Venue: By Microsoft Teams
Contact: Julieann Small, Senior Committee Assistant - 01546 604043
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Minutes: The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and
introductions were made. Apologies for absence were intimated by: Sergeant Eddie McGunnigal,
Police Scotland; Neil Stewart, West Coast Motors; Iain
Catterwell, Timber Transport Group; Councillor
Audrey Forrest; Councillor Ross Moreland; Ronald McAlister, Bute Ferry
Committee; and Don McKillop, Calmac, |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Minutes: There
were no declarations of interest intimated.
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Minutes of the meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum as held on Tuesday 14 February 2023 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of the Cowal Transport
Forum held on Tuesday 14 February 2023 were approved as a correct record. The
Chair highlighted matters arising from the last meeting, specifically in
relation to the attendance of the NHS at the Forum. The Chair confirmed that
the NHS were not core partners and any issues relating to patient transport
should be directed to the Integration Joint Board, adding that should there be
any specific issues they would like to raise that they could be invited to a
future meeting. The
Chair also advised that he continues to highlight the need for new Calmac ferries in Dunoon and that
Calmac are facing issues with tickets and expiry
dates with it being noted that an online booking system is soon to be launched
which should help; concerns had been raised with McGill’s Buses in relation to
the large cuts in services in Inverclyde which may cause issues for people
travelling to and from Dunoon. |
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FERRIES UPDATE Opportunity
for verbal updates by Cowal Transport Forum Members Minutes: Calmac The
Forum considered an update from Iain Slorach from Calmac. Mr Slorach provided
information relating to reliability and punctuality statistics for March; the
new booking system which is to be launched this week, adding that expiry dates
for tickets bought under the new booking system will be extended until the end
of the timetable period in which they were bought. He also gave a commitment that
Calmac will be looking at the current timetable to
align it with Scotrail’s newly published timetable and
that they intend to engage with Councillor’s and the Community Councils on this
matter. The
Chair advised that he was very pleased to hear about Calmac’s
engagement with Scotrail and highlighted his thanks
to Councillor Sinclair for his continuous work on this subject. Tom
Warren advised that the digital timetable provided by Calmac
online is an embedded PDF which is not accessible for all. Mr Slorach advised that Calmac are
aware of this and that they are currently looking at improving the timetable
formats this year. Discussion
took place in relation to the carrying figures on the Gourock
to Dunoon route with it being noted that it was 30%
down. Mr Slorach advised that they haven’t seen a
return on most routes to pre-covid figures. Councillor
Sinclair advised that the removal of Scotrail’s peak
time tariff will make travelling cheaper and could increase service usage. Mr
Slorach advised that he would make enquiries on passenger
numbers with the Operation’s Team and provide a fuller response at the next
meeting of the Forum. Outcome The
Forum: 1.
noted the update by Calmac; and 2.
noted that Mr Slorach
would provide carrying figures for the Gourock to Dunoon service at a future meeting and advise colleagues of
Scotrail’s plans to remove the peak time tariff. Western Ferries Gordon
Ross from Western Ferries highlighted that they are running their summer
timetable and advised that they are waiting to see what the summer brings. In
the absence of a representative from Hunters Quay Community Council the
Committee Manager read out the following question which was submitted in
advance of the meeting: The
public announcements (safety etc.) made on Western Ferry vessels have
noticeably increased in volume leading to complaints, Can this be
addressed/adjusted? Mr
Ross advised that Western Ferries monitor the sound levels but the public
announcement have to be at levels that customers can hear them and with the
improving weather conditions these announcements may sound louder and travel
further. Gordon
Ross enquired about proposals for Dunoon Pier and
asked about progress. The Committee Manager advised that this would be subject
to consideration at the Harbour Board and that he would contact Mr Ross as soon
as a date for this had been agreed. Mr
Ross enquired about a meeting on the 2nd of March which mentioned
that new vessels for Dunoon and Kilcreggan
would be expected in 2026 and asked if Transport Scotland could provide more
information. The
Committee Manager advised that he would submit this question to Transport
Scotland on behalf of the Forum and circulate the response once received. Councillor’s
Sinclair and Hampsey wished Western Ferries a
successful season ahead. Outcome The
Forum: 1.
noted the update by Western
Ferries; and 2.
noted that the Committee Manager
would submit Mr Ross’s question to Transport Scotland and circulate the
response to the Forum. |
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PUBLIC TRANSPORT Opportunity
for verbal updates by Cowal Transport Forum Members Minutes: Strathclyde Partnership for
Transport (SPT) Allan Comrie advised that
the Carrick Castle bus service fares have been frozen with the service level
being maintained and that the SPT have replaced some of the services which were
withdrawn with publically supported services. Allan further advised of changes
to Scotrail timetables highlighting the loss of 4
fast trains from Glasgow and 5 from Gourock during
the off peak period. Allan added that SPT have written to Scotrail
and Calmac offering to liaise with them to try and
improve connection services and hope to have a response from both soon. Mr Comrie advised that
there is currently no increase to concessionary fare and added that the SPT are
mindful that customers are facing a Cost of Living Crisis. Kirstie Reid highlighted her concerns at the under
22 free bus travel and advised of the publicity around young people going on
buses and causing issues. Allan advised that the scheme is operated by the
Scottish Government and that they are legally obligated to ensure a safe
environment for all passengers, adding that if any passengers are making it
unsafe drivers would be advised to contact the Police. Outcome The Forum noted the update from SPT. Public Transport Kerris Bone highlighted that residents of Strone, Blairmore,
Ardintinny, Kilmun and
surrounding areas would like to have the bus service back to pre-pandemic
timetables. Ms Bone advised that the lack of bus services are causing problems
for people getting to and from jobs. Martin Arnold advised that he is in continual
discussions with bus operator’s to determine the right level of service for the
areas served and that he would discuss with West Coast Motors to explore how
the issues raised could be solved. Kirstie Reid highlighted the lack of bus services
in Strachur on a Saturday and asked if the Saturday
services could be restored as the current service is not practical. Martin Arnold advised of the Pingo
bookable service, which can be accessed by calling 01289 385506, and that he
would take Kirstie’s comments away and provide an update at the next Forum
meeting. Discussion took place in relation to connectivity
and the size of service vehicles available. Mr Arnold advised he is working
with operators to get the right sized vehicles for the routes to ensure
passenger demands are met. The Chair reported that he had been advised by
South Cowal Community Council that the bus service
(489) no longer goes up North Campbell Road and asked why the decision to cut
this was made. Mr Arnold advised that he was aware of some issues with the
buses travelling the road due to them being low floor accessible and that the
size of the vehicles was also causing problems due to poor manoeuvrability
within such a tight area. Mr Arnold further advised of the Pingo
provision which allows a more suitable vehicle travel to use this loop, adding
that he would take the comments back to West Coast Motors. Outcome The forum noted that the Contract Manager would
liaise with West Coast Motors to explore whether the bus service issues
highlighted can be resolved and that an update would be provided at the next
meeting of the Forum. |
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ROADS UPDATE Opportunity
for verbal updates by Cowal Transport Forum Members Minutes: In the absence of a representative from Hunters
Quay Community Council (HQCC) the Committee Manager read out the below
questions which were submitted in advance of the meeting: 1.
Signs indicating queuing
traffic were ordered last April for placing either side of Western Ferries
terminal, where are they and what was the cost? 2.
Can HQCC have the results of
the local speed survey (last year) and will this be published? The
Committee Manager advised that he had passed the questions onto colleagues in
the Roads Department and would circulate the response to the Forum once
received. Councillor
Sinclair highlighted that Transport Scotland had advised that both carriages at
the Rest and Be Thankful would be open to traffic this month. Neil MacFarlane
advised that he was not aware that there was a date for this and highlighted
that Bear Scotland are working as quickly as possible, advising that road
resurfacing would commence on the 31st of May at the Rest and Be
Thankful following the removal of the protective fencing. Kirsty
Reid, Strachur Community Council advised that she had
been approached numerous times by a lady with disabilities who had been
struggling to use the pavements in Dunoon due to
street furniture, cars being parked on the pavements and cyclists. Mrs Reid
advised she had reported it to the Council and had received an acknowledgment
email but no formal reply. The
Committee Manager requested that Mrs Reid forward the acknowledgement email and
he would request Colleagues expedite the response. Liz
Neilson, resident in Sandbank, enquired about the speed assessment in Sandbank
and asked if it had been done and if so when the results would be available. The
Committee Manager advised that he would take note of the question and would
pass it to the relevant department on behalf of Liz. Councillor
Sinclair advised that there was a speed survey carried out with new radar
equipment which monitors both ways and highlighted that he still does not have
the information back but would follow it up. Outcome The
Forum noted that the Committee Manager would circulate a response to Hunters
Quay Community Council’s questions to the Forum once received. |
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POLICE SCOTLAND Update from Police Scotland Minutes: It was noted that there was no representative from
Police Scotland at the meeting. |
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TRANSPORT SCOTLAND Update from Transport Scotland Minutes: Neil
MacFarlane from Transport Scotland provided the Forum with a verbal update. Mr
MacFarlane advised that that road resurfacing would be getting carried out at
the Rest and Be Thankful from the 31 May until the 11 June, with no works being
carried out on Friday and Saturday nights. The update also highlighted that
layby and cycleway vegetation cut-backs had been carried out on the A82 Loch Lomondside with more planned and solar bollards had been
installed at Loch Lomondside laybys with an overhaul
of the brown and white tourist signage at the same location also in planning. It
was also noted that overnight resurfacing works would be taking place along the
A83 at Campbeltown during the summer. Outcome The
Forum noted the update. |
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TIMBER TRANSPORT GROUP Update from Timber Transport Group Minutes: In the absence of Iain Catterwell
the Chair provided the following update which was submitted before the meeting: The normal timber haulage
season is just starting and is going well in the Cowal
area. The Strategic Timber Transport Scheme hasn't reported yet, and until it
does I’m unaware whether or not the A8003 improvement proposal has been
successful. Outcome The Forum noted the
update. |
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ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS Minutes: There
was no other business. |
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DATE OF FUTURE MEETINGS To be confirmed Minutes: The
Chair thanked everyone in attendance at the meeting and the Group noted that the Committee
Manager would circulate a calendar invite for a meeting, week beginning 11
September 2023, in due course. |