Author Archives: The Lochside Press

Independents to retake control of council

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A statement released by the Independent group in Argyll and Bute indicates that the will emerge from a year in opposition to control the authority next week.

Cllr Bruce Marshall, from Strone, released the following statement this morning (Friday), acting as the Independent group’s secretary: “A meeting of around two dozen elected members of Argyll and Bute Council agreed in principle today to work together for the benefit of the people of Argyll and Bute.

“This agreement in principle is subject to confirmation early next week.  An interim leader of the council will be agreed and announced at the same time.

“No further information will be issued until the agreement is ratified by the various political groups involved.”

Helensburgh’s James Robb (SNP) resigned as council leader earlier this week following the collapse of his attempt to form an administration including Lib Dems and Conservatives.

Favourite to lead the council is the veteran Dick Walsh, who lost power in last year’s elections; if this is confirmed at next Thursday’s meeting of the full council he would be the third leader of the Lochgilphead-based authority in little over a year.

The council has 36 members, so the Independents’ figure of 24 councillors would give them a clear majority.

Housing and tearoom plans to be approved?

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Plans to turn a former community centre into housing look set to win approval from councillors.

And they are also expected to approve the change of use from a hairdresser’s salon to a tearoom.

Andrew Watts’ plans to convert the Rainbow Centre on School Road in Kilcreggan into three homes – first reported here – are recommended for approval by Argyll and Bute Council’s planning, protective service and licensing committee next Wednesday.

The former Rainbow Centre is standing empty

The former Rainbow Centre is standing empty

A report by officials states there have been no objections, adding: “It is considered that the works to the property have been designed to minimise as far as possible disruption to the existing fabric and that all important features have been maintained and therefore the change of use is in principle acceptable as the main external elevations will not only be retained but upgraded.”

The building was originally built as the Free Presbyterian Church school and was largely endowed by the Carne Campbell family.

It was originally the main school in Kilcreggan but was declared  surplus once the new school was built further up the hill and a group of residents decided to manage it as a community centre and leased the building from the  council for a nominal value.

The community use of the building as the Rainbow Centre continued until 2010 when it was handed back to the council to manage as it was no longer viable.

A council spokesperson said today (Thursday) that negotiations were continuing over the sale of the building.

An application to open a tearoom in the Clachan, Rosneath, is also recommended for approval.

A report to councillors says there have been petitions both in support and opposing the plan. Environmental health and roads officers had initially recommended refusal, but after talks with the applicant the objections about parking and cooking smells were overcome, says the report:

“ In this case I consider that the principle of a café/tearoom should be supported but that it should only be done on a restricted basis given the concerns of environmental health on cooking odours and the potential impact an extract flue could have on the wider conservation area.

“As there would be minimal external alterations, it is not considered there would be any detrimental impact on the character of the conservation area.”

Awards honour the best sustainable designs

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Argyll and Bute Sustainable Design Awards - List and description 09052013 Pre-Agenda Briefing of _Page_4

Tigh-na-Cladach ‘set a high benchmark’

A public housing development in Dunoon has been chosen as the best sustainable design in Argyll and Bute.Argyll and Bute Sustainable Design Awards - List and description 09052013 Pre-Agenda Briefing of _Page_5

There were 25 entries in the council’s bi-annual sustainable design awards, with the overall winner named as Tigh-na-Cladach, Bullwood, Dunoon.

Judges said the development by architect D Deveci was ‘an unmatched example of exceptional design in terms of response to the site and setting, building performance and architectural solutions in the context of social housing budget constraints.”

Argyll and Bute Sustainable Design Awards - List and description 09052013 Pre-Agenda Briefing of _Page_6Set on Coll, the White House, Grishipol, by WT Architecture, was commended in the small scale residential category and described as ‘an exemplar of radical intervention in the conservation of a listed building’.

Argyll and Bute Sustainable Design Awards - List and description 09052013 Pre-Agenda Briefing of _Page_7Square House in Taynuilt, by Roxburgh McEwan Architects as also commended in the small scale residential category and praised by the judges: “Wearing its accredited Passivhaus rating lightly, and aspiring to architecture rather than a dull ‘green’, the Square House is indeed a good basis for a vernacular, and a welcome alternative to the often rather dismal new houses which ring many Highland villages.”

Argyll and Bute Sustainable Design Awards - List and description 09052013 Pre-Agenda Briefing of _Page_3The marine sciences building at Dunstaffnage, by the Argyll Partnership, was commended in the new build non-residential category for ‘achieving very high standards and providing an enviable learning facility’.

Argyll and Bute Sustainable Design Awards - List and description 09052013 Pre-Agenda Briefing of _Page_3The Workshop at Kilmory Knap, by ECRU Architects, was described ‘a gem’: “The building, conceived and executed for its unique place and time, demonstrates that architecture and craft can bring joy to to the humblest of buildings.”

Argyll and Bute Sustainable Design Awards - List and description 09052013 Pre-Agenda Briefing of _Page_2The former Rothesay court house, by Collective Architecture, was commended in the redevelopment and refurbishment category.

Members of the council’s planning, protective services and licensing committee are asked to endorse the results at their meeting next week.

Council in turmoil as it looks for third leader since election

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James Robb resigned today as leader of Argyll and Bute Council as support ebbed away for his ‘consensus coalition’.

The news was greeted as ‘ sad day for democracy’ by one long-serving councillor and leaves the Lochgilphead-based council in unprecedented turmoil.

Last Thursday the Helensburgh SNP councillor announced that Liberal Democrat and Conservative members would be joining the administration he led after two SNP members resigned because of budget cuts.

New leader - James Robb

New leader – James Robb

Initially the new grouping was thought to have 25 of the council’s 36 seats, but the three-strong Argyll First group changed sides the next morning, sparking a bitter war of words.

Then on Friday evening the BBC reported that Argyll and Bute’s SNP group had been suspended by its National Executive because the new coalition had not received prior approval.

After a weekend of frenzied speculation Cllr Robb resigned as leader this evening – less than three months after taking control.

He said: “The SNP council group asked me to stand down as council leader. I was happy to do so.”

Lomond North councillors George Freeman and Robert G MacIntyre, who together form the Argyll & Bute Independent Councillors Group, had backed Cllr Robb’s new administration.

Cllr Freeman said they did not want to ‘rush into any decision’, adding: “A sad day for democracy. Robert and I will be discussing with others over the next few days how we now move forward.”

George Freeman

George Freeman

Today’s news means that with four years until the next elections the future political control of the council could hardly be less clear, although it is possible that Dick Walsh, current leader of the opposition, will try to form a new administration based around his Alliance of Independent Councillors.

Mixed fortunes for plans

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Planning applications for Rosneath and Clynder have been given the go-ahead, but proposals for a house in the gardens of an historic hotel in Cove have been refused.

Ministry of Defence Estates applied to Argyll and Bute Council via Babcock International for a 40-metre tall navigation tower at the degaussing range at the Green Isle, Rosneath.

Housed within a security fence, the mast will house control lamps and ‘various transmitting/receiving equipment, including RADAR, GPS and radio’.

A report by planners states: “The proposed mast… would be a highly visible structure which would be out of scale with the existing landscape.

“However this site has been selected as it gives the best coverage required for the national security and operational purposes of the MoD.”

Council planners approved the development under delegated powers, and also backed a plan by the owners of Clynder Stores for change of use and internal alterations to reopen the coffee shop, which has been closed for several years, in their Victoria Buildings premises.

However a bid by the owners of the Knockderry House Hotel in Cove to build a house in the grounds of the Grade B listed building was rejected, again under delegated powers.

A report states that the principle of a dwelling had been agreed in talks with the hotel owners but planners had advised different deigns and sites: “Siting a building of this massing, scale and design at this location would reduce the open aspect when approaching Knockderry House in an easterly direction, as well as obscuring views of the listed building, consequently affecting its setting.

“It is also considered that the design and choice of materials… are inappropriate for a development within the grounds of a listed building.

“It would result in a development which… would be visually intrusive, visually discordant and would unacceptably detract from the setting of Knockderry House Hotel.”

SNP group suspended as council row escalates

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The SNP group in Argyll and Bute has been temporarily suspended by its national officials because of the rainbow coalition formed yesterday, the BBC has reported.

A story here states that because the deal had not first been approved by the party’s national executive, the group has, technically, been suspended, but it is widely expected the deal will receive approval.

An SNP spokesman is quoted as telling the BBC: “The policy democratically passed by the SNP’s National Council in 2007 requires our council groups to seek approval of the party’s National Executive Committee before entering into formal coalition arrangements.

“The group has not followed that procedure, and therefore as a matter of course has been suspended in the meantime.”

Earlier today the SNP leader of the council, James Robb, issued a statement saying he did not anticipate any problems with the national executive.

The new power-sharing arrangement at the Lochgilphead-based authority has led to a bitter row; the three-strong Argyll First group resigned from the coalition less than 24 hours after it was announced, issuing a statement saying in the 12 months since the election they had been undermined and accusing Cllr Robb of ‘underhand’ behaviour.

Cllr Robb then retaliated with his third press statement in less than 24 hours:

I realised it would be a challenge for Conservative* councillor, Donald Kelly to work with his Conservative colleagues but hoped it could be resolved. I am surprised this statement hasn’t come from the Argyll First Group Leader, Councillor Philand (perhaps you should check if he agrees).

I have no interest in personalising this issue but would correct some of the facts.

I welcome innovative thinking but no such model was presented to me. (perhaps Cllr Kelly may supply it to us all)

The Administration is open and democratic. All decisions are made at meetings of all members. The decision to enlarge the administration was made at such a meeting yesterday. All three Argyll First members declined to attend despite being aware of the important decision we faced.

I wish our former colleagues well and hope they will be able to resume the spirit of openness and consensus we formerly enjoyed in their new role so we can again work together in the best interests of the people of Argyll and Bute.

* Election records show that Cllr Kelly stood as a Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate in the May 2012 elections.

‘Consensus coalition’ hit by resignations – updated at 2.40pm

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The new coalition running Argyll and Bute Council has already been hit by three resignations.

It was announced yesterday that Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors had crossed the chamber to join SNP council leader James Robb’s administration after last month’s resignations of two SNP members left him in a weakened position.

And today Cllr Robb said that the Argyll First group – Douglas Philand from Lochgilphead, Donald Kelly of Campbeltown and John Mcalpine from Tarbert had quit.

“I can confirm that Argyll First have resigned from the coalition,” he said.

“I have had no reason given for that decision. I am disappointed they have taken that decision and would thank them for their past contribution and hope that the consensual relationship we have with our former colleagues will endure in their new roles.”

He confirmed that the new ‘Consensus Coalition’ needed approval from the SNP’s national executive, adding: “Given that the we already had a Conservative presence in the Administration and that there are existing SNP political agreements with Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour in other councils, this should be a formality.”

Last night it was revealed here that Argyll and Bute Independent Councillors group members George Freeman and Robert G MacIntyre would remain in the administration.

Councillor Robb said today his coalition now had  22 members, while the opposition had 14.

UPDATE: After Cllr Robb’s statement had been released, Donald Kelly replied on behalf of Argyll First accusing him of ‘underhand’ behaviour.

He said: “Since the 2012 elections, Argyll First have worked tirelessly in an effort to make the current administration a success.

“On many occasions, we have went above and beyond the call of duty despite being undermined on a number of occasions by our SNP administration colleagues.

“Last week when realising that the administration was going into free-fall, Argyll First along with others decided to present the idea of a new innovative model in council working to the council leader in an attempt to put the current administration back on track.

“This was dismissed out of hand by James Robb. We were unaware at that time he had already agreed a deal with the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives to join the coalition.

“The underhand manner in which the current Council Leader conducts business made the Argyll First position within the current administration untenable.”

Dunoon Film Festival promises a ‘kino-ceilidh’

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A Stars in Scotland exhibition, featuring pictured from the Herald archive, accompanies the festival. Pictured here is Cary Grant in 1958 - the boy is David Hamilton, formerly of Dunoon, now editor of the Scottish Daily Express. Picture copyright The Herald

A Stars in Scotland exhibition, featuring pictures from The Herald archive, accompanies the festival in Dunoon Burgh Hall. Pictured here is Cary Grant in 1958 – the boy is David Hamilton, formerly of Dunoon, now editor of the Scottish Daily Express. Picture copyright The Herald

The first ever Dunoon Film Festival will feature Scottish classics, new international cinema and musical collaborations.

Based in the town’s Burgh Hall and Studio Cinema from June 14-16, the festival is describedby organisers as a ‘kino-ceilidh’ – a merry dance of a weekend with 26 events.

It will open with a special event celebrating John Byrne’s 1990 BBC TV series Your Cheatin’ Heart, set in and around the West Coast’s country and western scene.

Although it helped to make a star of Tilda Swinton, this has not been released on DVD and has never been screened anywhere since its original run.

Alan Sharp's work will be a feature of the event

Greenock screenwriter Alan Sharp’s work will be a feature of the event

Byrne and Eddi Reader, who starred in the series as be-quiffed country singer Jolene Jowett, will help to open the festival and introduce a screening of the first two episodes; the rest of the series will be shown during the weekend.

The festival will close with another very rare screening – Drifters, made by pioneering Scottish filmmaker John Grierson in 1929.

A poetic silent film following a crew of North Sea herring fishermen, it is seen as one of the first true documentaries.

It will be accompanied by a live soundtrack from Edinburgh musician Wounded Knee, who will create a live vocal work based on traditional folk songs.

Dunoon’s heritage as a seaside resort is marked by films such as Local Hero – introduced by Baron Robertson of Port Ellen, Ealing classic The Maggie and long-lost Orkney seafaring fantasy Venus Peter.

The programme also pays tribute to award-winning Greenock screenwriter and novelist Alan Sharp, who died earlier this year after writing over 20 Hollywood films; his Night Moves, Ulzana’s Road and Rob Roy will all be screened.

DFF is co-curated by Allan Hunter, respected film journalist and also co-director of Glasgow Film Festival, and Matt Lloyd, also director of Glasgow Short Film Festival; however, the Dunoon event is run completely independently of Glasgow Film.

Tickets and more information are available from the festival’s website here.

New council coalition ‘more democratic’

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The new coalition running Argyll and Bute will have a clear majority, a long-serving councillor said tonight.

George Freeman

George Freeman

George Freeman said he and fellow Lomond North representative Robert MacIntyre – who together form the Argyll & Bute Independent Councillors Group - both supported the proposal to include Liberal Democrats and Conservatives in the coalition headed by the SNP’s James Robb.

“This increases the numbers in the administration to 25 which ensures that it is far more democratic and representative of the residents of Argyll and Bute,” he added.

“This also increases the skills and experience that will be available within the administration and should be welcomed by the public.  As far as Robert and I are concerned, our remits do not change.”

Cllr Freeman has been a member of the council since 1999; he had been a member of  the coalition led by Councillor Dick Walsh following the 2007 elections but resigned after voting against plans to close 26 schools in a dramatic meeting at Lochgilphead.