Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced Alan MacRaild from Interloch Transport.

Apologies were received from:-

Shirley MacLeod, Argyll and Bute Council

Martin Arnold, Argyll and Bute Council

Alistair Somerville, Transport Scotland

Gordon Ross, Western Ferries

Max Barr, Dunoon Community Council

Cowal Transport Forum – 21^st June 2013

The Minutes of the Cowal Transport Forum of 21^st June 2013 were approved as a correct record.

1. Parking at Ferry Terminal Bus Stops
2. Newly Painted Yellow Lines
3. General Parking around the town

Update from Calum Rae, West Coast Motors

Calum Rae from West Coast Motors raised the concern over the vehicles that are still parking at the ferry terminal bus stops and on yellow lines around Dunoon.

He advised that no one is policing this matter and that cars are also parking in bus stops throughout the town which is causing a major issue for buses to get into the bus stops, especially the school buses and that the buses have to then stop on the road and let passengers off which is dangerous.

Councillor McNaughton advised that if the bus has to stop on the road to let people off, it blocks the road for other traffic and delivery vehicles. 

There was also an issue raised around the taxis along John Street as the taxis are not using their designated parking bays and the drivers are standing on the road side which is causing a hazard for oncoming traffic.

Douglas Blades asked if there was anything the Council could do through the Licensing department to make taxi drivers aware of this. 

It was agreed the Group would contact the Licensing department and get them to write to all taxi licence holders in Argyll and Bute to warn them of the issue which has been raised. Action I. Jackson

Paul Farrell agreed to contact Police Scotland to raise the issue with them again in regards to parking around the town and to ask for their help with the matter.

Iain McNaughton advised the group that there was a report that went to the Community Planning Group on parking clocks that allows you to set an amount of time on the clock, display it and put it on the window of your vehicle that allows you 2 hours parking time.

Paul Farrell advised that there are two types of parking – on and off street parking and there is no ticket machine, a traffic warden goes round a particular area and he advised pay and display is a better method of parking and he feels that there should be more enforcement in the town.

Paul agreed to forward a copy of his report on decriminalisation of parking to all members of the Transport Forum. Action P. Farrell

1. General update – Transport Scotland
2. Problem as winter approaches
3. Signage

The Group considered the email update from Jonathan Moran, Transport Scotland and then had a discussion on the A83 landslip that happened on 3 October in the region of Glen Kinglass. 

Councillor McNaughton advised that the area of the Rest and be Thankful has been Transport Scotland’s main focus over the last few years and the area of Glen Kinglass slip is currently being studied as part of the outcomes of the A83 wider study. The A83 reopened in the early evening of 3 October.

Councillor McNaughton advised that the diversion route for the Rest and be Thankful was completed on the Old Military Road in February but due to its location, it could not be used for diverting traffic for the Glen Kinglass landslip.

Iain MacInnes advised that people were being informed that the road wouldn’t open until 9pm as Transport Scotland were waiting on concrete gates but the road opened at 5:30pm.

Iain MacInnes suggested it would be a good idea to ask Transport Scotland to close the A83 road for ½ a day to do a trial run on the use of the new relief road in order to identify any issues which may occur in using the road when road closures on the A83 happen in the future.

Signage

Iain MacInnes advised the Forum that he had asked Transport Scotland for a flashing sign when the road closure was announced so he could warn traffic of the issue.  Paul Farrell advised that the signage is the responsibility of BEAR Scotland.

The Group agreed to write another letter to BEAR Scotland to address this matter and ask for proper signage in the event of these slippages happening.  Action P. Farrell

It was also agreed that this item be taken to the Bute and Cowal November Business Day and Paul would attend. Action P. Farrell

The Group agreed to respond to Jonathan Moran’s email raising concern about the contesting military route to ask that a proper test run should be carried out and to ask if concrete barriers need to be put in place to minimise the risk of danger. Action A. McNaughton

Update from Douglas Blades, Argyll and Bute Council

Douglas Blades informed the Group of the two bus routes which run

from Dunoon to Toward and from Dunoon to Ardentinny.

He spoke about the different routes the buses take and the times they approach each stop. He advised that the Toward route is tightly timed and he hopes to merge the two bus routes to help improve the running time. Linking the services would

still allow the buses to tie in with the ferries and the fast train to Glasgow from Gourock.

He provided the Group with a new timetable and advised it is going out to tender shortly for a start date of April 2014. He advised that by joining up the services, 19,000 miles would be saved a year.

Archie Reid raised an issue with the Group in regard to the bus run from Strachur to Dunoon as he wants Strachur to have a better bus service by having a Saturday morning bus so people can go into town for their shopping, hospital visits etc.

Douglas advised he has been in discussions with West Coast Motors over this bus service and that he is bringing a report to the Bute and Cowal Business Day in

November with detailed costs. Action D. Blades

Update from Alan MacRaild

Alan MacRaild from Interloch Transport gave a presentation to the Group providing information on his organisation.

He spoke about the client profile he looks after, the services he provides and the demographics of Interloch Transport.

He advised that he can only cover Cowal and Bute at the moment as he does not have enough funding for the whole of Argyll and Bute.

Update from David Taylor, CALMAC

David Taylor from Argyll Ferries introduced Simon Richmond as the new Argyll ferries contact for the Group. 

He updated the Group on the current position regarding the service provided by Argyll Ferries.

The Group agreed to invite someone from the Ferry Action Group and McGills to the next meeting in February. Action D. Finlay

Rest Turning Circle

Iain MacInnes asked if there was any progress with the turning circle at the top of the Rest and Be Thankful.

Douglas Blades advised the Group that the Council are still trying to conclude the land purchase and are hoping to get a tender for construction out soon.

The next scheduled meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum will be the 14 February 2014 in Castle House, Dunoon.