Crinan Canal operator Scottish Canals has pledged to continue to engage with residents and businesses along its length during its winter closure.
It comes after North Knapdale Community Council secretary Richard Stein claimed that consultation on the winter closure of the canal for lock replacements had been carried out too late.
But Laurie Piper, head of customer experience at Scottish Canals, accepted an invitation to join a forum of councillors and community figures concerned about the operation of the canal.
The discussion took place at a meeting on Wednesday November 1 of Argyll and Bute Council’s Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Community Planning Group.
Mr Stein said: “Unfortunately, the inadequacy of engagement has caused problems for residents and businesses. Despite the instructions of the chief executive, Scottish Canals failed to engage with businesses and owners before setting the closure dates.
“In July we got the shocking news that it was planning to close for seven and a half months, and somehow this was longer to replace four locks than last year to replace four.
“The canal usually opens from Easter to the end of October, but last year it closed a month early and caused all kinds of dismay. This year, it did not plan to open until the middle of May.
“Many people make plans about travelling through the canal to get to islands in the west in the autumn, and as a result of the long closure, a lot of users will have decided not to.
“The consequence is that Crinan Boatyard has lost contractors and local people have no faith in ever knowing what Scottish Canals is planning.
“It has now reduced the closure period by five weeks, but we do not know why it could not have made these changes earlier.
“Would it be prepared, if the group requested it, to be added to the group? It is a major part of life in this part of Mid-Argyll.
“It is a public body which has an impact on residents walking, cycling and boating. Would it be prepared to participate so we can have input on a regular basis?”
Mr Piper responded: “Anybody that has met me in the past 18 months knows that it is a ‘yes’, which is why my mileage expenses show a considerable amount of time spent in Crinan.
“Mr Stein raised these questions at a community meeting on Thursday, along with a complaint which went to the chief executive and which we answered fairly comprehensively.
“We will continue to engage. We did make consideration based on views, but also looked at data for boat traffic from a transport perspective, and there was very little in it in terms of cash income.
“The message we got last year was that we should delay until after the October holidays. We did that, and when we were able to make the decision, which was early July, we got that out as quickly as possible.
“Mr Stein was one of the first people I phoned, so I do not think it is fair to characterise any aspect of our decision making as springing things on people. We will never please everybody, but we do try to deliver for the taxpayer.”
Residents, community leaders and businesses in the Crinan Canal area previously claimed victory after Scottish Canals confirmed it can finish its long, essential winter works programme in mid-April of 2024 instead of mid-May.
The community had protested that the proposed seven-month closure of the canal to allow the work was too long and would lead to unnecessarily extended disruption for residents and canal users – and a substantial loss of income for businesses.
NO_AA46locktwelvecrinan03
Community leaders in the Crinan Canal area have claimed victory after Scottish Canals confirmed it can finish its long, essential winter works programme in mid-April of 2024 instead of mid-May.