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The First Crofter of the Western Isles quits SNP in despair
He is acknowledged as being the First Crofter of the Western Isles. He has been there and he has done it. He is the only Crofting Commissioner from the islands.
Not that long ago, Murdo Maclennan was very active in the SNP and was widely talked about as a much-favoured parliamentary candidate. In recent years though, Murdo has become seriously disenchanted with the way the SNP Government is doing things in the north.
His friends tell me Murdo has despaired over what he sees as the cack-handed way the party has handled crofting issues and its approach to land reform particularly has been nothing short of shambolic in his view. No one was listening. He had enough and quit the SNP earlier this year.
Although I have not been able to contact him directly, my sources tell me that the First Crofter has now signed up and is a member of Scottish Labour. They also tell me Murdo will never have anything to do with Crofters For Independence, the group just launched.
Claims of turmoil at Stornoway Port Authority as its key people jump ship
A series of alleged blunders and the unexpected departures of several key people has led to widespread speculation that the management of Stornoway Port Authority (SPA) is in meltdown.
In the most recent departure, seasoned mariner and former coastguard officer Captain Duncan Mackay quit suddenly two weeks ago as a member of the board in what one observer said was one of very few such walkouts since the former Stornoway Pier and Harbour Commission was formed in 1863.
This week, as the authority was announcing incredibly ambitious plans to make Stornoway a gateway for ships from China and the Far East in readiness for the melting of the Arctic icecaps decades hence, authority chairman Captain Angus Smith was also trying to play down the ongoing claims that his authority was in the grip of a crisis.
SPA headquarters Amity House
Responding to a series of questions to SPA chief executive Jane Maciver, who was previously best known in the islands for running a dating agency, Capt Smith confirmed that deputy harbourmaster Malcolm Nicol had resigned in March. Instead of appointing an immediate replacement, the port authority had “taken the opportunity to carry out a review of management structures”, a review which he claimed was ongoing.
Following the resignation two months later of harbourmaster Capt Torquil Macleod, who was also deputy chief executive, to move to a similar role at Cromarty Firth, there have been various local claims that the recruitment of a replacement had been mishandled as it was wrongly being advertised for as a harbourmaster post only with no mention of the vital deputy chief executive’s role.
The chairman declined to comment directly on those claims and would only say: “Statutory requirements necessitate the port authority having someone fill the role of harbour master. The port authority has been fortunate in having been able to put in place temporary cover arrangements but has had to take further steps to ensure continued cover of the harbour master role.
“Applications have been received from suitably-qualified candidates and are being sifted to create a short list for interview. We hope to be in a position to make an appointment shortly. The permanent position remains subject to the on-going management structure review.”
Without explaining the reasons for the latest sudden departure of the board member, Capt Smith said Duncan Mackay made a valuable contribution to the port authority over nine years and wished him well. He also chose to make no comment on various local claims that the SPA board was “in disarray” with deep divisions over policy and the performance of management.
A welter of claims that a recent Investors in People (IiP) report was hushed up and that yet another board member had threatened to quit if it was not published and acted on were also played down by Capt Smith, who is also a well-known yacht holiday operator and seaborne expedition leader.
“The most recent IiP report is being used in exactly the same way as previous such reports, namely as an internal management tool for systems improvement. Stornoway Port Authority continues to work with the IiP standard,” said the chairman.
Captain Smith concluded: “The board of Stornoway Port Authority is wholly united in its focus upon the future development of the port.
“Future developments include, in the short term, the installation of piles for the expansion of the pontoon facility in the inner harbour; finding a long-term solution to the problem of ice provision in Stornoway; and of course, the procurement of the infrastructure necessary to accommodate the new ferry in 2014.”
Allan and Macneil say ‘failte’ to Crofters For Independence
Alasdair Allan MSP and Angus MacNeil MP have both welcomed the launch of a group of crofters supporting a Yes vote in Scotland’s independence referendum next year. Launched at the Black Isle Show, Crofters for Independence will bring together all in the crofting world who share the belief that independence would be good for Scotland’s crofting communities.
Alasdair Allan MSP said: “Scotland’s crofting communities need to be represented in Europe and the world by an independent Scotland, not by a middle man in the form of the UK Government. That much has become obvious when we compare the situation of crofters with that of small farmers in some of Europe’s small independent countries.
“In Finland, during the most recent rural development budget, small farmers obtained 138 euros per hectare in EU support compared to the 20 euros per hectare on offer to crofters and small farmers in Scotland.
“Just as it makes sense for small communities to have more say over how they are managed and run for the benefit of their people, the same goes for small countries too. That’s why crofters for independence offer such a valuable perspective on this debate, and why the future for crofting lies, I believe, in a country that makes decisions for itself.”
Angus MacNeil MP, a crofter himself in Barra, said: “As a crofter, I am delighted to see the launch of Crofters for Independence. Crofters are a pretty independent group of people and it makes sense that they support Independence for Scotland.
“Crofters are also aware of the wider dimensions, that as part of the UK, Scottish agriculture receives one the worst deals from the Common Agricultural Policy. We need voices closer to crofting at the top table, only independence can give this.”
Volunteers wanted to keep An Sulaire Trust afloat
A lack of volunteers has led to an emergency general meeting being called of An Sulaire Trust in August to try and keep it going.
The trust has struggled to get people to run it since founder member Kenneth Morrison and his wife left after health reasons forced Kenny to quit.
He had sailed the familiar sgoth Niseach to more than 32 Scottish islands, had taken local crews out and won trophies in lug sail regattas.
An Sulaire was built in 1994 as part of a Gaelic TV project by John Murdo Macleod and his apprentice Angus Smith, now Captain Angus Smith, who is chairman of Stornoway Port Authority and a sail holiday operator.
Kenny explai
ned: “I had to resign due to health problems. It is time to move over and allow younger members to take the tiller. I have many happy memories sailing An Sulaire and would be heartbroken to see her slowly rot and die.”
Kenny met his wife Amanda Darling through sailing the Sulaire on The Great Glen Raid. Amanda then became secretary, fundraiser and publicist for the trust for the next 10 years.
They raised £40,000 which funded many sailing adventures for different skippers, individual members personal sailing qualifications and maintaining the boat.
Amanda said: “Some of my happiest memories have been sailing the Sulaire. I have put my heart and soul into that boat and all I would like is for her to remain afloat, be sailed and enjoyed. She is a national treasure, a magical link with the past and the sailing history of the islands that even extends back to the Viking era.”
In recent years though, An Sulaire Trust has been held together by five dedicated committee members. But more help is needed or the boat will either end up in a museum or be given away.
Trust treasurer Animisha McCoy said: “We desperately need more committee members. While we all love to sail the boat, she also has to be managed and paid for. Amanda raised the cash last year to pay for her major repairs and left the trust financially stable with around £5,000 in the bank. She is certainly not a sinking ship financially.”
The trust is now appealing for willing volunteers to come forward to help manage the boat. Skills such as fund raising, press release writing, boat maintenance, boat handling and skippering can all be learned, not to mention the fun of meeting new people and the bonds that are formed from the team building.
For more information on how you can help, please contact Debbie Storrow, Trust Secretary, on 01851-830414 or email [email protected]
The Extraordinary General Meeting will be held on August 21 at 7pm in the Coastguard Station in Stornoway.
Coast are back in Uist and Stornoway
Coast will be returning to their Uist roots by performing live in Iochdar hall this Friday, the 2nd of August! This gig is going to be wild! Coast have left fans in mesmerised awe throughout Scotland, England, Europe, Scandinavia….. In fact they have left fans completely astounded worldwide with their passionate and energetic performances!
On Saturday, Coast will be in An Lanntair in Stornoway.
“Once you hear Coast you are hooked! They just draw you in and you go on a journey with them! It is like nothing I have experienced before!” – one of Coast’s many fans.
Ahoy, shipmate John Graham. You are wanted on deck
A current visitor to the islands is trying to contact an old shipmate of his from 35 years ago. Dave from Hull is trying to contact Lewisman John Graham.
Dave believes John was from the Stornoway area and they were both on the cruise liner Tor Scandinavia sailing out of Immingham. John may have married an American lady. Dave would like to get in touch. John’s mobile number is 07708 878597.
Minister was not briefed on alleged rogue planning official
Claims that the planning minister was to hear claims that a planning officer was working inside Western Isles Council to further the aims of Historic Scotland are not true, according to the council.
It said: “The minister was on a series of scheduled visits to local authorities and he commended the planning service and their professionalism. That matter was not discussed.”
Asked about the local concerns about buffer zones being used as a sneaky way to suppress island developments which could smother opportunities for communities and individuals around the islands, the spokesman made no comment other than insisting the matter was not discussed.
Further reports of fraudulent ticket sales for Belladrum 2013
POLICE WARNING
Following further reports of fraudulent ticket sales for the Belladrum Tartan Heart music festival, Police in Inverness are continuing to alert those wishing to purchase last minute tickets to do so through official channels or through transactions completed in person.
Police have now received several reports from across the Division of incidents where there has been online correspondence, with money paid into bank accounts and the tickets have not been delivered.
The organisers of the event have provided warnings via their social media channels and have supplied information on their website on how to safely purchase unwanted printed and e-tickets via authorised websites.
Further information can be found on the Belladrum Festival 2013 website (http://belladrum.skiddletickets.com/event.php?id=11726948) under the heading, Ticket Returns and Resale.
If you decide to purchase tickets online or through social media websites make sure that any transaction is completed in person. Always remember that if a deal looks too good to be true, then it probably is.
NOTE – Despite some touts’ claims, Belladrum is completely sold out. Only upgrades are still available. That is, of course, when fake tickets sell best. The fake tickets may look good to the untrained eye, but are easily detected by security staff and will not gain you admission.
