The Kintyre Forum

SNP Councillor John Semple has spoken out in support of the Marina Development in Campbeltown, which is part of Argyll & Bute Councils flagship CHORD Project, a £30M regeneration package for the County’s five main town centres and waterfronts

‘I am very concerned that the vision and drive for regeneration in Campbeltown could be undermined if this development does not come to fruition. We have already seen it threatened and only saved by last minute interventions of Cllr Kelly and myself at the highest level within the council.

Funding was taken from the Campbeltown CHORD project to support the development of an All Weather Pitch (AWP) on Kinloch Green after the All Weather Pitch was removed from the councils capital programme.

‘I have given 100% support for the AWP and would not stand in the way of its development. When the SNP left the administration in November 2010 because we could not find common ground with the Alliance of Independent Councillors on School Closures, the Campbeltown AWP was an agreed capital priority in the draft budget, by February with the Conservatives and Liberals in administration, this supposed “priority” no longer featured in the capital program. Effectively we had a gun put to our heads to raid the Campbeltown CHORD Project or write off the AWP.

The original budget for the Marina was £1.16m but has been diminished by a £480K contribution to the All Weather Pitch leaving only £680k for the marina expansion. A meeting of stakeholders in the marina will take place on Tuesday the 28th June to consider a way forward for the development.

‘I am confident that the benefits an enhanced berthing facility will bring to the regeneration of the town centre will be significant particularly in terms of visitor spending power, this development cannot be further undermined even for projects as important as the AWP.’

Im not convinced by the case for an AWP on Kinloch Green anymore.

When (If) Campbeltown gets a new High School will AWP facilities not be provided, similar to the excellent facilities that they awarded themselves and their children up in Kilmory? If their facilities came out of the education budget then the same should go for us.

I realise that a lot of work and effort has went into the Kinloch AWP Campaign especially on these pages, so I dont expect my opinion to be warmly welcomed. Initially I was a supporter of the AWP but times have changed, and in this time of austerty, it would seem more prudent to ensure 1st class facilities were included with the building of a new school.

The AWP could be used by the general public there, just the same as it could be "down the green".

Im thinking that this is rather obvious, so the point has probably been kicked into touch by other posters.

Perhaps this should be on a separate thread as there is no doubt the point of the press release by Cllr John Semple is to increase awareness and support for the marina project. As a Sports Council, we never at any stage asked for the provision of the AWP at the expense of any other community facility in Campbeltown and it is disappointing that the 10 year campaign for the AWP was a political gun at our councillor's heads.

weetoonboy wrote:Im not convinced by the case for an AWP on Kinloch Green anymore.

Its decision day tomorrow for the provision of the All Weather Pitch on Kinloch Green when SportScotland meet to make their decision on the stage 2 application so lets, first of all, hope it is good news.

weetoonboy wrote:When (If) Campbeltown gets a new High School will AWP facilities not be provided, similar to the excellent facilities that they awarded themselves and their children up in Kilmory? If their facilities came out of the education budget then the same should go for us.

Yes, valid points and the key words in your opening sentences are when and if. The AWP pitch in Campbeltown was identified 13 years ago as a priority 1 for Argyll & Bute Council - the highest priority. However, due to the non delivery of a new secondary school in Campbeltown the project was pushed back and kept on going further back again and again. The Sports Council continued to highlight the need for the AWP and when it was apparent 3 years ago that there was no commitment to a new school we pushed for the provision of the AWP outwith the education budget. The Council, to their credit, started to take notice and with no word of a new school estate on the horizon agreed to reveiew its business case with a view to taking this forward as a capital project, away from the education budget.

Even as we speak there is no confirmation of the delivery of a new secondary school and the talk is 6 years at the earliest. Should we really have to wait that long for the provision of a service everywhere else enjoys?

With regards the excellent facility at Lochgilphead many will argue its a great facility but not an excellent facility as the surface is far from ideal for sports like rugby, football, shinty and running. There is a real opportunity for our community to have the best of both facilities in Campbeltown - a 3G UEFA standard AWP on Kinloch Green and a 2G (sand based) surface at the grammar which means there will be no compromise for ANY sport. If we are to wait we will just get a 2G surface and all sports are compromised.

weetoonboy wrote:I realise that a lot of work and effort has went into the Kinloch AWP Campaign especially on these pages, so I dont expect my opinion to be warmly welcomed.

We are hoping all the hard work will pay off tomorrow weetoonboy and it certainly has had its moments! Opinions are needed wtb and if anything your questions will answer (we hope!) others who have similar doubts.

Initially I was a supporter of the AWP but times have changed, and in this time of austerty, it would seem more prudent to ensure 1st class facilities were included with the building of a new school.

We would hope you change your mind and return to supporting the AWP?

Tt will be absolutely crucial that the community show the same level of support to ensure, as you say, the new secondary school gets the first class facilities it deserves. Why shouldn't Campbeltown be the leaders in sport? Why shouldn't we have a secondary school with exceptional sports facilities? Campbeltown is leading the way when it is coming to Athletics and running and we have to ensure this is represented in the new school for example.

In a similar veign as the AWP we have waited long enough for a new shool so lets ensure we get what we deserve!

If the funding for the AWP is not confirmed this week, it will not go ahead, full stop - if it is, it will be on Kinloch Green. All the consulting has been done, business plans written, plans drawn, bore holes drilled, and the fat lady is drawing breath. fingers crossed

Do you think this marina development will go ahead?
i would be interested

I hope it will. On the 28th we will have more detail about what is possible and what is not with the reduced funding available. It is difficult to come to a clear view when the goalposts keep changing.

@ Sport

Im definetly not against the development of the AWP, far from it, but as a tax payer I want value for money, in all of our local developments, including the Marina development.

It would be interesting on the feasability study/ business plan into the proposed Marina, showing the benefit (£££) to the local economy of the larger development against the reduced budget marina.

The other long term issue that I have about the Marina is that Campbeltown is to become a Holiday/retirement village, with the growth of the middle-class past-times of Golf and Sailing, therefor displacing the locals.

middle-class past-times of Golf and Sailing

Not everyone who enjoys these hobbies is middle class..far from it!

weetoonboy wrote:@ Sport

Im definetly not against the development of the AWP

Hi weetoonboy

That is good to hear, your post last night suggested you were a supporter in the past so good to hear you still are!

weetoonboy wrote:Initially I was a supporter of the AWP but times have changed, and in this time of austerty, it would seem more prudent to ensure 1st class facilities were included with the building of a new school.

On another note and for information Argyll & Bute Council contacted us this morning to say SportScotland had cancelled the meeting again and the decision with regards SportScotland funding would be made at a later date!! However, thanks to the efforts of Argyll & Bute Council (especially Muriel Kupris) and Councillor Rory Colville and a short but sweet (not!) e-mail from the AWP Campaign Group to SS the meeting will now be on 30th June.

We cannot stress enough how supportive Argyll & Bute Council are of the proposed AWP and it is comforting to know we have people at Kilmory looking after our interests.

Another delay, another disappointment but all the signs are very positive with regards the application. No public announcement can be made after next Thursday's meeting if the application is successful as until until the formal offer has been made and accepted, in writing by Argyll & Bute Council. (approx 2 weeks later)

Please don't start a thread which reads AWP v Marina. As far as I was led to believe the Marina was short of match-funding to take forward its original plans for an all-dancing facility. Everyone in Campbeltown is behind both projects and the money is better used providing facilities that are feasable and within our financial radar - eg both projects at an achievable level.

I do agree that the CHORD Fund appears to have been raided to avoid the Council's own responsibilty - allegedly, in this case, its own priority committment to the AWP. However, there has been no improvements to field sports facilities in Campbeltown for generations, and, with a little consideration both of these intiatives can be taken forward to fruition for the benefit of all concerned.

Just one other point. The AWP in Lochgilphead is a multi purpose, non-competitive surface. With luck, the one we will have in Campbeltown is a 3rd Generation surface, which is a full sized competitve surface accepted by FIFA for all grades of affiliated football. A new school should have the other form of AWP provision similar to Lochgilphead. But that is in the future. The present is what concerns me and, hopefully both projects can be taken forward to the satisfaction of all concerned.

Technical Workshop - 28th June 2011

Argyll and Bute Council would cordially like to invite members of the public to a second technical workshop in respect of the berthing facilities in Campbeltown Loch on the 28 June 2011 in the Burnett Building in Campbeltown from 10.00am until 13.30pm.

Hyder Consulting Ltd, in consortium with DTZ have been appointed by the Council to engage directly with stakeholders in respect of the existing facilities managed by Campbeltown Loch Berthing Company. The key areas being explored include developing alternative technical solutions, identifying the most suitable organisation to manage an improved facility and establish potential funding sources. The responses captured from stakeholders will assist the consultants as they develop the new options for the berthing facility. The study is due to be completed later in the summer.

Invitations are extended to anyone who would like to attend, however, we would ask that anyone interested in attending contact us to let us know, in order to manage numbers on the day. The easiest way to let us know is by using this online form. Alternatively, please contact Fiona McGregor by 1pm on Monday 27th June if you will be attending the workshop –

* Tel: 01546 604255
* e-mail: fiona.mcgregor@argyll-bute.gov.uk
* Address: Development and Infrastructure, 1A Manse Brae, Lochgilphead, PA31 8RD

Invitations have already been sent to those who have expressed an interest in the past and other known stakeholders.

Mack wrote:Please don't start a thread which reads AWP v Marina. As far as I was led to believe the Marina was short of match-funding to take forward its original plans for an all-dancing facility. Everyone in Campbeltown is behind both projects and the money is better used providing facilities that are feasable and within our financial radar - eg both projects at an achievable level.

Isn't that just exactly what the Campbeltown Courier did yesterday with their headline "Marina hits the rocks"? It leads the reader into the story with the belief there isn't going to be a marina and then highlights the money went to the All Weather Pitch. To many who don't understand what happened they now believe we are not getting a marina because of the All Weather Pitch and many in the AWP Campaign Group last night commented on the number of people who made this remark yesterday following the Courier's headline.

I'm not going over what happened again but the bottom line is the business plan for the marina was flawed and was about to be totally thrown out of the water. The Council made the correct decision to transfer some of the money to the All Weather Pitch project which had a full busines case that stacked up and ready to go. To say the money should never have been moved is incorrect too and quite frankly undermines the efforts of those who have campaigned tirelessly for the All Weather Pitch.

IF you do read the full story (and that is the problem many don't!) it highlights that the marina proposals are still there and if anything there is a chance the money pot could be around (or more) than previously allocated by the CHORD project.

The marina will go ahead all-be-it on a smaller scale than originally envisaged, The AWP will also go ahead. I think that's a good result considering at one stage the marina was up the spout completely and the AWP was removed from the councils capital programme.

John S wrote:The marina will go ahead all-be-it on a smaller scale than originally envisaged, The AWP will also go ahead. I think that's a good result considering at one stage the marina was up the spout completely and the AWP was removed from the councils capital programme.

Absolutely spot on John, that sums it up exactly. The politics should be left out of the decision that was made nearly four months on and move on which is really how the story should have been angled - positive about both!

The marina will go ahead all-be-it on a smaller scale than originally envisaged

Whats the plan on that then?