The Kintyre Forum

Press release received by Councillor John Semple on 15th September 2011

LibDems must live up to the assurances given on Campbeltown Ring and Ride scrapping

SNP Councillor For South Kintyre, John Semple is calling on the Libdem, Conservative, Alliance Administration of Argyll and

Bute Council to live up to the commitments given when they proposed the scrapping of the Kintyre Ring-and-Ride bus service in last year’s budget. The service is due to be withdrawn next month.

Councillor Semple Said - “No-one disputes that the Ring-and-Ride service is expensive, but I was given express assurances during the budget debate by this administration that alternative arrangements would be set in place to ensure that vulnerable and disabled members of this community had reasonable access to public transport. It is clear from the communications I have had that no dialogue has taken place with users of the service to ascertain their needs and indeed that the council is not even fully aware of the existing services on offer. I have been given a map by the council of existing services considered to be alternative; they do not measure up to any scrutiny. Within a couple of phone calls and a visit to West Coast Motors Web Site I was able to ascertain that the alternatives are not at all viable for vulnerable and disabled people and indeed in some cases do not exist on the routes identified at all."

“It is becoming a typical signature of this administration, to have all the policies which tick boxes for their auditors about consulting with communities but then to totally fail to grasp the nettle when it most matters. It is particularly worrying that the LibDems now hold the Senior Spokespersons positions for Social Services in Andrew Nisbet and Communities in Rory Colville, they have failed to be live up to the assurances given to date.

“I call on these Council Spokespersons to engage with, and address the concerns of, users of the Campbeltown Ring and Ride Service before they withdraw it and to put real alternatives in place”

Are they going to repaint it after they scrape it?

Let's hope it's in the old Macbrayne's colours - red, white windows & pale green top !

Not wise to post after a wee dram or seven?Hence the spelling mistake.

Rodger I never touch a keyboard with a few whiskeys that's a recipe for disaster, my spelling and keyboard skills are bad enough without it, but at least you can tell its all my own work But wait - I never wrote that heading - DP you been on the brewskies

John S wrote:Rodger I never touch a keyboard with a few whiskeys that's a recipe for disaster, my spelling and keyboard skills are bad enough without it, but at least you can tell its all my own work But wait - I never wrote that heading - DP you been on the brewskies

Councillor John Semple Argyll and Bute SNP

Ring and Rude - Council ignores pleas on ring and ride service.

Media release 08/10/2011

For immediate release

A motion designed to help people affected by the removal of the ring and ride bus service in Campbeltown, brought to last week’s meeting of Argyll & Bute Council by Campbeltown Councillors John Semple and Donald Kelly, was defeated by the block votes of the LibDems on the ruling Council Administration.

Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Semple said,

“The LibDems are not only negligent towards vulnerable people in the Campbeltown area but also totally ignorant of the facts. Assurances were given that suitable alternative public transport services would be available, but it is clear that the current Administration has no plans to introduce such a service and considers that a ¾ mile walk from a bus stop across two busy junctions, is acceptable for disabled people in Campbeltown.”

“I recently questioned the logic of this cut with Transport Spokesperson Councillor Duncan MacIntyre and from his response it is clear that this administration are paying lip-service to the consequences of the cuts they make, particularly to vulnerable groups.”

“This LibDem, Conservative, alliance administration are totally unprincipled and must be swept aside.”

EDITORS note, below communication from Cllr. Macintyre and response from Cllr. Semple 26/09/2011

Dear Duncan,

Thank you for your email below, I would make the following comments around your key points

· “Vulnerable people are certainly priority ONE with regard to public transport services”.

- If this is really so, why was no attempt made to ascertain the needs of the people who used this service in order to identify if needs would be met on the withdrawal of the service? I am aware that latterly a meeting has been called with carers of users of the Woodlands centre but they only make up a small proportion of vulnerable users of the r n r.

· “priority would be given to retaining routes, where no alternative was available”.

– This is an argument for retaining the service given the roaming brief of the r n r, it is clear that no alternative was available for vast areas that it serviced, therefore by your own logic it should be retained. Although I assume you are not considering r n r as a route in making this statement but even by your logic, If you do not ask people who use the service if they have access to alternative public transport services, how will you know ?

· “service will be withdrawn after Friday 28th October 2011”

There is sufficient time remaining for you to undertake a survey of all users and representative bodies to test your logic.

· “For it size, Campbeltown is well served by a local bus service operated on a commercial basis.”

Frankly I am disappointed with this administrations obsession with meaningless statements like this. Population, demography, geography, built environment, logistics, alternatives, wealth, location, terrain, traffic management, educational needs and accessibility: all contribute towards considerations for public transport, size is practically meaningless when considered alone.

· “Red Cross with a view to ascertaining their likely interest in taking up the reduced budget(next year) to expand their activities in Campbeltown, SHOULD THE FUNDING BE AVAILABLE”

- If you recognise that there is a demand not being met for vulnerable people by the arrangements you are making just now, then you should be taking steps to meet that need now, not waiting till next financial year. Otherwise your comment at the first bullet point is very hollow indeed.

· “The Hospital is served by the local town bus service and the main door is only some 170 yards from the bus stop.”

– from the bus stop to the hospital might well be 170 yards, up an incline and across some badly cambered pavement but your optimistic figure fails even to approximate reality – the Health Centre is a further 120 yds than the hospital at 290 yds from the bus stop, and the new dental hospital is a further 222 yds that’s 342 yds from the bus stop. The pics enclosed are of the pavement camber, incline to the hospital, distance from the dental hospital and ironically the brand new bus stop at the dental hospital.

· “Social work maintained their contribution to the service for the first two year’s then withdrew leaving the transport budget to absorb the whole cost.”

- vulnerable people in this community are not interested in the petty budget squabbles between spokespersons responsible for transport and social work. If, as you say in bullet point one, that vulnerable people are a priority then that should be enough for an organised administration to find a solution before now.

· “I am sure that Social work staff have communicated to A&B Council, the impending changes possible impact and also advised clients accordingly as to the impending changes and dates and possible”

- they were totally un aware of the change until 29th July when I contacted Susan Spicer to see what discussions had taken place with the transport department – my contact was the first she had heard of it!

· “although discussion and proposals are ongoing and again, next year’s budget is still being worked on.”

- next year’s budget is 7 months away. 7 months through a winter. Yesterday I was informed of a client at Woodlands Centre, who suffers from Down’s Syndrome, who has been told that his public transport option offered to him as a NUMBER ONE PRIORITY is a ¾ mile walk from a bus stop on Ralston Rd across an exposed Limecraigs Road and two busy school junctions with no crossing places to the Woodlands centre. If that’s what merits priority treatment by this administration then god help us all...

I look forward to your further comments addressing the specific issues I outline for each bullet point above.

Regards,

John Semple
Councillor for Ward l -South Kintyre
Realising our potential together
Telephone - 01586 553765
Mobile - 07713614481
john.semple@argyll-bute.gov.uk

Councillor John Semple Argyll and Bute SNP

Ring and Rude - Council ignores pleas on ring and ride service.

Media release 08/10/2011

For immediate release

Ring & Rude? Is the council providing a service for dirty phone calls. A money spinner if ever I heard one. It could pay for a new marina

Councillor John Semple Argyll and Bute SNP

Media release 26/10/11

Campbeltown Ring and Ride U-turn.

Commenting on the recent U-turn by Argyll and Bute Councils Administration, local campaigner for the service Councillor John Semple said -

“I have been making the case to the LibDem, Conservative Alliance Administration who lead this council since May, and even up until very recently, there has been no recognition of the facts affecting the users of this service. I am glad to see that finally some common sense seems to be filtering through, although I think it is more likely that this Administration fear another Opposition backed Special Council Meeting like the one that blew away their Schools Closure Programme which Local LibDem Councillors were so determined to pursue”

“I wrote to the Provost on Monday asking that, in light of the petition and the total lack suitable alternatives, that he attempts to persuade the administration to give this service a reprieve, I am glad to see that he has been able to overcome the obstacles that the leader of the council was not ready to put aside at the last council meeting, only three weeks ago, when the Administration voted on block to continue with this cut.”

“I will continue to look after the interests of the most vulnerable people in this community as the administration’s plans materialise”

Quote from Michael Russell MSP

"I congratulate the community and John Semple on their success in forcing a climb down from the Council. Just weeks ago Cllr Duncan MacIntyre , who speaks on Transport for the beleaguered Kilmory administration was arrogantly justifying the withdrawal of this vital service. Now his Council colleagues have left him exposed by accepting his arguments were wrong and were damaging to the interests of the most vulnerable. He must surely now have to consider his position."

http://forargyll.com/2011/02/is-the-council-now-about-to-make-a-mess-of-the-transport-service/

I was forwarded this article by a 'concerned' union colleague that I used to work with before moving to Argyll, I don't know if anyone with 'local knowledge' would like to comment on this article?