TEN YEARS AGO
Friday December 13, 2013
Wind power!
This is the astonishing picture of a huge fibreglass tank which ferocious winds hurled TWO MILES across farm fields before crashing into a house and car in Campbeltown
last Thursday morning.
Miraculously no one was injured as it also flattened a nearby stonedyke wall, warped
a metal gate and crushed a fence while vehicles passed on the nearby road to Machrihanish.
The house porch took the force of the tank, but damage was also caused to the front
and rear of the building because of the strength of the impact.
Catriona Soudan and her three children, who were inside at the time, were unharmed.
She told the Courier: ‘I heard an almighty crash and looked out and thought it was a
wind turbine. I was shaking and the children were terrified.’
Her husband, David, said: ‘The tank has hit the porch with an amazing force.
‘If someone had got in the way of this, they wouldn’t have stood a chance.’
The heavy tank, approximately four metres in diameter and eight metres high, was blown two miles from Dhurrie, near Campbeltown Airport, before coming to rest at Inveroran, Witchburn Road, just off the Campbeltown to Machrihanish road just after
8am.
By Thursday afternoon McFadyens Contractors had broken it up and removed it.
A Campbeltown police spokesman told The Courier: ‘We got a call about the fibreglass tube having been blown by the wind and striking a house. We attended to establish if there were any injuries and upon ascertaining there weren’t, officers stood down.’
He added no action was being taken by police and it would be dealt with by insurers.
He was unable to confirm reports a second tank was hurled just over a mile away to
Gortan Farm, damaging a fence.
A large unoccupied eight-berth static caravan, meanwhile, was flipped over at Machrihanish at around 10.30am.
Site resident David Millward, who witnessed it, said: ‘It was a frightening sight. It
was like seeing a giant whale rise out of the water, the way the wind lifted it up.’
Ewen MacDonald of Machrihanish Caravan and Camping, said: ‘It was unfortunate that we were in the process of moving this caravan for remedial work and it was not anchored in its usual secure fashion.
‘There were no indications the wind was going to be quite so strong.
‘A local farmer told me it was the worst wind to hit Machrihanish in his memory. This
is the first incident of this kind we have experienced at the park.’
As winds across Scotland gusted up to 140 mph, parts of Campbeltown’s Main Street
and Bolgram Street were cordoned off because of falling tiles and there were disruptions across Kintyre.
Schools closed included Clachan, Skipness, Carradale, Southend, Gigha, Rhunahaorine, Campbeltown Grammar, Tarbert and schools on Islay.
The B842 Carradale road; A83 near the Rest and Be Thankful – because of an overturned AM Transport lorry – and the A83 south of Whitehouse were all closed
because of weather-related incidents.
Power was also lost to houses in Glenbarr, Tayinloan, Carradale, Clachan and Muasdale, with many left without electricity and heating for more than a day.
Councillor Donald Kelly, Argyll and Bute Council’s policy lead for customer services, said: ‘Staff worked hard to clear and reopen roads, and to ensure that people were safe.’
McFadyens Contractors were unavailable for comment as the Courier went to press.
TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO
Friday December 18, 1998
Michie vows to fight tolls
Argyll and Bute MP Mrs Ray Michie has announced her backing for Argyll and Bute Council’s opposition to any suggestion of road tolls through the proposed Loch Lomond National Park.
Mrs Michie also argued that local communities must be able to make a real and sustained contribution to the decisions which will affect the Loch Lomond area.
Mrs Michie said, ‘Recent media speculation about road tolls on the A82 is a less than encouraging sign.
‘This would not only hit visitors to the park, but also the many people who regularly have to use the road to reach parts of Argyll. This would be unfair and impractical, and it will be firmly opposed.’
She also stressed: ‘More top down consultation is insufficient – local people must be
participants.
‘Scottish Liberal Democrats would welcome debate about the direct election of some board members. We see enormous importance in those who live and work on the land taking the decisions.
‘The Scottish Parliament must ensure that Scotland’s National Parks reflect the nation’s particular and diverse needs.’
FIFTY YEARS AGO
Saturday December 20, 1973
No more Red Bay ferry
It is considered most unlikely that Western Ferries’ Kintyre/Red Bay (Ireland) Service will operate from Campbeltown next year.
This was revealed at a special meeting of the Council on Monday.
In a letter from Western Ferries, in reply to a request from Campbeltown Town Council for any information available regarding the firm’s plans for next year’s Irish/Kintyre service, Western Ferries said it was unlikely that the service would run this year, but if conditions improved and more ships were available, they would consider arrangements for the Irish Run some time later.
Provost McCallum explained that although Western Ferries did not actually say they would NOT be operating but that it was quite clear that due to several circumstances it
appeared most unlikely that the town would have the ferry service to Ireland.
In the debate that followed, councillors freely expressed their bitter disappointment, and Dean of Guild Wm. McDougall proposed that the council write to another company operating from Ireland to Scotland to consider a ferry link to Kintyre.
This met with full approval, and it was decided to ask Western Ferries for a definite
decision, and also to write to the other shipping company mentioned.
The Red Bay/Campbeltown Service brought many welcome tourists from Ireland to
the Kintyre Peninsula, and the decision of Western Ferries is indeed a big disappointment, and loss to tourism.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
Saturday December 15, 1923
New ferryman appointed
Owing to the retirement of Mr Chas. Robertson from the position of ferryman at Pirnmill, the ferry is now under new management.
Mr Robertson, who succeeded Mr Richard Cook twenty-seven years ago, combined the
duties of postmaster and ferryman.
His early training and experience fitted him well for the duties he was subsequently to
undertake as ferryman.
Having been in command of a vessel while yet in his ‘teens’, cool and resourceful as a seaman, and of unfailing courtesy to all with whom he came in contact throughout twenty-seven years of efficient public service, his skill was never more apparent than
when stormy weather had to be contended with.
During the period he was in charge, the traffic of all kinds at the ferry had largely increased, and the Arran Estate authorities having expressed a desire that the
appointment of a successor should be in the hands of the people, meetings were held
and a local committee appointed with power to make arrangements to get the vacancy
filled.
It was decided to take a ballot vote of the householders served by the ferry for the
purpose of determining who should be the successful applicant.
The vote resulted in a majority for Mr John Cochrane, Dougarie, and he was
appointed to the vacancy.
Mr Cochrane, who has now taken over the management, is an experienced seaman, having been employed in the G. and S.W. steamers, and subsequently in charge of the ferry at Machrie, in which latter capacity he gained an experience which eminently fits him for his new duties at Pirnmill.
Of a courteous and obliging disposition, he is deservedly popular with all classes. He is regarded as a skilful boatman and his future at Pirnmill is looked forward to with confidence.
●The ferry linked Pirnmill and Machrie on Arran with Campbeltown.