An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Sruth > Volume 2 > No. 84, 11 June 1970

&1-UNGUAL NEWSPAPER OF CURRENT EVENTS IN THE HIGHLANDS AND THE ISLANDS AND IN SCOTLAND
Dl-ARDAOIN, 11 LATHA DEN OG-MHIOS 1970 THURSDAY, Hth JUNE 1970 No. 84 Sixpence
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Abertarff House . Inverness
The heavy Atlantic swell on the west side of the remote Hebridean island of North Rona.
This island, with St Kilda, Subsgeir, the Flannans, the Monach Isles, is the subject of a
fresh socio-economic study contained iii a new book to be published next weeT' by Mr
Francis Thompson, a well-known writer, who is a native of Stornoway.
SKYE COUNCIL
PROTEST
Remarks made by the Scot¬
tish Transport Group’s Execu¬
tive Director Mr W. M. Little
about the Kyle-Kyleakin Ferry
have brought a strong protest
from the Skye District Council.
In a recent statement he de¬
scribed as “ grossly exaggera¬
ted ” complaints made about
delays at the ferry. Mr Little
has been asked to withdraw his
statement in a letter sent by the
Council to STG in which he is
accused of being “ completely
out of touch with what is
happening at the ferry.”
The letter made public
earlier this week by Mr J.
Philip, Council Clerk, concern
is expressed at the “deteriorat¬
ing situation. Mr Philip says
that Mr Little referred at a
Press conference in Edinburgh
on April 30 to “ grossly exag¬
gerated, unreasonable and un¬
just statements” about the
ferry.
“ Mr Little did not refer
specially to any particular per¬
son or bodys as being respon¬
sible for these statements. It is
quite obvious, however, that Mr
Little was referring to the meet¬
ing held under the auspices of
the Skye Distria Council at
Portree on April 27, 1970.”
“Accordingly, I was instruc¬
ted to write to you, expressing
the Skye District Council’s
strong disapproval and concern
that Mr Little should so lightly
dismiss the criticisms emanat¬
ing from a responsible body.
“ This meeting was called by
the Skye District Council as a
result of the deep concern felt
by the members about the
deteriorating situation at the
ferry.
Out Of Touch
“ It would appear that Air
Little was completely out of
touch with what was happening
at the ferry — otherwise he
would not have used the words
‘ grossly exaggerated ’ when re¬
ferring to the complaints
regarding delays.”
The letter says that during
April there were delays of
three hours, occasionally longer.
This was at the time when the
tourist traffic was very light.
The council feel that their
action was fully justified as it
was obvious to them that the
agreed deadline for the intro¬
duction of the first ferry would
not be met, because the ferry
was not ready and work on the
pier was far behind.
Efficient Service
The council remind the
group of their requests put to
the Secretary of State for
Scotland. These were that a 24-
hour service be introduced im¬
mediately; an emergency accel¬
eration of work on the Kyle of
Lochalsh jetty in an effort to
meet the deadline; contingency
plans to deal with any delays
and to ensure an efficient ser¬
vice, and the immediate rein¬
statement of the m.v,. Clansman
on the Mallaig-Armadale run.
The letter continues that it is
of interest to note that the first
three requests had been dealt
with fairly quickly.
“ The fact that the measures
proposed or suggested at the
meeting have been partly intro¬
duced would indicate that some
note had been taken of the
statements made at that meet¬
ing and that they are not so
‘ grossly exaggerated
The council hoped, therefore,
that Mr Little would reconsider
the position and withdraw his
remarks.
Helmsdale Bridge
To Be Replaced
A SCHEME estimated to cost
almost £500,000 for im¬
proving the A.9 trunk road
at Helmsdale in Sutherland,
has been approved by Mr
William Ross, Secretary of
State for Scotland. The work
will be undertaken by Messrs
William Tawse Limited, Aber¬
deen who have been awarded
the contract.
Under the approved scheme
the bridge, carrying the A.9
over the River Helmsdale on
which one-way working is
now in force, will be replaced
by a steel and reinforced
concrete bridge, 300 ft. long.
The new bridge will have a
24 ft. carriageway flanked by
8ft. wide footpaths. The
scheme also includes the
building of a bridge over the
railway, the realignment of
half-a-mile of the A.9 to the
junction of Dunrobin Street
in Helmsdale, and an associa¬
ted underpass of Shore Street,
and some coast protection
works.
Construction will start this
month under the supervision
of Messrs Babtie, Shaw and
Morton, consulting engineers,
Glasgow who have designed
the scheme. It is expected to
take about two years to com¬
plete.
Royal Thanks
THE Provost of Stornoway,
Mr Donald J. Stewart, has
received a letter of thanks
from Kensington Palace re¬
garding the recent Royal visit.
A letter from Princess
Alexandra’s Lady in Waiting,
said: “Princess Alexandra
has asked me to write and
say how very much she and
Mr Ogilvy enjoyed their visit
to Stornoway on May 2nd.
“Her Royal Highness was
so touched by the very warm
welcome she and her husband
received and they were de¬
lighted to have the opportun¬
ity of meeting and talking to
so many people.”