By Colin Smeeton
Arran’s new civil contigencies plan swung into action for the first time last week after a bus load of day visitors were stranded on the island as Storm Babet swept across Scotland.
The day visitors from Yorkshire were forced to stay on Arran overnight after the start of the devastating storm saw all ferries being cancelled last Wednesday afternoon.
Forty four passengers, including elderly and young children, on a Buckleys Coach Tour from Doncaster, needed accommodated, while other visitors, due to vacate their accommodation, were forced into staying another night.
Around 18 of the passengers, including one who had to visit the emergency department for a medical prescription, were able to stay at the Kinloch Hotel, however, the remaining 26 required accommodation for the night.
As a result, the new North Ayrshire Council contingency plan was triggered and island officer Brodie Pearcey hastily arranged for Brodick Hall to be used as makeshift accommodation.
Camping beds with fresh linen were quickly set up for the remaining passengers and an additional family of five who had also become stranded owing to the ferry cancellations.
Island businesses also helped where they could with Brodick Golf Club staying open to feed all the stranded visitors and Little Rock opening earlier in the morning to provide them with breakfast.
One passenger from Doncaster, on the tour with his wife, told the Banner: “It is amazing what has been organised for all of us at such short notice. This was not part of our plan for the day but it is a relief we will have a bed in a warm room for the night.
“This has been a great community effort by everyone involved.”
Thankfully for all the weary passengers, the 1.55pm ferry sailed on Thursday and the coach was able to leave Arran after its unexpected and extended stay.
A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “We would like to acknowledge the work of our officers on Arran and the volunteers who helped ensure their unexpected stay was as comfortable as possible.
“We are keen to build on the community resilience already highly evident on the island and if anyone would like to help in the Care for People response, please contact Lesley Jeffery of Ayrshire Civil Contingencies on 01292 616289 or Julie Davis from the Health and Social Care Partnership on 01294 317766.”
Storm Babet also caused ferry cancellations on Thursday and all sailings were cancelled on Friday, leading to more stranded passengers on both sides of the Firth of Clyde and disruption to businesses, with the backlog not cleared until later on Saturday.
But, other than high winds and tempestuous seas, Arran experienced a relatively mild weekend with autumn sunshine and little rain compared to widespread flooding on the east coast of Scotland.
Stranded passengers start arriving at Brodick Hall, thankful for a place to rest after a long day. 01_B43stranded01_23_Brodick_Hall_NAC
Day visitors start settling in for the night after council officials prepared the emergency accommodation. 01_B43stranded02_23_settle_in
Brodick beach is battered by the easterly winds of Storm Babet. 01_B43storm01_23_Brodick_beach