Mess left by Scottish Water ‘unacceptable’, says council

A mess left by Scottish Water after recent work at the top of Seaview on Seil is ‘‘unacceptable’’ says the island’s community council.

As far as Scottish Water is concerned, the work is complete but according to Seil and Easdale Community Council members there is still a great deal of ‘‘putting right’’ to be done after a large area of ground was excavated.

‘‘We are acutely aware the weather was unkind to the contractors, but we still need assurances the path and landscape will be put back to how it was before it is signed off,’’ said community council convener Zim Knight at the last meeting.

▮ An increasing number of residents are now first aid trained, and able to use a defibrillator, after courses run by Ann McKillop. The community council is grateful to Ann for running the courses and thank her for everything she has done. It is much appreciated by the community, the meeting put on record.

▮ Several potholes have been repaired but the roads across the island remain in a dreadful state. The community council is continuing to press for resurfacing of all the roads but say they have been met with ‘‘a lot of resistance’’.

Zim Knight said: ‘‘We will continue to work on this but in the meantime encourage everyone to go onto the Argyll and Bute website and report any potholes you see. The more that are reported, the more chance we have.’’

▮ Concerns were raised over Cuan Road laybys and a wall alongside the road that is in danger of collapse into a property. These have been raised with Argyll and Bute Council and the community council will continue to press for action.

▮ Fundraising is being organised and donations are being gathered to help fund a vein finding machine for Easdale Surgery.

▮ Seil and Easdale are still working on ways to celebrate the upcoming Coronation.

▮ The meeting also urged people to make their views known as part of the Scottish Government’s Highly Protected Marine Area consultation.

At this stage no locations have been suggested ‘‘but we are potentially an area, so we need to consider the impacts, positive and negative, that implementing an HPMA on a variety of areas may have in our islands,’’ the meeting heard.

‘‘It is important to encourage islanders to

respond to this consultation to ensure island voices are represented, as well as submitting a response on behalf of our community,’’ the meeting minutes noted. Concerns were raised at the meeting how a HPMA would be policed if implemented and there were fears that ‘‘it would do nothing other than turn folk against each other when people were reported’’.

It was also noted Seil and Easdale are in a shipping area with numerous yachts sailing through

the area ‘‘discharging raw sewage into the sea’’, which would impact the area. And it was also mentioned that in the community there are still numerous properties with no septic tanks. The decline of fishing was also highlighted. The CC will be sending in official feedback to the consultation.

The next community council meeting and AGM is at 6.30pm on Tuesday May 23 at Seil Island Hall.