What’s happening on Luing

Luing’s community council plans to put up advisory notices warning walkers to tread carefully when hiking round the island.

Safety concerns were raised at last week’s community council meeting for people negotiating some of the eroding coastal edge paths.

It was suggested signs also go up urging visiting campervanners and drivers not to park too close to the edge of Cullipool’s scenic shore that overlooks Mull.

Gates at the island’s cemetery are also to be made more secure and cow-proof to stop cattle getting in and causing more damage. Argyll and Bute Council will ‘make good’ any previous damage to the cemetery and the community council will put up a notice of its own reminding people to close the gate behind them.

An independent survey looking at every aspect of Luing’s ferry use is expected to start soon, islanders will be consulted.

The survey needs to be carried out before any changes can be made, from timetable alterations to new slipways or a new ferry to replace the Belnahua ‘that won’t live forever’, said community council convener Mike Baldwin.

People at the meeting asked what had happened to the helpful text alert service for getting early warnings of cancelled ferries. The idea of being able to book an evening ferry ahead and in advance of just noon on that day was also raised, as was passenger-only season tickets.

Belnahua’s refit for this year is due to be midApril but exact dates are still to be confirmed, the meeting heard.

Plans are still progressing for a seaweed farm off nearby Lunga. The scale of it has been reduced because of public feedback so far. Community councillor Dave Felton updated the meeting and said the up-and-coming industry was ‘incredibly well-regulated. Probably more than fish farms.’

The project would try to use fish pens left over from a former fish farm on the site, he said, by cutting them in half and hanging lines off them to try and grow more edible seaweed, he reported back.

‘It’s a sustainable development unlike fishing and it looks as though it could become a bit of a cash-cow for those who get into it early,’ he added.

All islanders are being encouraged to log on to Digital Scotland to check that their property is listed and has got a date for fibre broadband - it should be the second half of 2023. Any homes not included need to be flagged up to see if grant funding can be secured to make sure they are included.

The new EE mast next to the island’s fire station is due to be switched on in April.

The ferry shed at South Cuan is due to be spruced up in the spring due to it looking ‘a bit tired’ the meeting heard. Although the shed is also being put to good use with unwanted items being left for uptake and recycling, it can get a bit overcrowded at times, so if items have not found new homes in three weeks they should be removed and disposed of elsewhere.

Luing’s successful Shopping Club bus that takes members to and from the ferry on a Friday and to the shop on a Wednesday continues. Pat Felton has agreed to help out when its co-ordinator and community stalwart Jean Alexander leaves the island.

The search is also on for more car scheme volunteer drivers to help get people to and from appointments in Oban.

Interest in a heightened causeway built without permission connecting Luing to Torsa also continues. The community council will keep trying to get a timetable from Marine Scotland for when satisfactory remedial work should be completed, restoring the former low-lying ford to its original state.

Gates being padlocked on the island because of claims they are being left open were also discussed as being possible restrictions to access.

And worries over pending fuel poverty were also raised at the meeting. It was pointed out anyone whose power bill makes up 10 per cent of their income is in fuel poverty, 20 per cent would be classified as being in ‘extreme’ fuel poverty. The community council will write to Argyll and Bute Council to ask what action it is taking to help.

The next community council meeting will be in May.