Issue - meetings

The Group held a discussion around the overflow of cars queuing for Western Ferries as well as the current parking arrangements, speeding issues, the re-positioning of the bus stop and the concerns raised regarding the sharp bend in the road.

Kevin McIntosh suggested that this matter be removed from the agenda and pursued directly with those affected.  His suggestion was to reconvene a meeting to receive information from Western Ferries about any overspill which they had been asked to monitor.  He advised that previous instances seemed to be short lived but it was best to take this away to conduct an appraisal as to how to progress this although in terms of the traffic orders in place there were limited opportunities to do anything.

Gordon Ross confirmed he was happy to meet again and that the situation was monitored by staff.  Captain McLundie stated that there have been some unforeseen issues that have caused back up but these situations have been dealt with.

Fulton McInnes stated that having no back up was unacceptable as CC get complaints potential danger and requested that the matter remain on the agenda.

Traffic calming measures were discussed in terms of the potential for a speed restriction and reinstating the central line and an abandoned car a few spaces up from the bus stop was brought to the attention of the Group.

OUTCOME

1. A meeting will be convened in January, during office hours, between Argyll and Bute Council’s Roads department, Western Ferries, Hunter’s Quay Community Council, Police Scotland and Elected Members. The purpose of the meeting will be to analyse the situation further and try and identify a solution and it was requested that a minute of the meeting be produced, with a request that the Governance and Law team provide a minute taker for the meeting.

It was noted that concerned/ affected residents should feed in their views via local Elected members or their Community Council who should raise any issues on their behalf.

2.Kevin McIntosh would take pursue the relocation of the bus stop and reinstatement of central lining.

3.PC Burton would look into the relevant legislation regarding the abandoned vehicle and report back to the Group.

Discussion took place on the congestion of traffic at Hunter’s Quay which has caused a lot of traffic issues.   Captain McLundie (think this is correct spelling) of Western Ferries confirmed he has been monitoring the traffic when the queue extends past Cammesreinach Brae as he is aware of the concerns.  It was noted that when the traffic queue extends past Cammesreinach Brae, the road becomes too narrow for 2-way traffic.

It was noted that a bus stop pole had been left in a different location from the bus stop bay when the bay was moved.  It was asked that the pole be moved, noting the bus stop bay was correctly located.

Mr & Mrs Stevenson who are local residents spoke about the danger to the area and advised their wall had been hit 3 times. There are a number of speeding drivers on this stretch of road and they expressed concerns that a fatality will happen if nothing is done to address this issue. It was suggested that speed limit signs are installed, that the parking bays be removed from the bend and that a concealed entrance sign be provided at the bad bend. It was further suggested that, on busy occasions, instead of queuing from the north, vehicles should queue from the south as used to happen on Cowal Games Saturdays. To enable this, road markings to the south should split the road into 3 lanes to ease the congestion as this would provide a central lane for the ferry, and traffic coming from the north on busy occasions should be directed along Cammesreinach Brae, George Street, James Street and Marine Parade. 

OUTCOME

The Group noted the information provided and Mr Watson agreed to take all of the above suggestions away to consider and report back to the next meeting.