At Random
Where is Scotland’s Transport Minister?
I HAVE a great deal of sympathy for people on the various islands who have been subjected to cancellations and alterations to the ferry timetables as a result of repairs to the MV Clansman.
The vessel is back in dry dock from the start of June for about 12 days to have its propulsion system fixed.
This has caused further frustration for residents and businesses, as well as tourists, with the fleet shuffled to paper over the cracks.
However, I also have considerable sympathy for CalMac. The ferry operator cannot simply conjure vessels of the size of the Clansman from thin air.
Nor can it enjoy the luxury of keeping spare ferries just in case such a crisis arises.
The company’s management has had to make some hard decisions in order to continue to provide its lifeline services to our remote island communities.
Thankfully, once the Clansman is repaired, the service should return to something like normality.
Where I don’t have any sympathy is with Scotland’s Transport Minister Humza Yousaf.
As we reported last week, Outer Hebrides Tourism (OHT) said it had ‘disappointingly, not yet heard back from Humza Yousaf, Minister for Transport and the Islands, following our call, last month, for him to intervene on the ferries issue’.
A spokesperson for OHT said: ‘We had an acknowledgement from the MSP’s office on April 19 that we should expect to receive a response within 20 working days. That deadline expired on Monday May 14.
‘The low priority suggested by such a response window concerned us as much as the critical issue that caused us to write to Mr Yousaf in the first place. We have had no response from him.’
I have also had no response from Mr Yousaf to my inquiry regarding our ongoing A85 safety campaign.
I have now made repeated requests to Mr Yousaf for information as to what, if any, action he is prepared to take to improve safety on the route between Oban and Connel.
Our campaign has three aims, all eminently achievable and affordable: double white lines on the stretch mentioned, a 50mph speed limit and the creation of a proper layby bus stop at Pennyfuir cemetery.
When I spoke to Mr Yousaf in October last year, he said he hoped to announce what he was going to do by the end of the financial year.
That was in April but, despite my approaches, there has been no response from his office.
I realise he is a busy man but this apparent disdain is hugely disappointing.
Our campaign may not blip very brightly on his radar but there is no excuse for him distancing himself from the CalMac crisis.
Overflowing bins
PERNICIOUS problems with refuse collection continue, unfortunately, and not just in Soroba.
Mind you, the residents of Soroba are still blighted by rubbish, though attempts are being made to address the situation, as we report this week.
The photos published here were taken in the heart of Oban – in Argyll Street, to be precise – on successive Wednesdays and show commercial bins overflowing with rubbish scattered across the pavement and road.
It is a depressing sight, and exactly what visitors make of such scenes, I can only guess.
In fairness to Argyll and Bute Council, on both the days these photographs were taken, the bins were later emptied and the mess more or less cleaned up.
However, this kind of rubbish problem can leave a lasting impression on tourists and it would be a real shame if that was an image that stayed with them.
What do you think?
WRITE to me at mlaing@obantimes.co.uk or The Oban Times, Crannog Lane, Oban, PA34 4HB, or call 01631 568021.