Agenda and minutes

Venue: Aqualibriam, Campbeltown

Contact: Lynsey Innis, Senior Area Committee Assistant - 01546 604338 

Items
No. Item

1.

WELCOME AND APOLOGIES

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and general introductions were made.

 

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of:-

 

Zena Coffield, South Kintyre Development Trust

Tommy Millar, The Laggan Community Council

Alan Baker, Campbeltown Community Council

2.

MINUTES OF LAST MEETING - 26TH JUNE 2015 pdf icon PDF 75 KB

Minutes:

The Minute of the Campbeltown Ferry Sub-group meeting held on 26 June 2015 was approved as a true record. 

3.

MATTERS ARISING

Minutes:

Councillor Armour advised of a recent meeting with Simon Richmond, Area Operations Manager of CalMac.  He advised that Mr Richmond agreed that he would be in touch on a more frequent basis. 

4.

DISCUSSION/FINALISATION OF SUBMISSION FOR MEETING WITH MINISTER ON 27TH OCTOBER 2015

Minutes:

The Project Officer provided a brief update outlining the agenda for the meeting with the Transport Minister, Derek MacKay on Tuesday 27 October 2015.  General discussion was had in relation to the timescales involved in the meeting and the need to ensure that the positive feeling regarding the service is portrayed, while leaving time for meaningful discussion in relation to possible marketing strategies and timetables going forward at the end of the meeting. 

 

The Council’s Strategic Transportation Manager suggested that the presentation should focus on demonstrating that the outline objectives of Transport Scotland have been met and how the service has helped the economy for Kintyre as a whole as well as central Campbeltown.  Ms Ingram suggested that the group incorporate information on the considerable investment made in the area by the Scottish Government, with the extension of the A83 and the commitment being made in Renewable Energy, being some examples.  Further discussion was had in relation to the shipped and landed figures from Campbeltown, which show a steady and solid use of the service. 

 

The group spoke of concerns that a further year’s pilot service would be proposed by the Scottish Government, with the Area Committee Manager advising that if this was to be the case it would be beneficial to know why this decision was taken and also in what way the key objectives played a part in the decision.  Mr Forrester advised that this would assist the group in ascertaining what remained to be shown in the future to secure the permanent service. 

 

Mr Lewis spoke of discussions with tour operators, who had indicated that the ferry service would be an important part of forming plans to run bus touring holidays to Kintyre, noting the importance of commitment by the Scottish Government in time to enable planning for the 2016 season. 

 

Ms Ingram advised that it would be beneficial to outline issues with the A83, including potential landslips and road traffic accidents.  Ms Ingram also suggested that it would be good to round up the presentation by outlining the future progressions of the area, such as the Spaceport bid and the growing golf and whisky businesses. 

 

5.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Minutes:

The Senior Area Committee Assistant agreed to circulate a list of possible dates for the next meeting of the group following the decision on the continuation of the Campbeltown to Ardrossan service.