thep wrote: I must admit, in the year the board has been up and running, this has to be one of the most interesting debates we have had and not only that all discussed in a sensible manner. I know the people from the Kintyre Way have been reading this and while you may have some concerns over this thread there is nothing wrong with people airing their views - at least that way questions can be answered. In fact , a couple of doubts I had myself have been answered on here!
So, perhaps I should be putting a bill in for advertising then?
Seriously though, this thread has indeed raised a lot of interesting thoughts. John S in particular is to be congratulated for his major effort in putting up an excellent response to many of the concerns I have raised. If we all put our thoughts into the debate in a positive manner, then we can make it really meaningful and useful.
But one major problem still remains, however. I am guessing what is going on here... and I rather gather from John's remarks that he is probably guessing to a large extent too. That is in no way a criticism. I'm not referring to his figures on jobs, or about SAR's willingness to co-operate, or to his opinions. I am referring to the simple and basic facts about the proposed Way. Which is due to open in June, two months from now
So, here is an open letter to the organisers, which I shall also email to them directly:-
Dear Sirs
Please can we have some facts about the Kintyre Way?
We understand that it is some 89 miles long altogether. Also that some parts of it are still in negotiation and that you may obviously wish to keep those negotiations to yourselves until they are completed. But, of the parts that have been established, please can we ask :-
1. How many miles of the Way are actually agreed at present?
2. Of those miles, how many are through publicly owned land or land such as Forestry Commission, other forestry plantations or SNH reserves?
3. How many of the miles are on public roads?
4. How many of the miles are across privately owned farmland?
5. What funding do you have in place and who is this from and what period is it to cover?
7. What staffing are you proposing and where is this to be based?
8. Are there any provisions for litter collection along the route and, if there are, is this by professionals or by volunteers?
9. What provisions are there for the safety of novice walkers in the wilder areas where there is no mobile phone signal?
10. There was a draft map of the route at your meeting recently, is it possible to have a copy of this made available to facilitate public discussion?
If you could please reply to this by means of a response on the Kintyre Community Forum I, and I'm sure many others of all opinions, would very much appreciate it.
Thanking you in anticipation.
Yours faithfully
John Cowan