What is needed?????

[EMDEE]

What about music then? We all know about the abundance of musical talent we have locally and we all see the effect The Music Festival has on the town in August. Should we not make more use of this talent? How about having workshop weekends when people can come and try their hand at learning/playing fiddle/bagpipes/brass etc? Can we stage more mini-festivals showcasing the the best of local talent on a more requent basis?

How about this?

http://www.feisean.org/

[Buzz Lightyear]

No matter what gets done in the town we have got to realise that we are in this for the long haul.....we are probably looking at 15-20 years here before the toon fully recovers.

Why do we always knock everything & look at the downside to everything, lets look at all the positives, i think it will take a while but i am convinced we will get there.

[John S]

No matter what gets done in the town we have got to realise that we are in this for the long haul.....we are probably looking at 15-20 years here before the toon fully recovers.

Why do we always knock everything & look at the downside to everything, lets look at all the positives, i think it will take a while but i am convinced we will get there.

So much for this being started this month..........or was it supposed to be october 07, october 08, october 09??????????3

What i want to know is what have they done with the 500k+ that they got from AIE???? public money once again.

i rest my case....rant over

I agree with your first quote Buzz, but you don't seem to believe it yourself

[EMDEE]

The Herald article, and the report that it relates to are only that, an article and a report looking at the 262 towns in Scotland between 2000 and 20000 population. There is no mention as yet of any concrete action being taken to try to address the problems facing these places. Much of the information contained in the report is obvious to anyone, and one wonders how much it cost the taxpayer for consultants to produce it, and what was the purpose of it other than to confirm what was already known. However we have to look on it as a starting point.

For Mr. Petrie to commiserate over the state of Campbeltown, quite apart from his former role with the water authority is a bit rich coming from someone who is a member of the parliament (albeit an opposition member) that is presiding over this state of affairs. What we need from people in his position is some sort of positive action or statement as to how they are going to address these problems. This is a major and complex issue which can only get worse if nothing is done. What we do not need is papering over the cracks by inviting major companies to set up an operation in an area where it would be commercial stupidity to do so without grant aid. This is obviously unsustainable.

What we have to remember here is that the Scottish Parliament could be described by the cynical as containing a lot of former councillors and hobby politicians, some of them possibly supplementing their already generous pension from a former career from which they have had early retirement, and Scottish politicians of any calibre and ambition are well advised to seek election to the UK parliament.

Whilst the report states that there is a widespread problem with towns of this size, I would venture to suggest that Campbeltown is in a worse position than many, if not most, because of its remote location, and much of the impetus for change and improvement of the area needs to come from within. The report confirms this. Any town affected by this needs to identify its strengths, and where it has a potential for economic growth, and try to get some positive action from any authorities involved in regional development in order to advance.

In agreeing with Buzz Lightyear about negative and positive attitudes, I would say that it is imperative that a positive outlook be taken, but at the same time potential negative outcomes need to be borne in mind.

To ionnsaigh I would say that as usual, you have a valid point to make, and I think the way to combat the scenario that you describe is to have more community and local involvement in the future direction of the town. Nobody knows a locality like locals do.

If any initiatives were being taken by the Scottish Executive following on from this report, then Kintyre would have to fight for as great a share of this as possible, as it looks like there would be a lot of competition.

[Buzz Lightyear]

No matter what gets done in the town we have got to realise that we are in this for the long haul.....we are probably looking at 15-20 years here before the toon fully recovers.

Why do we always knock everything & look at the downside to everything, lets look at all the positives, i think it will take a while but i am convinced we will get there.

So much for this being started this month..........or was it supposed to be october 07, october 08, october 09??????????3

What i want to know is what have they done with the 500k+ that they got from AIE???? public money once again.

i rest my case....rant over

I agree with your first quote Buzz, but you don't seem to believe it yourself

John take your point here, my point with this is that if you remember, which i am sure you will, we ( the community) were told that this course would have been completed by now, employing locals at both the course, course buildings & indeed the Royal hotel. Funding has been given to this organisation to start this project which should have been finished or nearly finished by now, point here i am trying to make is, yes we are in it for the long haul, but something like this will take time to build up a core business, instead of mking money & generating industry for the town now, we will have to wait 2 years down the line from now, or indeed it may never happen.

[dedalus]

Ah - you could all do well to read the history of Campbeltown book and then ask yourself why did it ever exist? and which reasons are still relevant.

Farming - yes

fishing......eh no, not untill we make it sustainable - maybe we should ban motorised fishing go back to sailing ships.

Forrestry yes but it doesnt employ many.

Industry - no forget it. its gone. Grants aside no-one in thier right mind would bring industry to c'town

Tourism - hmmm - I suppose so but - with so few hotels and actual things to do as opposed to simply going to an unspoilt beach - I doubt it will ever come to much - but maybe a mid sized ferry could make the trip from Troon - after all we all subsidise the Arran ferry - why not C'town - in its own way its even more remote than Arran .

Personally I look at some of the old photos from the 50s and 60s and 70s and I dont think, ....I know we are going backwards. Sailing ships in the loch, steam puffers, the Machrihanish railway - and everything looks so clean. Dont get me wrong I'm no luddite, I make a living from technology the newer the better, but something's.....................rotten in general with our society where we are all content to just keep feeding the "fat and feckless" unemployed. Then we wonder when the devil finds work for all these idle hands that find ever more ways to subsidise the buroo checks with drug dealing, theft and violence.

If they were all searching for thier next meal they wouldnt have time to commit crimes.

Friday rant over - have a good one.

[Golfmad]

Machrihanish Golf Club had over a thousand golfers a month this summer visiting from outwith (and their the ones that paid) Kintyre, many from overseas.

Golf has been attracting visitors to Kintyre since 1859, it can't be moved or closed down, it's not there because of a subsidy it's an asset to the whole area.

Golfmad


...tee me up

PS Buzz. AIE only pays grants after the applicant spends the money ie the people doing the new course won't get any of 'your' money for the golf course unless they built it. The Carrick at Loch Lomond has just been finished at a cost of £18m (just for the golf course), I'm sure the new links at Machrihanish will be a huge boon for the area and the town, especially visitor numbers.

[Golfmad]

A Troon Ferry would be great for golfers. Last year 246,000 visiting golfers came to the Aryshire coast to play (second only behind the St Andrews area), a fast ferry from Troon that was well marketed through the golfworld and promoted heavily in Aryshire would probably hit the spot. If only 5% came that's 5,000 plus new visitors via Campbeltown! If it was a fast ferry (ie no cars) they'd all need taxi's (local), rental cars (local ), petrol (local), food (local) etc........ and it's sustainable, as long as global warming doesn't wipe out the links although I guess Campbeltown would have bigger drainage issues being underwater.

...tee me up

[EMDEE]

A Troon Ferry would be great for golfers. Last year 246,000 visiting golfers came to the Aryshire coast to play (second only behind the St Andrews area), a fast ferry from Troon that was well marketed through the golfworld and promoted heavily in Aryshire would probably hit the spot. If only 5% came that's 5,000 plus new visitors via Campbeltown! If it was a fast ferry (ie no cars) they'd all need taxi's (local), rental cars (local ), petrol (local), food (local) etc........ and it's sustainable, as long as global warming doesn't wipe out the links although I guess Campbeltown would have bigger drainage issues being underwater.

...tee me up

I think Golfmad has highlighted a potential area of tourism that has been touched on elsewhere on this forum. This is part of the wide spectrum of routes that can be taken to develop the tourism industry.

There is a growing worldwide market for holidays that give the tourist more than just a holiday, but a memorable and even educational experience that will broaden their horizons. I am thinking here of what could broadly be described as the environmental, cultural and historical market, including ecotourism, which is a fast growing sector. Kintyre has potential in these areas.

Examples:

Thousands of tourists and pilgrims visit the island of Iona every year because of its associations with St Columba. How many of them go to Southend or even know of his connections with the place?

How many of the thousands of visitors to the recently rebuilt internationally known visitor centre at Glencoe based on the 1692 massacre are aware of the even bigger massacre that took place at Dunaverty in 1647?

Arguably, much of the tourism at these two places could be said to be due to marketing. Why not market Kintyre’s heritage more vigorously?

Not everybody is looking for a fast-paced frantic holiday with all the associated nightlife.

[Buzz Lightyear]

Machrihanish Golf Club had over a thousand golfers a month this summer visiting from outwith (and their the ones that paid) Kintyre, many from overseas.

Golf has been attracting visitors to Kintyre since 1859, it can't be moved or closed down, it's not there because of a subsidy it's an asset to the whole area.

Golfmad


...tee me up

PS Buzz. AIE only pays grants after the applicant spends the money ie the people doing the new course won't get any of 'your' money for the golf course unless they built it. The Carrick at Loch Lomond has just been finished at a cost of £18m (just for the golf course), I'm sure the new links at Machrihanish will be a huge boon for the area and the town, especially visitor numbers.

golfmad, i know the golf course is a great success & operates at profit & is probably the biggest generator of business like this in the area. its not 'MY' money as your are pointing out, it is 'OUR' money, everyones taxes & so on, i know AIE only pay out after the evnet, i think with that statement you have just said all that needs to be said about the proposed golf course???? why has it not went ahead then .....have they not got the money up front to do it?????

A Troon Ferry would be great for golfers. Last year 246,000 visiting golfers came to the Aryshire coast to play (second only behind the St Andrews area), a fast ferry from Troon that was well marketed through the golfworld and promoted heavily in Aryshire would probably hit the spot. If only 5% came that's 5,000 plus new visitors via Campbeltown! If it was a fast ferry (ie no cars) they'd all need taxi's (local), rental cars (local ), petrol (local), food (local) etc........ and it's sustainable, as long as global warming doesn't wipe out the links although I guess Campbeltown would have bigger drainage issues being underwater.

you have already got this to a certain degree with the kintyre express, i think you are intimating a bigger ferry would be better, if that is the case, where are yuo going to put them all, we have no hotels, first we have t osort this out & then look at the bigger picture. Totally agree it is sustainable & i think we are safe in saying the course will be there for a few years yet. Why has some group from the great & good not cottoned on to this yet, as Emdee has highlighted there is plenty other avenues to go down, i guess it is trying to strike the balance & finding what fits, most importantly i feel it is also getting the right group to do it, your heart has got to be in it to win it!

[ionnsaigh]

What about a Youth Hostel, the town could approach the SYHA. There are a few empty buildings that could fit this purpose.
Or a new up market trailer park, within walking distance from town. Perhaps the council could buy a glass bottom boat, or apply to the Royal Navy for a submarine. What about a floating casino. You could hold a national poetry and songwriting competition, see if Paul would put his name to it. Have a Kintyre lottery. Upgrade Arglye FM. Form a Longrow action committee, get the Schools involved. Arrange meetings with Woolworth, Tesco, Coop, lets see what they can come up with.Remove the pedestrian crossing. Have a School competition to see what viable ideas the young have.Open a town working learning farm.
Paint the Town Hall Pink. A deep sea fishing competition, take out an advert in the Angler times or whatever its called. A helicopter service between Campbeltown centre and Glasgow. A local TV broadcasting unit and station. Twin with as many towns across the world. Open a go cart or racing track. Issue a mock passport to visitors. Open up the lighthouse to paying guests. Have a yearly story telling competition apply to one of the leading booksellers for advice ( Borders) Use the old Hotel at Southend for Ghost tours.Contact the Irish film industry for hints. Have a annual cooking competition invite a TV chef. Invent a new eye catching slogan, the same way you did with the swimming pool. Well done that wee lassie- great name.

[EMDEE]

Apparently Ayr is a world leader in the tourism industry:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/gla ... 088864.stm

Maybe if there was a ferry, Kintyre could cash in on an overspill here, (although we don't have Burns).

[bill]

Howz about a gay pride weekend?

Cash in on the pink pound!

Works for London..Manchester..Sydney....

[Sweltered]

Howz about a gay pride weekend?

Cash in on the pink pound!

Works for London..Manchester..Sydney....

I would pay to see the reactions of some people to this suggestion. It would be like the time the Young Farmers of Idaho were booked into Disney at the same time as "Gay Days". The farmers spent their 4 days in Orlando in their hotels, in case they got molested in Disneyland

The City of Clearwater is considering this very idea, as the pink dollar is reckoned to be worth about $1billion over here. Apparantly there was a run on corks when the word leaked out.

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Open up the lighthouse to paying guests. Have a yearly story telling competition apply to one of the leading booksellers for advice ( Borders)

Ionnsaigh, there was a discussion in the past about the lighthouses, and the fact that Robert Louis Stevenson's family built at least 3 of them in the area, which I found very interesting. Seems to me that would be a good theme.

http://www.kintyreforum.com/viewtopic.p ... =stevenson