Campbeltown to Ballycastle Ferry

[LO]

BBC Radio Ulster ran a story tonight saying that Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has withdrawn the NI portion of the funding for the ferry (i.e. £300K/annum).At this stage there is no official statement to this effect but the BBC understands that he has written to Jack McConnell outlining his position although the reasoning behind the move is unclear.

It could be that this is part of Mr Hain's "cruel to be kind" policy which is to say he is going out of his way to introduce unpopular policies and take controversial decisions from Westminster to try and persuade the ordinary citizens of the Province to put pressure on the native politicians to sit once more in Stormont.

If this story is true, it will be a major test of the Executive's mettle as to how they deal with the situation, which ammounts to little short of bully-boy tactics from Hain. The Executive have consistently nailed their colours to the mast with regard to the ferry, and indeed both Jack McConnell and our local MSP George Lyon have stood at meetings in Campbeltown pledging their unconditional support. It will be interesting to see what materialises in the next few days and how George and Jack measure up to the challenge of protecting both the constituency and the wider Scottish interest.

In the meantime, two excellent ferry companies have been waiting in limbo since the end of June for final confirmation that they will be allowed to proceed to the next stage of the tendering process. They have acted with great dignity while this political pantomime has unfolded around them and I sincerely hope they are both willing to hang in there until we reach some kind of endgame. Whatever they decide, I think they deserve our respect and gratitude for staying the course as long as they have.

I'm sorry I can't find a link to the piece that was carried but I received my account of events by phone from the BBC in Belfast so I have no reason to doubt it.



The fight continues!

Les

[Ticketty Boo!]

On one hand, Hain's comments would appear to make sense.
On the other - why impose sanctions upon your own people?
I get the impression that Hain is doing everything he can to get out of that job? If this is the case, he seems to be making a "no bad" effort so far?

[Radio]

Some quotes:

Campbeltown Ballycastle Ferry





Commenting on the news that the Northern Ireland office has withdrawn its support for the Campbeltown Ballycastle tendering process, local MSP George Lyon said:



“I am bitterly disappointed that UK Ministers in the Northern Ireland office have decided to walk away from the tendering process at this late stage, especially when we were so close to securing a ferry operator.



This is another setback which will be greeted with disbelief by the local community in Kintyre.



We can only hope that the peace process talks at St Andrews are successful and that Stormont reconvenes and the political parties in Northern Ireland, who have all expressed support for this project, overturn the UK Minister’s decision.”





Ends


Next Please........



REID HITS OUT AT GOVERNMENT FAILURE TO FUND CAMPBELTOWN-BALLYCASTLE FERRY SERVICE



Alan Reid, Liberal Democrat MP for Argyll & Bute, reacted to the refusal of the Labour Government to pay their share of the costs of re-starting the Campbeltown-Ballycastle ferry service by saying,



“I am very angry at the Labour Government’s decision to pull the plug on the Campbeltown-Ballycastle service at this late stage.



“The Scottish Executive had agreed to pay their share of the costs. The ferry has the support of all the Northern Ireland parties. Before the Northern Ireland Executive had collapsed in 2002, they had agreed to back the ferry. The Government had also agreed to back the ferry before the last General Election.



“Previous efforts to re-start the ferry had failed because no operator could be found, but two operators have now stated their interest in tendering for the route, so it is very frustrating that the Government have pulled the plug now.



“I will keep up the campaign to re-start this ferry service which would be of great benefit to both Kintyre, on the Scottish side of the water and Moyle, on the Northern Irish side.



“Hopefully the talks between the Northern Ireland political parties currently underway at St Andrew’s will result in the re-starting of the Northern Ireland Assembly. If power were to be devolved to the Assembly, I am sure that it would agree to re-start the ferry service.”



ENDS

[John S]

Jim Mather said

The news that the Northern Ireland Office has decided to withdraw their agreed share of £300,000 per annum from the subsidy negotiated for the re-introduction of the Campbeltown/Ballycastle ferry service has brought an angry reaction from Jim Mather MSP, (Highlands & Islands) Shadow spokesman for Enterprise. Details of the reasons behind this decision are as yet unclear but this is a devastating blow to hopes that were encouraged by the Scottish Executive that the service might be brought back in 2007

Mr Mather said,

“I am astounded at the way that this news has emerged although I am not so surprised at its timing. It will not escape the notice of Kintyre that the Scottish Parliament is in recess at present and the Transport Minister cannot be interrogated.

The whole process of trying to set up this service has been beset from start to finish with a succession of promises to the people of Kintyre that have repeatedly failed to materialise.

At every election that has arisen since the service was first withdrawn the prospect of its re-introduction has been an election issue. Yet the subsidy 0n effer for this vital route has remained at the relatively modest level of £1 million per annum, split 70/30 between the Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Office.

It is not only cynics that believe that the Executive have kept the option open but with no real desire of promoting it seriously.

In spite of that an immense amount of work has been carried out to make the case for the re-introduction of the service by the Kintyre business community and this has also involved their opposite numbers from across the North Channel in Ulster.

It is totally unacceptable that this prospect could be allowed to recede at this stage.

We must now see that the Scottish Executive and the local MSP, who is a Deputy Minister, explain themselves and demonstrate how they intend to recover the situation for a community that has already paid dearly for their delays and incompetence.

There are many questions to be asked and answers will emerge in the fullness of time. I see this as an opportunity presently lost that may emerge with more hope after next May.

The simple fact is that Kintyre and Scotland can benefit from the restoration of the historic link between Antrim and Kintyre.

It must be re-instated.”

What a farce -

Transport is a devolved matter care of a Liberal MSP Tavish Scott
Finance of transport is a devolved matter. The deputy finance minister is our own Liberal MSP George Lyon
The Deputy First Minister has been involved in the issue of the ferry and knows the value of it to the area - Liberal MSP Nicol Stephen

Union Jack McConnel must be splittin his sides

If these guys can not come up with something better than "it ain't our fault gov, honest. Maybe that nice Mr Blair will fix it for us"
Then its gotta be Hasta la vista, baby for them

The fact remains if - If we had our own Government with REAL control over our own affairs this service would have been running 12 months ago. George and Allan have shot their bolts - and they know it.

[Ranald]

Blah blah blah my party's better than his party, no it isn't mine is the best, no ours is.

All talk and no action.

At least the Tories got a boat in the water

[John S]

At least the Tories got a boat in the water

The Tories gifted a boat that belonged the Scottish tax payers, to a private firm to provide a service which has been universally slammed as a joke. There would be more chance of getting a credible service off the ground if that abhorrent disaster had never taken place at all.

[4th gen Suthen']

think you might be barking up the wrong radio mast there John......

[John S]

Thanks 4th, duly amended

Apologies

John S

[Surfbored]

Is it nearly election time already?

If I won the lottery I might be tempted to buy people a ferry just to get rid of this topic.

It's pointless trying to point out it was a rotten idea in the 1st place. Passing elections and passing election promises don't make it a better one.

Sorry to be so negative, but maybe it's about time that people took what they are good at, ie. lobbying/campaigning and put their talent and energies into a more deserving idea/project.

[4th gen Suthen']

You are wrong about that Surfbored.

[John S]

Sorry to be so negative, but maybe it's about time that people took what they are good at, ie. lobbying/campaigning and put their talent and energies into a more deserving idea/project.

Why do you think it is not a deserving topic? and what do you consider to be more deserving?

I'd also point out that the getting the tendering process to this stage has been a 3 year exercise next years election is incidental however it does provide an opportunity to focus political will.

[Sweltered]

Is it nearly election time already?

If I won the lottery I might be tempted to buy people a ferry just to get rid of this topic.

It's pointless trying to point out it was a rotten idea in the 1st place. Passing elections and passing election promises don't make it a better one.

Sorry to be so negative, but maybe it's about time that people took what they are good at, ie. lobbying/campaigning and put their talent and energies into a more deserving idea/project.

I have to agree with you on this one. The ferry is a "Field of Dreams" "If you build it they will come". Well, they did build it and they didn't come, at least not in viable numbers. The ferries that are viable around the country serve a necessity. This one wouldn't. There is no reason for people to stop before they get on or after they get off, and until such times as there IS a reason, a ferry is not going to be successful. Hoping a ferry will boost the local economy is putting the cart before the horse.

What has been done in the last three years, to be in place for when the ferry returns?

I don't know what else the money could be better spent on, but my hat is on standby, if a ferry ever becomes profitable and causes a boom in Campbeltown, I'll eat it.
Build a casino, that'd work.

[John S]

Is it nearly election time already?

If I won the lottery I might be tempted to buy people a ferry just to get rid of this topic.

It's pointless trying to point out it was a rotten idea in the 1st place. Passing elections and passing election promises don't make it a better one.

Sorry to be so negative, but maybe it's about time that people took what they are good at, ie. lobbying/campaigning and put their talent and energies into a more deserving idea/project.

I have to agree with you on this one. The ferry is a "Field of Dreams" "If you build it they will come". Well, they did build it and they didn't come, at least not in viable numbers. The ferries that are viable around the country serve a necessity. This one wouldn't. There is no reason for people to stop before they get on or after they get off, and until such times as there IS a reason, a ferry is not going to be successful. Hoping a ferry will boost the local economy is putting the cart before the horse.

What has been done in the last three years, to be in place for when the ferry returns?

I don't know what else the money could be better spent on, but my hat is on standby, if a ferry ever becomes profitable and causes a boom in Campbeltown, I'll eat it.
Build a casino, that'd work.

A number of points

1. None involved in campaigning for the tendering of this ferry was dewy eyed enough to think that "if you build it they will come" the very first steps in revisiting the issue were taken by the Dalriada Business Action Group not the Woman’s Guild. The minimum required from the Scottish Executive was a robust business case to be made for the route before they would consider any tender - This case was made by DBAG and the tendering process started - the fact that there are still two private companies - not public - interested in committing there own funds to the route should evidence enough that the potential for a profitable service exists albeit starting with government support.

2. What business in there right mind would invest in preparing to cater for trade a ferry might bring given the uncertainty of the tendering process. I know that there are people ready to put plans into action as soon as this uncertainty is overcome.

3. Isn’t economic development a necessity? As far as I know there is only one ferry route in this country which operates at anything like a profit and it is not a lifeline service.

4. Cart before the horse? you don't know a wheel from a hoof. Why would the economy grow in Kintyre with out any external influence? Their needs to be economic engines to power growth, the ferry would provide some horsepower towards that engine

5. I cannot say that the service would ever be viable without a subsidy but how much does calmac cost the taxpayer or Northlink? Ferry services nowadays are not lifelines, they are as much part of the economic infrastructure as airports, road, and rail links, why should we accept depopulation as a fact of rural life while island communities are spoon fed support?


Put your hat back on Sweltered, I think you've got sun stroke

[Surfbored]

Sweltered has put it rather bluntly, but in most ways I have to agree.

Times change, people change, yesterday's good idea's can so easily become today's folly.

Campbeltown & Ballycastle are both areas in need of an economic boost; no argument there.
DBAG & others have done a tremendous job; noone would dispute that.

It seems to me though, that this present state of affairs was always a potential outcome, so what I'm asking is "where is plan B or C or D ?"

There must be some other economic initiative on somebody's drawing board that doesn't involve a ferry.

I guess what I am trying to say is, having an initiative like "the ferry" makes life totally easy for potential MP's. They can come here in an election year and wax lyrical about "the ferry" and then disappear until the next election.

A lot of time & A LOT of money have been thrown at this, and there is nothing ... just nothing.

Has any consideration been given to Campbeltown cutting it's losses and moving on instead of doggedly persevering with an increasingly pointless mission?

I am wholeheartedly behind the DBAGs of this world, just not in this instance, as so many glaring realities are being overlooked.

[John S]

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?