Misleading social media statement

Sir,

Following a meeting on Tuesday night of Arran Community Council, we wish to clarify a statement reported on social media from the secretary of the Arran Ferry Action Group last weekend, following the visit of transport minister Graeme Dey, in which it states: ‘We again extend our offers of collaboration with the community council and Isle of Arran Ferry Committee.’

This is a misleading and inaccurate statement.

There has been no formal offer of collaboration to the community council from

Arran Ferry Action Group

(AFAG).

The CC was only recently made aware of an action placed on two CC members when the notes of the AFAG meeting in June 2021 were published.

The last point indicated that two members had attended the most recent AFAG meeting at end of June and who then failed to raise the point at the June CC meeting one hour later.

They attended as individuals and in no official capacity on behalf of the CC. One is an AFAG committee member, who has not declared any conflict of interest in any CC meetings.

The CC asked the members for an explanation at the July meeting and we agreed a response be sent to the AFAG secretary, who has to date failed to acknowledge receipt of the mail.

Our response stated that the

CC as a group has and will continue to support the Arran Ferry Committee as the recognised established voice on ferry matters for Arran and this was a unanimous decisions - including their member who also declared they felt the minutes of their meeting were distorted.

The CC asks that the record be clarified with regards the community council engagement on this matter and perhaps the Arran Ferry Action Group will also accept that it has so far refused to accept several offers from the Arran Ferry Committee chairperson for its group’s views to be represented in the officially recognised body covering all aspects of Arran life both residential and commercial interests. Residents and readers should be aware of the distortion of facts in their recent communications. Yours,

Jim Henderson,

ACC secretary.