Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Yvonne McNeilly and Ross Moreland; Sophie Marshall, Police Scotland; Richard Hadfield, Transport Scotland and Kirstie Reid, Strachur Community Council.

Forum members raised concerns that there was no representative from CalMac at the meeting.

Action

The Chair to liaise with CalMac regarding their representation at future meetings of the Cowal Transport Forum.

There were no declarations of interest.

Minutes of the meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum held on Monday 7 October 2024

The minutes of the meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum held on Monday 7 October 2024 were approved as a correct record.

The Chair highlighted that since the last meeting of the Forum there that a one to one meeting with the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie, had been arranged and had been held immediately before the Forum. The Chair advised that this had been a positive meeting with lots to take away from it and that he would ensure any subsequent updates from the Ministers office would be circlulated.

Update from Police Scotland

Inspector Bart Simonis provided the Forum with a verbal update on the ongoing work of the service. He advised that Friday’s storm was challenging for Argyll and Bute, and that he had witnessed great partnership working  together with lots of help from the community to keep things moving throughout the area. Inspector Simonis advised that social media went down and communication with Officers on the Isle of Bute was lost. He thanked the community for all their help. The Chair also thanked the community and all the emergency services for their assistance.

Inspector Simonis advised that speeding and driving complaints remain prevalent within Cowal and Bute and that driver behaviour and the impact this has on our community remains a focus for local policing. Local officers have been on joint patrols with officers from the traffic division to upskill and to cascade learning to others.  He advised that across Argyll and Bute there had been 47 reported road accidents and 33 driving offences since 1 November 2024.

The Preventions Team are planning a number of road safety roadshows in the coming months which were well received in 2024, the first will take place at Dunoon Community Fire Station on Saturday 1^st February.

Outcome

The Forum noted the update from Police Scotland and that details of the road safety shows would be circulated.

Update By Chair of the Cowal Transport Forum

The Chair advised that in 2024 CalMac had approached him to comment on the proposed changes to the sailing timetable and that he had organised subsequent discussions with various member of the Forum. Councillor Hampsey advised that CalMac wished to continue this approach in a more structured way and as such proposed an informal sub-group consisting of Councillors, CalMac, West Coast Motors, Scotrail and some community council members to meet around 3 times a year to look at proposed timetables.

Outcome

The Forum noted the update on the CalMac timetable consultation proposal and that the Chair would advise of the date to the sub-group.

Western Ferries

Gordon Ross highlighted the challenges of Friday’s storm for the service, adding that normal service had resumed by Saturday lunchtime.

M Ross advised that the summer timetable would be introduced at the beginning of April and stated his disappointment for the people in Dunoon who would now suffer due to the increases in SPT fares and the exclusion from Road Equivalent Tariff (RET). Discussion was had on the SPT fares; the 10% increase in April; the discrimination of RET not being included and the recent Motion that had been agreed at the last Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee meeting of 19 December 2024.

Allan Comrie, SPT explained the background to the concessionary fare scheme for the 12 local authorities involved and advised that if fares were frozen the scheme would become unsustainable and the reserves would quickly become exhausted.

Outcome

The Forum noted:

1.    the update from Western Ferries; and

2.    that the Chair would confirm the subsequent actions regarding the Motion that had been agreed at the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee..

Opportunity for verbal updates by Cowal Transport Forum Members

Councillor Gordon Blair provided an update on the meeting with SPT regarding the increase of the concessionary fares.

Outcome

The Forum noted the update on SPT Concessionary Fares.

Scotrail

Ewan Tait provided an update on the recent damage caused by the storm including over 120 trees on the lines across the network. Updates were also provided on the Inverclyde routes; passenger numbers and the signage at Gourock station.

The Chair thanked Ewan for the update and attendance at the Forum.

Outcome

The Forum noted the update from Ewan Tait.

West Coast Motors

Neil Stewart also provided an update on the recent damage caused by the storm over Friday and Saturday. Updates were also provided on the Argyll Street service; statistical information on passenger numbers; service updates including school contracts and the delivery of a new bus.

The Chair thanked Neil for the update and attendance at the Forum.

Outcome

The Forum noted the update from West Coast Motors.

Opportunity for verbal updates by Cowal Transport Forum Members

The Chair advised that there was no representative from the Roads Department today but he would take back any questions received and update the Forum accordingly.

Questions raised:-

Does Cowal have a dedicated road engineer?

The road to Carrick Castle is in a poor condition due to potholes will this be looked at?

Why has the road at Carrick Castle been re-classed as a C road?

What traffic management, if any, is in place at Hunters Quay in the event that the Rest and Be Thankful road is closed?

When will the Strachur Primary School crossing be completed and does this road have a  Traffic Regulation Order?

What plans, if any, have been drafted to mitigate flooding on the AA15 road at Loch Eck?

Does that A815 meet the minimum road width requirement?

Outcome

The Chair advised that he will take away the actions from the points raised in the questions.

Update from Transport Scotland

Ian Woodcock provided the Forum with a verbal update on recent activities at the Rest and Be Thankful during Storm Eowyn including:-

Rest and Be Thankful timeline of events;

• 23/01/25, 6pm: convoy operations commence on A83 due to forecast heavy rain
• 24/01/25, 1pm approx: road closed due to Storm Eowyn high winds preventing safe operation of TM (light heads blown down and damaged, signs/ cones blown away). Further traffic signals being supplied, ready for opening around 5pm after feedback from various route tours/inspections
• 24/01/25, 1pm approx. to 9.20pm: road continues to be closed due to very high winds preventing TM operation and fallen trees at Ardgarten and Cairndow.
• 24/01/25 9.20pm: fallen trees cleared and A83 reopened under convoy operation

Cairndow update; Signing improvements, still waiting for SSE to determine power connection but understand that they now have a way forward with remaining signs ready to be installed when SSE have completed their works.

Other works of note to be carried out before the end of this financial year include:

• Re-surfacing works at West of Ardgarten
• Bridge works on Fyne Bridge
• Drainage works at Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, Succoth

The Chair thanked Ian and his team for all their hard work on Friday during the storm.

Outcome

The Forum noted the update from Transport Scotland.

Update from Timber Transport Group

Simon Stuart provided the Forum with a verbal update, advising that he had on issues for Cowal. A question was raised with regard to the continued use of the Sandbank Holy Loch Marina for the transportation of timber. Stuart advised that he had no update on this but we check this and report back.

Outcome

The Forum noted the update from the Timber Transport Group.

No other business was discussed.

The Chair thanked everyone in attendance at the meeting and the Forum noted that the next meeting would be held week beginning 5 May and that Stuart will circulate a date in due course.