While some of our wonderful elected representatives are just telling anyone who will listen that they know nothing about the concerns being expressed over plans for Lews Castle, one has already started doing something positive.
Charlie – it’s been a long day
Rather than wait for the next scheduled meetings, Councillor Charlie Nicolson has gone round to see the local operators who are worried about their livelihoods because of the plans for Lews Castle. He has also been in touch with the Sustainable Communities Department to put forward the concerns that were communicated to him.
The councillor said today: “I have asked the chief executive today that a meeting be arranged with those who have concerns and points of views so that these can be discussed and deliberated on.”
Cllr Nicolson also confirmed that he himself was also under the impression the option was to be a luxury hotel and he was happy to confirm he was supportive of that idea. However, he has been assured there was little interest from operators and that was why the Castle Project Group looked at the current controversial option.
He said: “The castle project is run by a group from the Stornoway Trust and some councillors and they report to committees of the comhairle so maybe some councillors might not have realised that the group were looking at another option. My information today is that no decision has been made and that a further report will come before committee in April for discussions and decisions on the options.”
Many others too have suggested today the current fiasco is down to the usual local inability to rein in rogue officers as well as monumental failures in internal communications within the authority.
Meanwhile, Cllr Nicolson has also managed to get through to the comhairle chief executive to demand he get on promptly with organising a meeting with all the interested parties who have concerns so dialogue and consultations take place so that – in his words – “we end up with a brilliant Lews Castle that will be an asset to these islands and the community”.
Seriously? Charlie? Please.
Innocent lamb to the slaughter, walking blindly into grown up stuff.
Good old Charlie, the only councillor who earns his keep. So the mystery is almost solved and it is now clear that the Castle Project Group are to blame, and the attempt to shift guilt onto officers has failed. Clearly some councillors knew, ( come clean now) and presumably, some Stornoway Trustees.
Keep on digging Charlie, and the truth will out!
Charlie is obviously going to be made convenor after this