioba mòr a bh’ ann ach, eadar dotairean agus an luchd-taice a bha a’ stiùireadh na dh’aontaich tighinn gus banachdach fhaotainn, bha cùisean air an riaghladh gu sgiobalta agus èifeachdach gun choltas diomb sam bith gun robh an luchd-obrach sin a’ call fois deireadh seachdaine. Mo mhìle beannachd aca, agus aig a h-uile neach a tha gar frithealadh ann an seirbheisean poblach de gach seòrsa gach latha, is sinn cho dualach mothachadh a chall air na tha iad a’ dèanamh dhuinn. Gun teagamh cha phàigh taing na daoine sin, ach gu cinnteach cha mhotha na sin a nì e cron dhuinn taing bhlàth a bhuileachadh dhaibh!

Tha aonarachd a’ chuingealachaidh a th’ air a bhith oirnn cho fada air daoine a chlaoidh ‘s a lèireadh agus tuigidh mi mar a bhiodh cuid ’s dòcha air am misneachadh agus air am mealladh, an dèidh na banachdach fhaotainn, chun na h-ìre ’s gum biodh iad a’ creidsinn gun robh làn-dhìon aca bhon bhìoras sa bhad. Chan ann mar sin a tha idir agus fhuair sinn rabhadh nach tig dìon gu ìre sam bith airson cola-deug na mar sin, agus gur còir dhuinn na modhan-giùlain stèidhichte a leantainn fiù ’s seachad air sin chun am bi dearbhadh gum bheil an galair air a cheannsachadh.

Experiencing the calm and efficient organisation by a small team administering Covid- 9 vaccination at our GP surgery last Saturday morning, we were reminded anew of how much we owe to so many who unstintingly deliver our public services.

a corridor for occasional drone flights from Oban to Mull gives prominence to objections. In particular, Brendan Walsh’s concerns for interference with the arrival by air of guests at his hotel business are covered at great length. But what are the views of the other 2,666 residents who might feel that receiving medical supplies in minutes has advantages over a 40-minute ferry crossing which happens at two-hour intervals and for only part of a day, especially in cases of emergency?

From our vantage point on Oban Hill, we are not aware of a busy sky in the Firth of Lorn, even in summer, and wonder why time and space can’t accommodate emergency drone flights?

Ian Reid, Oban.