Kintyre - in a few words

[Bonnie Lass]

Here is something that would appeal to the youngsters and "mad oldies" and could perhaps increase Tourism, why not set up a "street luge" as seen on BBC News this morning - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7613237.stm.

OK you need a closed road with a good surface, but sounds as if it is not too expensive to start kit wise....

Perhaps Campbeltown building up to local championships, Regional and then National - which would mean an increase in accommodation, facilities, meals etc.

[mrn]

Perhaps you should look further than the end of your nose and you will find 'something to do'. Then again if this is the attitude you have and instill into the younger generation then what hope is there! Great attitude!

Maybe you can tell me where the jobs are (especially with Vestas closing), what decent selection of shops there are, and what leisure activities there are in the town (apart from the obvious swimming pool) and what teens can do at night?

On top of that, its not just my attitude. Its the attitude of the young people i talk to as well as relatives that visit the town. Not everyone enjoys swimming all the time or visiting the same 3 shops and if you look beyond the end of your nose you'll realise its a problem that plagues most small communities, more so Campbeltown with it being so isolated.

As i said earlier, its a lovely place to visit, theres just nowt for the locals. We should all be realistic and not sugar coat things the way some people like to do.

I think you and your friend from "Up the road" are missing the point of this thread and which others are pointing out. It's about Kintyre and not just Campbeltown. It's about the qualities that people love about Kintyre that make it different from other places. To suggest there is nothing for locals to do is laughable. We've raised three children outside Campbeltown in the country and they have enjoyed more things to do than one can imagine. Pipe Band, Brass Band, Badminton, Football, Shinty, Brownies, Guides, Scouts, Swimming, Fishing, youth clubs, church, athletics, walking, surfing, the list goes on and on. Life in Kintyre is what you make it and you are making it sound the total opposite of our experiences. If you think there is nothing for kids to do at night staying in Campbeltown then try living in the middle of nowhere! The job situation is concerning and yes, something needs to be done but some of your commenst make out we have nothing. If you want shopping jump on a bus or better still use the internet or even better still open a shop for yourself and sell exactly what you think everyone is looking for. You may be standing up for some locals views but you certainly aren't standing up for us all.

[AP]

I think you and your friend from "Up the road" are missing the point of this thread and which others are pointing out. It's about Kintyre and not just Campbeltown.

And i think you and your "friends" are missing the point of what im saying. Last i seen Campbeltown was part of kintyre so is it such a crime to voice my opinion on Campbeltown? You express your opinions based on your experiences and i'll do the same.My experiences are in and around Campbeltown and growing up with parents who had no transport and very little finance, i wasnt partial to joining the pipeband the brassband or anyother paid activities. With regard to the walking, Yes there was alot of that, but going back to YOU missing the point i did say that it was a lovely place.

To suggest there is nothing for locals to do is laughable. We've raised three children outside Campbeltown in the country and they have enjoyed more things to do than one can imagine.

Well done for you then mrn. But believe it or not the numerous activities you mentioned arent for everyone. (church?) and as for youth clubs maybe you can point the youth in the right direction seeing as you seem to know it all.

Life in Kintyre is what you make it and you are making it sound the total opposite of our experiences.

Well that maybe due to the fact that we most likely have had "totally opposite" experiences of living here.

If you think there is nothing for kids to do at night staying in Campbeltown then try living in the middle of nowhere! The job situation is concerning and yes, something needs to be done but some of your commenst make out we have nothing.

Seeing as you have had an answer to everything, im surprised you didnt negotiate a Vestas deal yourself and save the 90+ jobs at risk

You may be standing up for some locals views but you certainly aren't standing up for us all.

When did i say i was standing up for you all?? Please dont go twisting things i say for your own benefit. In addition dont go berating me and people of the same opinion as me just because you dont agree with it. Okay youve had a superb experience in Kintyre, not all of us have even though we still love the place.

I was giving an opposite view of things that many (especially you) dont see. You cant seem to see past your churches and surfing to notice the discontent that some people in Campbeltown have. On top of that, this thread was just what the title said "Kintyre - in a few words" you made it into the "how it differs from other areas" subject yourself.
I stand by my views and i know you'll stand by yours but if you want to keep this "your views are laughable" up then feel free.

[mrn]

I was going to reply but what's the point? You clearly read my reply with little thought and chose to go off on one.

10 out of 10 for the vestas comment. I did laugh at that. Yet certainly not laughing at the current position.

One thing, I'm alot longer in the tooth than you care to know and have had endeared similar hardship as I grew up but choose to get on with life. Kintyre has it's fair share of problems but it isn't all doom and gloom as you portray. To specifically single out the church makes me wonder where you are going with your point....

Just back from a wonderful walk along the beach so in a few words, yes, wonderful!

[Conley girl]

well i moved back to campbeltown in 70's from corby. different way of life here right enough but adapted well after a while. i think campbeltown is what you make it, there are worst places to stay, and its reasonably safe here for bringing up kids.

as for the swimming pool its a god send there was no pool for years but thats c/town folk for you they get something use it for a while then the novelty fades, like the radio station was great , loadz of broad casters but mainly now tapes, but then its not the radio stations fault its c/town folk again getting bord after a while of volunteerring.

ive thought on leaving to go else where but where do you go???
you hear every day of killings , rapes, ect. no im not going anywhere lol.

we have our fair share of rain but when the good weather comes where else could you get such lovely sceanery and beaches CAMPBELTOWN!!.

[Lossit Lass]

This thread has gone off a little & no recent posts but I came across it just now while searching for threads about the local (Campbeltown) economy, job availability, etc.
I know that the state of our world's economy is currently an issue in & of itself & is obviously effecting everyone including Campbeltown/Kintyre. I've kept up with your news about the various local company closings/potential closings, but hasn't that been an ongoing issue even when the world's general economy was good...or am I wrong??
The current world economy aside, my question is about the general, everyday experiences of those who have stayed & are raising families. I mean in your area it's not as if you can feasibly drive to the next town daily to work. You're self-contained but how does that play out? There can't possibly be jobs for every working-aged person there?? I notice many of my peers have stayed in the town, raising families & such, which I was of course happy to see but at the same time, honestly, surprised at. I have tried to envision moving my family back there (fantasy only as realistically we cannot possibly do it at this time if ever ) but cannot get past this part, how we could possibly make a living if we came starting cold.
Not to mention I imagine new residents are viewed as a threat to locals in what what must be a shallow job market (generally, not taking into account the current state of our world). Would we even be welcomed...really??


And, with regard to things for the kids to do, is there not a 'youth center' within the Aqualibrium?? I guess I was under the impression it was more than a 'building for a pool'. You had that already. When it needed to be updated & the Aqualibrium was built, was there really no consideration about making the new building an all-around activities center, as well as a poolhouse?? If not, it seems like an opportunity 'overlooked'? Tho it still could be done by adding on I guess...