Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated by:

Gordon Ross, Western Ferries

Alan MacRaild, Interloch

Willie Lynch, Dunoon Community Council

Alistair McLundie, Western Ferries

Crawford John Richmond, Police Scotland

The Chair on behalf of the Cowal Transport Forum intimated that their thoughts are with the family of the young boy who tragically lost his life in Innellan this week.

Cowal Transport Forum 17^th June 2016

The minute of the meeting of the Transport Forum 15 April 2016 was approved as a correct record subject to changes at Item 4. Ferries update to include:

• Passenger numbers are higher as compared to last year.
• Western Ferries currently has almost 100% reliability year to date.

·         A planning application will be shortly submitted to replace the old berthing structure and linkspan at McInroy’s Point.

Verbal update by Transport Scotland.

Verbal update by Argyll Ferries and Western Ferries representative.

Verbal update by Community Transport Officer.

Verbal update by Community Transport Officer.

The Community Transport Officer informed the Group that works on the Sligrachan turning circle has been completed, with only some work around installing reflective bollards still to be completed. This turning circle will be ready for use by the buses on Monday 5^th September 2016.

Verbal update by Community Transport Officer and Traffic and Development Officer.

The Community Transport Officer informed the Group that currently there is an issue with cars parking in the bus stops at the mustering area of Dunoon Pier and that they have contacted the legal department to write to the taxi companies.

It was noted that the issue was not just taxis but also cars using the area.

The Forum held a discussion regarding whether this area was included in the parking review which is currently out to public consultation.

The Community Transport Officer also informed the Group that McGills were currently looking at a reduced fare for people using the Glasgow service for local journeys and he will report back to the forum when an update on this is available.

Action

1.    Councillor McNaughton will raise this issue at the Bute and Cowal Business Day on the 6^th September 2016.

2.    Community Governance Manager to raise Item with roads department regarding clarification on what enforcement can be put in place and if the parking review will have any impact on this situation.

Verbal update by Contracts Manager.

A representative from the Roads department was not present at the meeting, therefore no update was provided.

Update by Contracts Manager.

Fulton MacInness, Hunters Quay Community Council informed the Group that a meeting had taken place between the Community Council, Western Ferries and the Roads Department but an agreement could not be reached at the point. It was also noted that Police Scotland did not attend the meeting.

Actions

1.    Senior Area Committee Assistant to request a copy of the minutes for the meeting from the Roads Department.

2.    Police Scotland to be asked to attend the next meeting specifically to discuss this item.

3.    Community Governance Manager to create and circulate to the Group a briefing which outlines the best ways to log a request for a service with Argyll and Bute Councill and to include contact number, website links and process.

Verbal update by Contracts Manager.

Iain MacIness informed the Group that he had a site meeting with the Contracts Manager regarding signage but at this point was no further forward.

Action

Community Governance Manager to raise this item with the Roads department to clarify where VMS signs will be situation, when they will be in place and who will be responsible for updating them. The Group requested that this item be seen as urgent with a response being emailed to the Forum.

It was noted that the turning circle sits with the Roads Department and not Transport Scotland. This item was therefore moved to agenda item 6. (c) of this minute.

Verbal update by Transport Scotland and Roads Department.

Iain MacInnes advised the meeting that unfortunately the implementation of the turning circle has not been successful due to several unresolved issues which included coaches and cars parking in it so the city link bus is unable to get in, people booking the bus but it doesn’t stop for them and City Link have advised that due to lack of winter treatment they will not be using the turning circle from November 2016 until March 2017.

It was noted that an agreement was already in place for the area to be gritted by both BEAR Scotland and Argyll and Bute Council.

Actions

1.    Community Transport Officer to raise with Roads department whether a traffic enforcement order can be put in place.

2.    Community Governance Manager and Iain MacInnes to draft a letter expressing all the concerns raised at the meeting. This letter should then be sent to Elected Members, Highlands and Islands MSP’s, the Scottish Transport Minister, Chief Executive of Transport Scotland, City Link and West Coast Motors.

Verbal update by Ruaridh MacGregor

A representative from Scottish Water was not present at the meeting, therefore no update was provided.

Verbal update by Police Scotland representative.

Sergeant Richmond from Police Scotland had retrospectively submitted apologies for the meeting therefore no update was provided.

Verbal update by Scottish Fire and Rescue Representative.

Action

Verina Litster on behalf of Scottish fire and Rescue requested that the Forum raise a congestion issue caused by parking on both sides of the road in Edward Street, Dunoon with the Roads department as this could impede on Scottish Fire and Rescue being able to get an appliance through that stretch of road.

Keith Murray informed the Group that the A83 Taskforce meeting will be held on Wednesday 7th September.

Action

The Community Governance Manager will draft a letter expressing the Cowal Transport Forums concern over poor attendance at the meeting and reiterating the importance of attendance at the meeting and also ask for this message to be endorsed by the Council Leader.

This letter will be sent to Scottish Water, Argyll and Bute Councils Roads Department and Police Scotland.

Friday 2^nd December 2016, 10am, Wooden Pier Building, Dunoon.

The next Cowal Transport Forum will be held on Friday 9^th December at 10am in the Timber Pier Building, Dunoon.