The New Fence at Westport

[Pete Reek]

Ah wunner wid that Roberto guy be so pi$$ed off if he owned the grun an fence that uvvryboady an thur aunties wur sprachlin ower an rooinin. Its because o the lazy wans that wid rether take the easy rodd uvvry time that the original wan got knackered in the first place. Hoot wid he say if we paraded through hees gerden an drapped ah the trooshlach o the day on the flooers an streetched the wire an slackened the stabs on the fence roon it the wey the wan at Westport wuz?
Hoots so hard aboot openin a gate, passin through an then closin it ahunt yi.
Surely if the fermer wants tae pit a fence up its up tae hum hoot size it is. Jeest cos you dont see coos or sheep disnae mean that there might naw be wans in therr in a few dezz. Therr might nuvver be wans in it, but thats up tae the guy that owns it.
Ennywey, am shure the fermer disnae gi a monkeys hoot ennyboady thinks o his fence as lang as it suits heez needs.

[Roberto]

Pongal: The reason for keeping secret whether the fence was put up by a private land owner or public entity is as empty as the space between your ears. As it turns out, you're apparently not the only one privy to this coveted information.

As I conceded earlier, it is the private land owner's perogative to put up a new fence. It nevertheless remains my right to criticize the lack of discretion exercised in doing so. Bubbly brought up a prejudice which to me seems to be at the heart of the issue here. According to Bubbly, surfers are a load of vandals who contribute nothing but hassle. I personally know several surfers who are contributing thousands of pounds to the Campbeltown economy every month and are good citizens. I know that every time I go to the beach, I never leave litter and pick up at least one piece of trash that was there before I arrived. I have to say that the greatest source of pollution that I have noted at Westport beach is from dogs' arses. That being said, many are diligent about picking up their pets' poo.

I've read a number of posts talking about the future of Campbeltown and contemplating how we can bring in new jobs and money. Well, surfing has become a multi-billion dollar sport. There is money to be made in places that have the benefit of a coastline with surf. You don't have to change the character of the town to benefit from it, just be willing to accomodate them, and not give off the vibe that they are not welcome in town. If you label them all vandals or hippies and behave accordingly, then you throw out a potential source of revenue and jobs for Campbeltownians.

There has also been a post that surfers shouldn't complain about the existence of a single access unless they are willing to pay for another. Of course, there would have been no need to create another access had the landowner simply kept what was in place (I still have heard nothing but speculation on why the new one was put up) rather than setting up the current prison camp atmosphere. Regardless, it is an irrational stereotype to assume that surfers would not be willing to contribute economically.

[hoots the scoop]

That's just typical of these effen fermers eh? .....................
spending loads of their OWN money to build a fence that will keep their animals from straying onto a very busy public road.....a fence big enough to discourage those who wish to access his property from climbing over, and in time, ruining the fence but at the same time providing an easily opened gate so the same casual users...surfers/walkers/bathers/nudists whatever, have safe and easy access...


Dear oh dear Roberto......you are dead wrong on this one..........let it drop............

[Surfbored]

Wasn't the car park at Westport (like the library and the Victoria Hall) bequested to THE PEOPLE OF CAMPBELTOWN in the dim and distant past ?

WHO own's that?

[Roberto]

Hey Hoots, have you even been to Westport before? There aren't any animals fenced in there. So, that's not one of the possible reasons for putting up the new super fence. You're right though, let him spend away regardless of the effect it has on access to the beach. While he's at it, why not put up a 10 foot fence along with sniper towers?

[Auld Pop]

Wasn't the car park at Westport (like the library and the Victoria Hall) bequested to THE PEOPLE OF CAMPBELTOWN in the dim and distant past ?

WHO own's that?

So duz thit meen the next time thur is road chips stored intae it thit ah can help masel tae a load urr 2.

[Sweltered]

Hey Hoots, have you even been to Westport before? There aren't any animals fenced in there. So, that's not one of the possible reasons for putting up the new super fence. You're right though, let him spend away regardless of the effect it has on access to the beach. While he's at it, why not put up a 10 foot fence along with sniper towers?

I have seen coos in thre numerous times in the past, maybe the farmer is going to put them in there again. I don't understand why the farmer is being villified for erecting a fence on HIS OWN LAND and trying to keep people on a single path. How much longer does it take to get on to the beach through the gate? 20 seconds, a minute?

Can someone please post a picture of this fence, so we can see how rediculous this argument is.

It's great that some of the surfers pick up rubbish, very eco friendly. Perhaps the farmer is trying prevent the ersosion of the dunes by keeping people to a single path. Get over it, (pun intended) there's always been a fence there, and it's not the first time there's been a barbed wire on it. If there is so many visitors to Westport these days, that it requires more than one gate, SNH should declare it an SSI, install a turnstyle & charge admission.

[ionnsaigh]

A wuner if it is the same fermer who steals the san at seven mile stone beach

[hoots the scoop]

steals? steals......

[bubbly jock]

Bubbly, surfers are a load of vandals who contribute nothing but hassle. I personally know several surfers who are contributing thousands of pounds to the Campbeltown economy every month

I never realized that the price of a skillet, a tin of beans and a pack of toilet roll had escalated to that.

Bloody time we had an Asda doon here

I still have heard nothing but speculation on why the new one was put up

Why do you feel he needs to tell you why he put it up, or even why the old one was taken down??

[EMDEE]

If there is so many visitors to Westport these days, that it requires more than one gate, SNH should declare it an SSI, install a turnstyle & charge admission.

The sand dunes have been a SSSI since 1986

[Sweltered]

If there is so many visitors to Westport these days, that it requires more than one gate, SNH should declare it an SSI, install a turnstyle & charge admission.

The sand dunes have been a SSSI since 1986

Thanks for the info. All the more reason for the bloody fence then!!!

[John A]

I may be wrong, but it is not unusual for farmers who have land like this beside the shore to out winter their cattle on it as it is dryand sheltered. So that may be the reason that the fence has been renewed at this time of year.

[Buzz Lightyear]

i think you may find that the cooncil funded sum of this. as for how it wis replaced, it was because the minority of the usually friendly surfers wrecked the last to burn on the bonfire. I gather the fence has been built the way it has as most peeps were climbing over ir instead of using the 'new' kissing gate, when they jump over the fence it ruins it 7 also they are breaking the law by being on the sssi site on an unrecognised path, it is apparently designed to get people using the gate & the gate only.

[Kintyre Lad]

What's the problem here, Roberto? A farmer decides to erect a fence to eradicate a problem and he has to ask for your consultation?

You have little argument here - he builds a fence round a car park which will stop people climbing it, all over the place and installs a rather expensive gate to allow visitors in and encourage people to cross using the same path.

With regards a kid losing an eye on the barb wire, I agree with bubbly - christ next you will want all the fences in Kintyre down!

I have been out a number of times with the dog and it is looks terrific - or would you rather there was no fence and next there is cars on the dunes!