Campbeltown to Ballycastle Ferry

[Charlie]

Critics are 10 a penny, surfboard, you ask people to come up with ideas, why should they when the likelihood is people like yourself will shoot them down from the safety of there armchairs?

- I asked you already for alternatives and why you think the ferry is not an idea that would bring an economic benefit to the area? - you can't answer

I've met lots of people who don't like the idea of a ferry from Campbeltown to Ballycastle - most of them have reasonable reasons why - they think tourism in Oban will suffer, they don't like the Irish, they don't like change, they don't like strangers - what’s yours?

- surfbored is not a critic just for the sake of it, and certainly not shooting down from the safety of an armchair... he raises an important point of view - something that dared not be said....that maybe a ferry is not viable on that route. Evidently sopme people share that view.

[John S]

But what do these people know about operating ferrys?

Two companies, both of whom operate ferrys today think they can.

Are you qualified to question that? or do you just not like the idea.

Again I ask what is your better alternative? don't be shy.

[Charlie]

I'd love nothing more than to see a successful ferry company running between the town and NI. If theres companies out there that can make it work, good luck to them - I think everybody in the town would be fully supportive. however the point made above was that it might be better investing efforts on a different initiative, given that the previous appearance of the ferry didn't attract big numbers of travellers. sometimes you can get too close to an idea, and you need somebody not so close to give a reality check and say "is this really going to work?" i thought it was interesting that surfbored raised this point, because i'd not seen it raised before, but maybe i agree with him? - not sure. however, im not anti-ferry, anti-progress - and as I say i will support like evrybody else whoever can make this work, or at least has a go. but maybe theres other ways to bring prosperity to the town.

[Charlie]

well tidying up longrow would make a big difference to encourage visitors back to the town - I come into the town most days, and I still notice it

support the redevelopment of the royal into a hotel that could accommodate a bus load of visitors at a time

put toilets at westport

however, try and attract real investment - while vestas have cut back, there'll be fresh grants for somebody else, maybe the economy of the town is to be supported by shortlife industries? - if at least there replaced, the flow of money is constant.

[John S]

Well lets support these companies in making it work - what have you got to loose? After all you don't seem to have any alternatives. For god sake can we not think positively.

I know that there are particular political view points within Argyll and Bute who would rather see the funding allocated by the Scottish Executive to this project spent on other things - Oban airport for example, are you prepared to turn your back on this at the very final stage?

[Charlie]

Well lets support these companies in making it work - what have you got to loose? After all you don't seem to have any alternatives. For god sake can we not think positively.

I know that there are particular political view points within Argyll and Bute who would rather see the funding allocated by the Scottish Executive to this project spent on other things - Oban airport for example, are you prepared to turn your back on this at the very final stage?

what you've got to lose is the enthusiasm, energy, time and money of the people involved in working on this idea at the expense of not working on something else which might have a better chance of being successful.

[John S]

You have got to be kidding - what economic benefit do you think tidying up Longrow is going to bring if there are no visitors there to see it, "If we build it they will come" ?, don't get me wrong, superficial things like this are important but for god sake how many £1Ks per week will it bring into the community from outside? Where will the visitors come from? Inverarary - "Oh lets go to Campbeltown I here the pavements are really clean there"

The Royal is in private hands and anyway couldn't accommodate busloads of visitors without knocking down the Victoria hall for an extension; I don't think that’s a good idea. Feel free to argue.

[John S]

Well lets support these companies in making it work - what have you got to loose? After all you don't seem to have any alternatives. For god sake can we not think positively.

I know that there are particular political view points within Argyll and Bute who would rather see the funding allocated by the Scottish Executive to this project spent on other things - Oban airport for example, are you prepared to turn your back on this at the very final stage?

what you've got to lose is the enthusiasm, energy, time and money of the people involved in working on this idea at the expense of not working on something else which might have a better chance of being successful.

And who's time money and enthusiasms have been used up? And what, on a similar scale, might be more successful?

[Sweltered]

Still looking for someone to tell me what is going attract these visitors to stay in the town. You can have hundreds of rooms in hotels, but if people are not stopping, they are not going to be used. Peopleare not going to stay in the area unless they have a reason to . The ferry companies may well think that they can have a viable service, but how does that benefit the town? A&B wil get berthing dues and a handful of people will jobs, and the County Garage might sell some more petrol.

Ferrry terminals tend to be transit points, not destiantions. The cart before the horse theory is entirely relevant. Tidying up the longrow is not going to bring visitors, granted, but are they going to come to watch the ferry sail in and out? Hardly.

The scottish executive can set up a ferry and run it a dozen times a day. I hope they do. But it won't spark any growth in Kintyre. I still fail to see what employment the ferry is going to attract. Please tell me, I'd love to know

[Charlie]

Still looking for someone to tell me what is going attract these visitors to stay in the town. You can have hundreds of rooms in hotels, but if people are not stopping, they are not going to be used. Peopleare not going to stay in the area unless they have a reason to .

Kintyre is in itself already a destination - a brilliant natural attraction, beaches, walks, scenery, golf, fresh air , cracking new swimming pool, world class young musicians etc etc.- if you're just talking about attracting and keeping visitors in the area then its all there already - there is no need to create anything. But I wonder how many people leave campbeltown/kintyre and say "beautiful area, shame about the town, run down, no amenties at the beaches etc., I wouldn't rush back" I'm concerned that in competing for visitors across scotland, the feedback that our visitors will give their friends will be tainted by the appearanance of the town - and could be the dissuading factor that makes people (them and their friends) choose to go somewhere else? I just suggested that tidying up longrow might be one practical step that could be taken, that would directly affect the impression made on visitors.

however, while tourists are important, efforts in attracting the next vestas should continue. im sure this happens, im just not aware of it, so this is not crticism of those involved in that area.

[Sweltered]

Still looking for someone to tell me what is going attract these visitors to stay in the town. You can have hundreds of rooms in hotels, but if people are not stopping, they are not going to be used. Peopleare not going to stay in the area unless they have a reason to .

Kintyre is in itself already a destination - a brilliant natural attraction, beaches, walks, scenery, golf, fresh air , cracking new swimming pool, world class young musicians etc etc.- if you're just talking about attracting and keeping visitors in the area then its all there already - there is no need to create anything. But I wonder how many people leave campbeltown/kintyre and say "beautiful area, shame about the town, run down, no amenties at the beaches etc., I wouldn't rush back" I'm concerned that in competing for visitors across scotland, the feedback that our visitors will give their friends will be tainted by the appearanance of the town - and could be the dissuading factor that makes people (them and their friends) choose to go somewhere else? I just suggested that tidying up longrow might be one practical step that could be taken, that would directly affect the impression made on visitors.

however, while tourists are important, efforts in attracting the next vestas should continue. im sure this happens, im just not aware of it, so this is not crticism of those involved in that area.

If Campbeltown is a destination, why don't more people go there? There has to be more than tourism. The scenery is not spectacular enough to attract them in any great numbers. Do you think Fort William would get many visitor if the didn't have Ben Nevis there?
I agree with the sentiment, that if you don't think the ferry will work, you're bashing the area, not true. Ferrry supporters are alway asking detractors to come up with alternatives, but I have never had a reply to the "how will the ferry create jobs" question. I keep hearing the "but Kintyre is a great place", but as I said why don't many people go there. They used to, from Glasog at the fair, before Majorca was an option. The area cant rely on tourism in any great numbers, unless theres a unique attraction

[Ship called Dignity]

Quite baffling that this is released yesterday then?

News Release (Visit to Ireland) issued by The Scottish Parliament on 13
October 2006
Links between Scotland and Ireland will become the focus for a group of MSPs
today as they depart for Ireland. Presiding Officer George Reid MSP will be
accompanied by six MSPs during a six-day visit to Ireland (13-16 October)
to examine regeneration projects, cultural links and parliamentary ties.

As part of the visit, the Presiding Officer will give a keynote address on
Scottish-Irish links and 21st century democracy at the Royal Irish Academy,
co-hosted by the Centre for Irish-Scottish Studies, Trinity College, Dublin
and the Royal Irish Academy on 17th October.

Together with MSPs Shiona Baird, Dennis Canavan, Maureen MacMillan, Jim
Mather, Dave Petrie and Iain Smith, the Presiding Officer is undertaking
the visit to examine ways in which Scotland and Ireland can cooperate in
areas of common interest and strengthen the relationship between the Irish
and Scottish Parliaments. The delegation will meet with fellow politicians
in the Irish Parliament, the Oireachtas, to discuss how the two countries
can benefit from closer workings between the two parliaments.

Speaking of the importance of the close ties between Ireland and Scotland,
George Reid said:

"Our countries have much in common. We share common history, common language,
common culture and we are both small countries now operating in a global
market place.

"As a consequence there is considerable scope for co-operation projects in
areas such as European funding, cultural exchange, tourism, sport, education
and transport, with significant potential for social and economic benefits
for each country."

The itinerary includes meetings to discuss areas of mutual interest including
economic development, sustainable energy, rural regeneration and closer
Scottish-Irish cooperation on European funding assistance.

While in Ireland the delegation will meet the Irish Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern
and President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, as well as attending sittings of
the Oireachtas.

The MSPs will also visit regeneration projects with Scottish links in County
Donegal and the historic tombs at Bru na Boinne (Palace of the Boyne) in
County Meath, before journeying to Dublin.

The cross party delegation are travelling to Ireland as guests of the Ceann
Comhairle (speaker) of Dail Eireann, Dr Rory O'Hanlon TD, who visited Holyrood
as part of a delegation from the Oireachtas in March 2004.

Full programme details are available on the Parliament's website at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCen ... gramme.htm

Background Notes

A recent report by the European and External Relations committee urged the
Scottish Executive to give greater priority to introducing a programme of
co-operation between Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The report, published in June 2006 and debated in the Chamber in October,
identified EU funding as an area for potential co-operation, as well as
support for the re-establishment of the ferry services from Campbeltown to
Ballycastle and improving road and rail links from Stranraer and Cairnryan
to east cast ports, including Rosyth.

Other recent events linking Ireland and Scotland include a visit to Holyrood
from a delegation from Ireland's Oireachtas in February and a meeting of
the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body in Edinburgh in November 2005.

The British-Irish Interparliamentary Body brings together parliamentarians
from Irish, Westminster and other UK legislatures to discuss items of
common concern.

For further information, the Scottish Parliament media contact is:
Sally Coyne: 0131 348 6265
RNID Typetalk calls welcome
email: sally.coyne@scottish.parliament.uk

For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 348 5000 or 0845 278 1999
(local call rate) Text phone: 0131 348 3415 RNID Typetalk calls welcome
email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk

Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk

[Admin3]

This thread and been split as I feel the Campbeltown Area Regeneration Scheme deserves a thread of its own.

Can be found at

http://www.kintyreforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2754

[Trapper]

As far as tourists coming to the town goes , I know for a fact that in an average day in the summer 200 to 400 people pass through the campbeltown tourist office. The number is someimes as high as 650. This of course is only a small percentage of the people who are visiting the town so I wold say there are a lot of tourists visiting campbeltown and the number is increasing all the time. The tourist office is also kept open all year unlike most in rural scotland which close in the winter months. This indicates that there must be sufficient customers to keep it open. Official figures indicate a 10% increase in visitor numbers this year as well.

[Sweltered]

As far as tourists coming to the town goes , I know for a fact that in an average day in the summer 200 to 400 people pass through the campbeltown tourist office. The number is someimes as high as 650. This of course is only a small percentage of the people who are visiting the town so I wold say there are a lot of tourists visiting campbeltown and the number is increasing all the time. The tourist office is also kept open all year unlike most in rural scotland which close in the winter months. This indicates that there must be sufficient customers to keep it open. Official figures indicate a 10% increase in visitor numbers this year as well.

So where are they spending their money? Tourism is not the answer, there isn't anything to attract enough of them. For the tourism industry to make a major improvement in the forseeable future of Kintyre, you would need thousands to come and stay and spend money on something. What though?