Issue - meetings

The Governance Manager advised that there was a member of the public in attendance who wished to ask a question and the Chair invited him to ask his question. Following this, the Governance Manager advised that there had been four public questions submitted in advance of the meeting by John Bannatyne, Keith Wilson and Tony Oysters and in their absence read them out on their behalf.

Question from John Martin, Gigha Community Council

My question is to do with the possibility of the ferry being maintained, the route to mainland. We no longer have a church minister in Gigha and we have a service every 2 weeks, if the time comes where the new maintenance is on a Sunday, can this not collide on the same day.

The Chair advised that the question would be passed to the relevant Officer and Mr Martin would receive a written response following the meeting.

Question from Keith Wilson, Kintyre and Gigha Night Sky Group

Gigha’s new lighting causing light pollution. 

Argyll and Bute Council recently installed new LED street lights on the approach to the ferry slipway. 

They were also requested by the community to provide lighting in the ferry car park. 

The Council’s chosen solution for the car park lighting was to install two very powerful floodlights on the top of the streetlights. This caused severe light pollution across Gigha’s campsite as well as a residence. 

To address this issue the lights on two tall lamp posts have now been rotated 180°. The street lights now face away from the road, lighting the car park and the flood lights now illuminate the road, the beach, the bay, the moorings, the Boathouse restaurant and beyond. 

I find it unbelievable that Argyll and Bute Council would even consider that using powerful floodlights in a rural dark sky location in this way is acceptable good lighting practice.

My question is - what can be done to remove these floodlights and provide appropriate lighting for both the road and car park? 

The Project Manager advised that Roads and Infrastructure Services have received correspondence from Gigha Night Sky Group and colleagues are looking at different options, to explore what can be done to reduce the light level, whilst still providing appropriate illumination for the car park and road. It was noted that the Project Manager would respond directly to Gigha Night Sky Group and circulate the updated position with the Committee.

Question from John Bannatyne

After some considerable time of requesting Argyll and Bute council have installed some much needed lighting for the ferry car park on the Isle of Gigha, a longstanding request, these are causing a few issues amongst the recent arrivals to the community, do you think the council would consider this set of 2 lights being changed to a seasonal supply, October to March, they are there at the request of the commuters and school children on the island having some safety measures in place when accessing their vehicles in the car park. If the council could consider this request to seasonal car park lighting it may help to keep everyone happy, please note this does not include the slipway lighting which is an essential navigation aid.

The Project Manager advised that he would explore the options and provide a response directly to Mr Bannatyne, and circulate the response to the Committee.

Questions from Tony Oysters

Question 1

Can the councillors assure us that any future development of the toilets at Tayinloan include a waiting room as the current facility is vital as a place where visitors and particularly schoolchildren can escape from the weather while they wait for the ferry.  It is also well used by local individuals and businesses as a place where goods can be left for collection and in my case is actually vital to operating my business.

The Project Manager advised that the waiting facilities would be considered as part of the wider project looking at new harbour infrastructure at both sides of the crossing.

Question 2

Can the newly fitted super bright lights at the slipway be put on a timer so that they only operate when it's dark and the ferry is operating.  They appeared a month or two back and after complaints were made they were simply turned round to face out over Ardminish bay.  They are on for all the hours of darkness despite the fact that the only requirement, if there actually is a requirement for them at all, would surely be in winter only when the ferry is operating in darkness (ie 7am to 9am and 4pm to 6.30pm).  This would not only save the council money but would stop the extreme irritation that the islands residents feel towards these lights.  They are incredibly bright, in direct contravention of Gigha's dark sky designation and shine over directly onto any visiting yachts, my house and importantly they will illuminate Ardminish bay during all the winter darkness hours when the bay is used by many hundred birds as a safe winter roost.  Bright lights like these have been shown as having a serious negative effect on roosting birds.

It was noted that the Project Manager would investigate this and respond directly to Mr Oysters, and circulate the response to the Committee.

There were no public questions.