Agenda and minutes

At the commencement of the meeting the Chair of the Cowal Transport Forum commended Argyll and Bute Council staff and other partner agencies on the level of commitment shown by them in order to keep the roads clear during the recent inclement weather conditions.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum.

Apologies were received from:-

George Fiddes, Transport Scotland

Kevin McIntosh, Contracts Manager

Kirsty Robb, Timber Transport Forum

Fulton McInnes, Hunter’s Quay Community Council

Jim Wilson, Hunter’s Quay Community Council

No declarations of interest were intimated. 

Cowal Transport Forum – 6^th December 2017

The minute of the previous meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum held on 6^th December 2017 was approved as a correct record subject to one change at Western Ferries section, ‘there to their’.

Apologies were submitted from George Fiddes and in his absence a plan identifying the proposed locations of sign storage boxes and an estimated implementation date of April 2018.

Outcome

1.    The date for the June meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum will be changed to accommodate representation by Transport Scotland.

2.    Concerns were raised by the group on the present condition of parts of the A83.

3.    Douglas Blades to circulate the progress updates issued by Transport Scotland to the Group.

4.    Concerns were raised over the road being closed at night to complete works at Strone Point. An update on the timescales and costs etc associated with works on the A83 was requested and it was agreed to distribute a link to the Group on where these could be accessed.

Iain McInnes informed the Group that the timescales for implementation have not been met, this  was previously minuted for action by the end of 2017. Iain was also advised that there is no phone coverage at the site, whereas he had tested this and received a full signal.

Outcome

1.    The Group noted the concerns and frustration around the length of time this item has been ongoing.

2.    Kevin McIntosh and George Fiddes to meet to discuss this week commencing 12^th March – an email update to be sent to the Group on the outcome of this meeting by the 16th March.

Douglas Blades informed the Group that this is not seen by the operator as a high priority and that SPT had declined to look at the proposed timetable. He confirmed that he would continue to press for a change to the timetable.

OUTCOME

Douglas Blades to provide  email updates to the Group.

Douglas Blades informed the Group that he hadn’t had a response from McGills regarding the introduction of a local fare.

The concerns which were raised by Jim Wilson on the non-compliance of McGills coaches regarding disabled access were discussed and it was reported that the issue related to the suitability of bus stops rather than a training issue

OUTCOME

1.    Douglas will provide an update on the local fare at the next meeting.

2.    A list of suitable bus stops for the lifts to be used to be identified by Douglas.

Douglas Blades informed the Group a site meeting will be arranged for the spring to identify potential sites for bus stops.

Outcome

1.    Councillor Good and Douglas Blades to arrange a site visit to assess suitability.

2.    That planning services be contacted regarding the potential for developers being asked to provide bus stops as part of the planning permission for housing developments.

Douglas Blades informed the Group that the re-registration of this service was currently sitting with West Coast Motors to implement.

Outcome

1.    Douglas Blades to chase up with West Coast Motors

2.    Sue McKillop requested action regarding the bus stop outside the Oakbank hotel in Sandbank as she had received complaints that the bus service was not always stopping here.  It was agreed to check whether a 2 way stop sign could be included at the stop adjacent.

3.    Sue McKillop requested a bus shelter be erected at Sandhaven and it was agreed that this would be added to the list with a report detailing the outstanding requests for bus shelters being brought to the next Cowal Transport meeting.

Douglas Blades and Councillor Good held a conversation on potential ways of moving the service forward and it was noted that this is a valuable service but not heavily used.

Outcome

The Forum requested that a push on publicity of this service be implemented, particularly on social media, to increase awareness and potentially uptake of this service.

Douglas Blades informed the Group that the funding bid for an enforcement camera was successful although would be subject to a Statutory Instrument.  He was unclear who had progressed these within Transport Scotland on behalf of Glasgow and Aberdeen Councils.

Outcome

Cowal Transport Forum to write to Transport Scotland to establish who would be the point of contact for drafting the Statutory Instrument (SI) to enable Douglas to take this forward on behalf of the Group.

Rest and Be Thankful TRO

Iain McInnes expressed serious concern over the whole process and the length of time it is taking which were echoed by the Group.

Paul Farrell informed the Group that Consultation 1 and 2 have now been completed. This will now go to public advert in the month of March. The TRO will then be advertised for a second public consultation and any objections or concerns addressed. Once the second process is complete the enforcement signs can then be erected.

Iain McInnes reiterated the importance of completing this process as quickly as possible because it is impacting on the number of service users and if the service is not used then it will be lost.

It was noted that vehicles parking in the turning circle is still an ongoing issue.

Outcome

1.    Paul Farrell will email Melissa Stewart when the next stage of the process has begun and provide a further update when the period of notice had passed.

2.    An update on the locations of the signage storage bins will be circulated to the Forum by Paul Farrell/Kevin McIntosh.

3.    Paul Farrell will keep Iain McInnes directly informed of the progress of the TRO and will also advise on whether the bus stop area would be used for stacking vehicles during times when a diversion is required.

Douglas Blades informed the Group that he has still had no response from Bield Housing Association.

Outcome

Douglas Blades will chase this up.

An update was provided by the Area Governance Officer from Network Rail advising that following a successful trial on 26 February 2018, the automatic signalling at Gourock has now been implemented.

Outcome

This item is now resolved.

This item was requested by Colintraive and Glendaruel community council who were not present at the meeting.  However, Paul Farrell provided a general overview, noting the following:

·         several areas of road require maintenance, mainly due to motorists use of verges to allow passing which compromises the road edges.

·         ongoing works on the B836 and B8000.

·         Capital programme for 2018/2019 includes resurfacing of some single track roads.

·         A lot of the ditches at the roadsides are not running clear.

Outcome

1.    It was agreed that ditch clearing must be looked at to prevent water damaging road surfaces.

2.    Paul Farrell to look at the road between Glendaruel and Colintraive to see if it is wide enough for white lining.

3.    The white lining for pedestrian section in Strachur to be looked at and if necessary re-instated (noting that this had been added to casebook).

Rest and Be Thankful Bus Stop

This item was taken under item 6. (f) Rest and Be Thankful Bus Stop of the minute.

Dunoon Pier

This TRO will be advertised after the Rest and Be Thankful TRO.

OUTCOME

Paul Farrell will provide an update on this to the next Transport Forum.

Paul Farrell informed the Group that a survey to identify an average speed on this section of road had been carried out and the average speed was recorded as 24mph with another survey carried out further down the road at Ashgrove, the average speed here was 28mph.

Due to the recorded results the Roads department would not be looking to take further action on this.

Outcome

1.    Roads department were asked to attend the next meeting of Envirokirn to discuss future plans in light of the findings.

2.    Re-lining of the road is required in certain areas of Kirn.

3.    Paul Farrell will check the legislation regarding double white lining in the centre of the road and report back to the Group.

4.    Paul Farrell to attend Kirn Primary School’s Parent Council meeting on the 8^th March at 6pm in view of issues flagged about traffic management.

This item was taken at 7. (b) Update on TRO’s at Dunoon Pier and Rest and Be Thankful bus stop.

The Group held a conversation around general roads issues with particular emphasis on the monitoring of speeding in certain areas and measures that can be put in place to help with this, which included speeding surveys and flashing 30 signs.

Outcome

Paul Farrell agreed to come back to Iain MacNaughton by the end of the week regarding a previous survey conducted at Sandbank.

Representation by Argyll Timber Transport Group

Iain McNaughton, on behalf of Sandbank Community Council, raised concerns regarding the logging lorries that travel through Sandbank. It was noted that the concerns relate specifically to the size and speed of the vehicles as well as the suitability of the roads, combined with the fact that they are travelling through a village. It was also noted that debris has been coming off the lorries presenting a danger to pedestrians which the Community Council felt is a health and safety concern.

Outcome

1.    It was agreed to raise the highlighted concerns with the Timber Transport Forum, providing detail of the companies which were identified at the meeting as being problematic, with a copy of the letter being sent to Sandbank Community Council.

2.    That the letter would also enquire as to whether a Timber Management plan is in place for this area.

3.    Police Scotland to also look at concerns raised by the Forum which potentially might arise if vehicles were not being cleared of bark before re-loading.

Verbal Update by Police Scotland representative

Sergeant Wilson provided the Forum with the following update:

·         No major issues to report during the recent weather.

·         Police Scotland provided a good level of community policing during the weather which included helping people to get home.

·         They are currently monitoring the traffic issues that have been highlighted at Kirn Primary school and will continue to do so.

·         Continuing to monitor Royal Crescent regarding parking on the pavement.

·         Work being undertaken on several speeding issues and anti-social driving across the Cowal area.

·         The Forum were reminded to contact Inspector MacLean by email if they have any concerns.

Outcome

1.    Sergeant Wilson to provide an update on abandoned vehicle legislation at the next meeting.

2.    Iain McInnes asked if Police Scotland could monitor the turning circle in relation to parking which caused an obstruction.

3.    Noted that Charles Reppke had been approached to speak to the Dunoon Taxi Driver’s Association in view of a problem at the rank with drivers being out of their vehicles.

No further items of business were raised.

6^th June 2018, Timber Pier Building, Dunoon

 Tuesday 12^th June 2018, 10am, Timber Pier Building, Dunoon.

Future dates to be looked at to avoid clashes with formal committee meetings and that these would be circulated to the members of the Cowal Transport Forum.