Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from:-

George Fiddes, Transport Scotland

Stuart Mearns, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park

Ruaridh McGregor, Scottish Water

Debbie Donald, Cairndow Community Council

Fulton McInnes, Hunters Quay Community Council

The Chair thanked Douglas Blades, Public Transport Officer for his hard work over the years and wished him a long and happy retirement on behalf of the Group.  He added that Douglas would be a great loss to the Council.

No declarations of interest were intimated. 

Cowal Transport Forum – 7^th March 2018

The minute of the previous meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum held on 7^th March 2018 was approved as a correct record.

Verbal Update by Police Scotland representative

No written report provided.

Raised through Councillor Good

Bobby Good informed the Group that local bus drivers were having difficulties accessing bus stops around Dunoon as tour buses are continually parking for long periods of time in the bus bays, letting off and picking up 40/50 passengers which is affecting West Coast Motor passengers. They often park until the passengers are ready to go back on.

Discussion took place around the parking bays throughout Dunoon, specifically, issues related to taxi ranks and cars parked on the opposite side of the road causing congestion at the Queens Hall. It was also noted that parking bays were on the wrong side of the road resulting in passengers needing to get off the bus into the road instead of onto the pavement.

Outcome

The Group agreed:-

1. To write to the Tour Guide companies notifying them of the problems which are being caused by their coaches parking in bus bays.
2. To write to the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) asking them to notify members of the concerns raised.
3. That Kevin McIntosh would consider the linings of the bus bays at the Queens Hall and parking restrictions at the Tudor Team Rooms and Morrison’s.

Raised by Bute and Cowal Area Committee.

A discussion took place around the proposed parking on footway enforcement legislation.  Kevin McIntosh confirmed that the current legislation doesn’t allow any penalty notices to be issued.

The Forum were concerned that the legislative process can be long and that immediate action was required, particularly with respect to parking at Royal Crescent.

Outcome

The Group agreed to ask Roads and Amenity Services to pursue a Traffic Regulation Order for Royal Crescent.

The Group considered a submission from Cairndow Community Council on Motorbike noise pollution which, they felt, was becoming increasingly intrusive.

Discussions took place around fast, noisy cars on the Port Bannatyne to Rhubodach Road.  The Police confirmed they had been notified of this and were keeping an eye on the situation.

Outcome

1. The Group agreed to ask an Officer from Environmental Health to spend a day in Cairndow to gather decibel readings.
2. Kevin McIntosh agreed to look into the possibility of carrying out a speed survey on the A816.
3. Police Scotland agreed to examine issues of speeding at Rhubodach.

The Group considered a submission from Cairndow Community Council on the proposed pontoon development and the development of Loch Fyne Path Network.

The Chair confirmed there was nothing the Group could decide on this matter.

The Group considered a submission from Cairndow Community Council concerning a proposed 20mph zone in Cairndow Main Street.

Kevin McIntosh informed the Group that a survey would need to be carried out which cannot be programmed until the end of August.

The Chair confirmed that COSLA would soon consider a paper which proposes all 30mph zones be amended to 20mph zones which may deal with this problem.

Outcome

Kevin McIntosh agreed to contact Cairndow Community Council with details of the survey.

The Group considered a letter from Transport Scotland dated 4^th April 2018 with regard to the Term Contract for the Management and Maintenance of the Scottish Trunk Road Network – A83 Strone Point Improvements.

Discussion took place on the length of time the traffic lights take on the A83 Rest and Be Thankful, which was causing queues of traffic.  Iain MacInnes asked if there is a completion date set for the traffic lights to be removed.

Outcome

The Group agreed to write to George Fiddes at Transport Scotland and ask for a completion date for the traffic lights to be removed at the Rest and Be Thankful; and if there is a possibility of opening the Military Road on a temporary basis to help improve the flow of traffic.

Update by Transport Scotland and Roads department.

The Chair updated the Group on an email he received from Transport Scotland advising that both Variable Message Signs had been erected at Kilmun and Strachur and that they would be commissioned in the coming weeks and operational soon thereafter. The email also advised that the concrete plinths had been installed and all 5 boxes would be in situ by next week.

Outcome

The Group agreed to write to Transport Scotland to seek confirmation on a specific timescale for the operation of the Variable Message Signs and the reasons behind the delay in commissioning the signs.

Ross Moran of Caledonian MacBrayne provided the following update:-

• In the last 6 months of the 9,505 olanned sailings there were 8,445 actual sailings.
• There were 869 cancellations in the last 6 months.
• There is now a Security Guard in place on the vessels on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday due to alcohol related incidents.
• Ticket machines had been replaced.
• 3G and 4G wifi was now built in and work is continuing to improve the signal.
• Yvonne Hanley (Senior Port Assistant) and Evan MacKay (Marine Manager) are now in post.
• The Colintraive to Rhubodach ferry service had a 2% increase in sailings.

Discussions took place over the reliability of the Argyll Ferries Service and the lack of progress with the tender.

Outcome

The Group:-

1. Agreed to contact Transport Scotland and ask if there was a possibility of changing the vessels under the existing contract and to express extreme dissatisfaction regarding the timescales of the tender process.
2. Agreed to contact Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd regarding the concerns of the inadequate berthing facility at Gourock and disability access.
3. Noted that representation from the Cowal Transport Forum would be sought on the Clyde Ferry Stakeholders Group.

Western Ferries

Gordon Ross provided the following update:-

• New linkspan at McInroy’s Point is fully operational.
• The linkspan at Hunter’s Quay was under construction and work would be completed over the summer.
• Western Ferries were maintaining a 99.9% level of reliability service.
• All efforts had been taken to minimise congestion of traffic at Hunters Quay.
• It had been very busy with the excellent spell of weather with all businesses seeing an uplift.

Douglas Blades confirmed that he had written to SPT with regards to the Helensburgh – Carrick Castle Bus Service asking that the timetable be amended to enable this service to connect with the Citylink service at the top of the Rest and Be Thankful on school holidays and Saturdays.

Outcome

1. Douglas Blades agreed to forward a copy of the SPT letter to Iain McInnes.
2. The Group agreed to write to SPT and ask that they consider the last bus going further on to Carrick Castle when they renew the contract.

Douglas Blades confirmed he had nothing to report on this item.  He agreed to ask his colleagues to follow this up.

The Group considered a letter from Paul Convery, Planning Policy Officer, regarding the potential for developers being asked to provide bus stops as part of the planning permission for housing developments. 

Douglas Blades informed that he had not received a date for a possible site visit but would pass this onto Stephanie McGlynn who would attend the site visit with Bobby Good and Paul Convery.

Douglas Blades confirmed he was waiting on a date from the Traffic Commissioner for the re-registration of this service.  He informed the Group that there were spare bus shelters at the depot in Dunoon and they were currently waiting on tenders coming back for a company to erect the bus shelters. 

He confirmed that the 4 bus stops between Sandbank and Sandhaven had been marked both ways.

Douglas Blades confirmed that discussions, regarding the provision and promotion of a Dial-A-Bus service, were ongoing.  He suggested putting an advert in the local paper and asking the Communications Team to post an announcement on the Council’s Facebook page.  He also suggested building a mailing list and advertising the service on information panels at bus stops.

Outcome

The Group agreed to invite Martin Arnold, Community Transport Officer to the next meeting to provide an update on this.

Douglas Blades confirmed the last response he received from Bield Housing Association was November 2017.

Outcome

The Group agreed to contact Stephanie McGylnn, Public Transport Technician and ask that this matter be followed up and reported to the next meeting of the Cowal Transport Forum.

Cathleen Russel of Colglen Community Council raised concerns over grass cutting and verges and overhang of plants on single track roads which was causing visibility problems for drivers.  Kevin McIntosh confirmed that the grass cutting programme had commenced.

Discussion took place over surface dressing timescales, Kevin McIntosh confirmed that works were ongoing with Glendaruel due for completion on 29^th June 2018 and Carrick Castle – Lochgoilhead due to for completion by 4^th July 2018.

Kevin informed the Group that the drainage provision in Argyll Street had been cleaned during the weekend 9-10 June 2018.

Discussion took place on road markings which were causing road safety issues.  Councillor Jim Anderson raised safety concerns around faded road markings, specifically at Victoria Road/Hamilton Street junction and on Bencorrum Brae.

• Willie Lynch of Dunoon Community Council asked if it was possible for double yellow lines on Wellington Street to be extended to the West Bay Swing Park.
• Iain McNaughton of Sandbank Community Council asked if resurfacing could be done at the bottom part of Sandbank Road at the Dunoon end as HGVs were bouncing along the road.
• Graham Revill of Kilmun Community Council advised that the road markings at the Old Police House in Kilmun had been completed but they allowed less than a metre wide space for pedestrians.  He asked if this could be looked into.

Outcome

1. Police Scotland agreed to look into the possibility of a speed camera at Sandbank Road.
2. The Group agreed to ask Officers to investigate the concerns raised.

Douglas Blades informed the Group that he had received notification from Citylink advising that if the Council cannot enforce the traffic regulations at the Rest and Be Thankful bus stop, they would withdraw the service.

Kevin McIntosh confirmed that signage had been ordered and as soon as it arrives, the signage and lining would l be in place meaning that enforcement would be possible.

Outcome

The Group agreed to contact Stephaine McGlynn and ask her to seek an update from Citylink.

Kevin McIntosh advised that a survey had been carried out to identify an average speed in two locations in Kirn with the average speed being 27mph.

The Chair pointed out that it had been snowing during one of these days. 

Outcome

Kevin McIntosh agreed to undertake a further survey later in the year.

Representation by Argyll Timber Transport Group

The Group considered a letter from Kirsty Robb of Argyll Timber Transport Association.  Iain McNaughton, on behalf of Sandbank Community Council, raised concerns over the speed of logging lorries travelling through Sandbank, causing debris to fall from the lorries thereby presenting a danger to pedestrians. He advised that residents of Sandbank consider this matter as a potential hazard and suggested that the lorries voluntarily travel at a lower speed

Iain Catterwell from Argyll Timer Transport Association spoke on behalf of Kirsty’s letter, advising that he had never had any complaints in the last 30 years regarding debris falling from logging lorries.

Outcome

It was agreed that Iain Catterwell would contact the Forestry Industry Safety Commission to raise this issue.

No further items of business were raised.

Wednesday 26^th September 2018

Monday 17^th December 2018

Monday 18^th March 2019

It was agreed that the next meetings of the Cowal Transport Forum would be held on:-

• Wednesday 26^th September 2018
• Monday 17^th December 2018
• Monday 18^th March 2019