Mull Community Council Meeting
8th December, 7pm, An Roth
Present: Billy McClymont, Fiona Brown, Steve Willis, Susan Campbell, Ronnie Campbell,
Rory Forester, Joanne MacDougal, Cameron Anson, David Pollard, Jane Stevens, Allan
Cameron
In Attendance: Councillor Alastair MacDougal, P.C Grierson, Jim Smith
Apologies: Mary-Jean Devon, Jim Corbett, Calum MacLachlainn
Minutes of Last Meeting
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Proposed: S.W
Seconded: C.A
Matters Arising
Health
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F.B reported that corrected costings for the ambulance provision will be presented
on the 17th December 2015
M.C.C are still hoping for the community option to be backed.
The SAS are adamant that the enhanced status quo should prevail.
F.B further reported that Caroline Henderson backed the status quo option at the
Health Review meeting on the 7th of December 2015.
F.B suggested that M.C.C try to get Mike Russell to attend the review group meeting
on the 17th of December.
B.M asked if all members were still in favour of bolstering the community option.
All members voted unanimously in favour of this.
Multi Journey Tickets
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F.B spoke with Iain Erskine who said that the process of getting multi-journey tickets
for the Oban-Craignure route is still on-going.
B.M suggested that it would make things easier if the current tickets did not have
‘inbound’ and ‘outbound’ stamped on them.
It would also make sense for them to be valid for a year.
B.M requested that M.C.C get involved in the matter to try and push things along.
F.B suggested writing to the Ferry Committee.
R.F stated that it is an issue which the Ferry Committee are already dealing with.
S.W will write to Transport Scotland on the matter.
Jessie’s Memorial
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M.C.C are still looking at costings for a bench.
F.B reported that A.C stocks wooden benches which are cheaper than plastic
benches.
B.M asked A.C to look at costings for a Teak seat before any decisions are made.
A.C enquired as to where the seat is to go.
S.W replied that the MacColl’s are to decide.
Resilience Plan
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C.A has asked Neal Goldsmith for a copy of the resilience plan but has heard nothing
back as yet.
Police Report – Dominic Grierson
Date of Report:- 07/12/2015
Name of officer submitting:- PC L557 Dominic Grierson
Crimes/Offences that have
occurred in community area
since last meeting
For period 09/11/2015 – 07/12/2015: Total
number of incidents recorded = 30
Crimes / Incidents of note:
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LB30 – Tobermory area:
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12 incidents have been recorded, of note:
Report of vandalism, enquiries complete,
no suspect identified.
Report of missing person, enquiries
ongoing.
Report made of domestic incident enquiry
made, insufficient evidence that crime
had been committed.
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LB31 – Craignure area:
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2 incidents have been recorded, of note:
Male arrested for failing roadside breath
test, released without charge after
passing station procedure.
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LB33 – Salen area:
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9 incidents have been recorded, no
incidents of note.
Updates on any actions from
previous meetings
Incidents of note or crime
trends
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LB34 – Bunessan area:
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7 incidents have been recorded, of note:
Report made of attempted fraud,
enquiries ongoing.
PC Jamie Toal has been promoted to Temporary
Police Sergeant for the island.
Divisional priorities remain as:
- Public Protection
- Serious Crime & Terrorism
- Violence, Disorder & Antisocial behaviour
- Road Policing
National Festive Drink Driving Campaign
launched on 04/12/2015
Forthcoming events
None
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D.G reported that P.C Jamie Toal has been made temporary Sergeant in Tobermory.
B.M enquired as to whether there is funding for any secondments for Mull.
D.G replied that he has not heard if there will be any funding or secondments.
F.B enquired as to how many police there are on the island.
D.G replied 4
J.S reported that there is currently a caravan at Ledaig carpark. It has been chained
to the carpark and is lived in.
D.G will raise this as an incident and look into it.
Presentation from Jim Smith
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Jim Smith is the head off Roads & Amenities for Argyll and Bute Council
Overview
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J.S reported that Argyll & Bute have extremely sophisticated weather forecasting
systems and weather stations.
These consist of groups such as The West of Scotland Weather Service, Metro Group
Ltd ( offering 24hr rota forecasting ) and Vaisala Ltd
These groups supply and maintain weather statistics and data bureau.
Argyll & Bute can communicate with Metro Group Ltd at any time.
Argyll & Bute is broken down into 9 domains.
This allows specific treatment plans for individual districts.
Mull has its own domain.
There are 3 main forecasts a day: 6am, 12pm & 7pm.
Winter Policy
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Argyll & Bute operate under section 34 of the Roads Scotland Act 1984 which
ensures pedestrians and drivers safe passage in the presence of snow and ice.
J.S reported that the road treatment fleet for A&B consists of 29 vehicles.
Each domain has to produce a weekly resilience sheet showing use of treatment
materials and confirming salt levels across Argyll & Bute.
Question and Answer
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Jane Stevens enquired as to why the roads seem to be in poor condition during the
winter months, if there is a sophisticated forecasting in place.
J.S replied that the road conditions change on an hourly basis. The roads could be
ploughed/ gritted at 9am and be covered again by 10.
J.S further stated that in order to keep the snow and ice off the roads after
treatment, there needs to be a high flow of traffic to help the salt break down the
ice. There is not a high enough traffic flow on Mull to do this.
J.M stated that when it snows the gritters all leave from Tobermory. By the time
they reach the Ross of Mull the roads are thick with ice. Is there no way of resolving
this?
J.S replied that Argyll & Bute are currently trying to find a gritter driver who is
resident on Ross of Mull so that the gritter can be located there. At present the
gritter drivers are all resident in Tobermory.
J.S asked M.C.C to help locate a driver from the Ross of Mull, preferably who can
drive a vehicle of more than 7.5 tonnes.
F.B enquired as to why there has to be a minimum of 12 children in a school bus for
that road to be gritted. It is not at all fair.
J.S replied that some of the school routes do not fall on priority roads and there are
not the facilities to cover them.
K.R stated that although the routes are not priority roads, education itself should be
the priority. It is unfair for children in rural areas to miss out on education because of
their location.
B.M enquired as to when the road between Salen and Dervaig became a blue road.
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There are signs up warning drivers that the road is untreated. The road is treated
therefor the signs must be taken down.
A.C asked if there were any part-time staff available to provide extra gritting and if
so, are there vehicles for the staff to use?
J.S replied that the workforce across the board has been reduced and the machinery
reduced with it.
All equipment is based in Tobermory.
Ideally there would be a supply of salt and 1 gritter of 3 based on the Ross. The
gritters could then work from both ends.
S.W suggested that a snow gate is installed over the Tobermory to Dervaig road to
encourage drivers to take a safer passage to Dervaig.
R.C suggested that gritting dumps are required on all roads to be gritted.
J.S will look into these points.
D.P enquired as to whether there is any flexibility to make decisions based purely on
the needs of Mull.
J.S replied that flexibility exists in the sense that decisions are based purely on what
is needed for that area based on forecast and policy.
F.B asked if there is funding available for extra road staff.
J.S replied that there are currently 2 vacancies.
C.A stated that according to the map of Argyll & Bute routes, the Salen – Dervaig
road goes untreated if other areas are bad.
Would it not make sense for school routes to get the same dispensation as the
Dervaig – Salen road?
J.S replied that it is easier to distribute salt in a circular route from Tobermory –
Salen – Dervaig.
S.W stated that the decision should not be based on what is easier, but on what is
fair.
Carsaig Road
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F.B reported that there are families down the Carsaig road who are running out of oil
and they are unable to get a tanker to come down the route to deliver.
J.S reported that there has always been a permanent restriction of 13 tonne on that
road but temporary restriction of 3 tonnes on the road when it was initially in
jeopardy.
Work has since been carried out and although it is on-going, the weight restriction
no longer applies.
F.B stated that Gleaner will not go down that road until they have had authorisation
from Argyll & Bute.
J.S stated that Argyll & Bute will get communication out to Gleaner on the 9th
December 2015.
Culverts
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S.C enquired as to why there are not more culverts dug on the roads.
Between Salen and Tobermory there puddles of water forming in the road.
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During a frost this could become highly dangerous.
Surely it would be better long-term for the road if the water were to drain off it as
they would not deteriorate as quickly.
J.S agreed and stated that with budget cutting, the strategy for road maintenance is
to try to try to fix the roads before serious work needs done.
This strategy has been successfully employed in other areas in Argyll.
Craignure – Fionnphort Road
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C.A enquired as to whether there are any short, medium or long-term plans to repair
the road from Craignure – Fionnphort. The condition of the road is dangerous and
has been for some time.
 Passing places need to be extended, areas need re-surfacing and pot holes need
filling.
 J.S reported that there has been funding for re-surfacing the roads on Mull. This has
been in operation recently. The budget however is limited.
 Argyll & Bute are currently working with Calmac to try and get them to educate
visitors to the island on driving on single track roads.
 This will hopefully kick in at the start of the summer season.
 C.A stated that Iona is one of the top visitor attractions in Scotland. They state of the
road deters tourists from visiting.
D.P enquired as to whether M.C.C could have a say in which areas and passing places are
prioritised when next year’s roads budget is presented.
J.S replied that he would be very happy for M.C.C to input ideas.
Graveyards
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B.M reported that there are current problems regarding the graveyards on Mull
Calgary graveyard is full and needs to be re-developed. Beadoun is nearly at full
capacity.
J.S reported that Argyll & Bute are hoping to take action in spring 2016.
There have been on-going discussions with landowners to extend cemeteries.
R.C reported that he council have not disposed of the spoil they have taken from the
ground at Suidhe graveyard.
Instead it has been dumped in a large pile at the carpark and is unsightly.
J.S stated that he will look into these issues.
Parking at Craignure
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B.M stated that with the introduction of R.E.T, parking in the summer season at
Craignure is going to be an issue.
The terminal marshalling area and all carparks will be full and a large percentage of
space is passed over to coaches delivering to and from the ferry.
There are also cattle pens in place which are hardly used.
F.B stated that at times people resort to parking in the street which is dangerous.
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J.S replied that Argyll & Bute are in discussion with Transport Scotland, Calmac and
CMAL and are looking at the necessities for the wider infrastructure of Mull.
B.M stated that Craignure is a priority as R.E.T is going to pose a huge strain on
traffic.
K.R suggested that something as simple as re-lining the current long-stay carpark
would help. Drivers park their cars carelessly, wasting space, as there are no parking
boundaries to abide by.
B.M would like to see full commitment from Argyll & Bute on re-developing parking
at Craignure.
Meeting with SERCO 11/12/15 – Steve Willis
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S.W reported that M.C.C had been disappointed by how SERCO presented to M.C.C
There were tables placed between the SERCO representatives and M.C.C
representatives which created a physical divide.
M-J.D had enquired as to how many areas on Mull they were visiting during their
trip.
They replied that they would only be visiting Craignure.
S.W wrote to SERCO to complain.
S.W reported that he had spoken to the Ferry Committee on the matter. They had
met with a different representative from SERCO who had been far more helpful and
informative.
B.M enquired as to what SERCO were going to do differently from Calmac.
S.W stated that they had not been clear on that.
B.M enquired as to what the next step should be.
S.W stated that he would like to hold a discussion understood that the Ferry
Committee had met a different representative.
R.F suggested that M.C.C discuss the matter with Transport Scotland as it is them
who decide who wins the tender.
S.W stated that he has written to Transport Scotland on the matter and received a
non-comital response.
R.F suggested that S.W contact Mike Russell.
Council Cuts Meeting - Jane Stevens
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J.S had attended the Parent Council Meeting for Tobermory High school regarding
the proposed council cuts.
J.S stated that it had been a disappointing meeting and that pre-school cuts had
been completely disregarded.
J.S further stated that the library service is the greatest concern as the school is
going to lose a permanent member of staff.
The mobile library was also brought up as it is a huge asset to the community.
M-J.D had suggested at the meeting that the public library is moved into the school.
J.S had enquired as to whether there was any flexibility in the school budget to keep
library staff on if cuts were made elsewhere. She received a non-comital answer.
B.M reported that M.C.C have written in support of school library services.
Councillors Reports- Councillor Alistair MacDougal
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A.M reported that the proposed cuts program is out for consultation.
B.M stated that M.C.C had gone through the cuts consultation as a group and found
that although some of the proposals were absolutely unacceptable, there were some
cuts which were quite clever and efficient which was a pleasant surprise!
Roaming Livestock – Cameron Anson
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C.A reported that S.W has spoken with Colin Kennedy to find out exactly where the
common grazing boundaries are in Fionnphort and Bunessan.
Colin Kennedy had informed S.W that it is up to the owner of the land to fence off
the areas which are being grazed.
C.A stated that tracking down plans has proven difficult.
After speaking to the Argyll Estates secretary, C.A was advised to contact the
Crofters Commission.
C.A stated that he should receive word from the Commission within the next week
and will report back at the next meeting.
Development Plan Community– David Pollard
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D.P reported that there has not been a meeting since September.
D.P has spoken with Sian Scott who informed him that there will be a meeting in
January 2016.
D.P further reported that an online survey will go out in early January 2016.
S.W stated that M.C.C had been promised a rough draft of the current findings but
has not received one yet.
A.O.B
Pennygowan Campsite.
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B.M reported that the MacGillivrays at Pennygowan Farm are planning to develop a
campsite immediately after the graveyard.
S.W asked if this would have any effect on Gus and Babs Whyte’s plans for the
campsite in Salen.
B.M stated that it should have no implications and that Gus is pushing ahead with his
plans.
B.M further stated that the plans will go to public consultation on the 17th December
2015.
It is a robust and high quality development which should be fully supported by M.C.C
F.B stated that Mull is in sore need of campsites.
B.M asked for a vote on matter.
R.F stated that before he makes a decision, he would like to attend the public
meeting.
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D.P stated that he does not fully support the development. He would like to see
more landscaping towards the sea to screen the development.
In principal the majority of M.C.C are behind this project.
Notice Boards
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S.W stated that the Round & About report needs to be placed in all notice board and
so needs a list of member to send the report to.
C.A informed that the notice board in Fionnphort has now been put up.
Meeting Closed 9:55pm