Twitter and Facebook were both used by the mystery staffer to launch the tirade of abuse suggesting that people had been sacked as the closure of the Gazette card shop was confirmed and claiming that local personalities and contributors were actually being bad-mouthed by the editor.

The Facebook tirades were deleted within the hour but sources say the Twitter password is still missing or has been changed by the staff member whose current employment status is a strict secret, apparently.

After reports appeared on the BBC and elsewhere saying that a serving employee was involved in posting the toxic online criticism of the editor and the paper itself, Jane Muirhead, the Group Head of PR at owner Johnston Press, haughtily batted off requests for further information.

She replied: “I’m not going to comment on the individual involved – nor what the circumstances surrounding it was but will say simply that we’re dealing with it internally.”

A reporter who had worked at the Gazette for the last few months said on Twitter that he did have an argument with the editor before he left but added: “I can confirm I did not leave those messages although I have an idea who did.”

Along with concerns over the quality of the newspaper and the outsourcing of island jobs, there have been constant claims recently that the Gazette is severely understaffed under Johnston Press. Although it had four dedicated reporters last year, staff who left have not been replaced and there have been recent times that the editor and the sportswriter/photographer have had to throw a paper together between them.

A source close to some of the personalities concerned, who spoke on condition of anonymity, tonight said: “There is disappointment that the editor does not see it as her role to protect jobs and put out a quality newspaper but maybe she is not sure of her own position.
“Working in conditions like that, there is no chance to follow up on tips about exclusive stories or launch campaigns and the result is just a series of rehashed press releases. It’s mostly stuff that everyone has read days before.
“Johnston Press constantly claims to be committed to the Gazette so it must still make a few bob on the over-priced advertising. However, Johnston is deliberately running down the editorial operation and betraying people.
“Readers are not daft. They can see the paper is padded out with cheap and dull agency fillers and oversize advertising for Johnston Press’s own irrelevant crap. It is not good value for £1.05p which is why so few buy it now.”

The source added: “The staff know only too well it has poor headlines, poor grammar and dull topics that everyone already knows about. They know that something has to give soon but no one’s listening.”

The meltdown at the Gazette has already featured in national newspapers including The Herald and The Mirror as well as industry publications.

Ten tons of errors. Where was Gazette columnist Reverend I D Campbell’s headline from last week written and edited?

Rival newspapers have also not been slow to say that the Gazette is nowadays hardly a local newspaper anyway under its feverishly cost-cutting owner. Paul Wood, the managing director of the West Highland Free Press, pointed out something positive saying: “With adverts created in India, copy subbed throughout the UK and call centre sales, the Stornoway Gazette twitter rammy is at least local.”

With insiders saying print sales are dreadful and falling, there has been recurring interest from island business figures in asking Johnston Press if it will let them take the ailing publication off its hands. I now understand recent events may spark just such an approach again.

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They say “cheap” mattresses sold by doorstep sellers might not comply with safety regulations and may be a possible fire hazard, or you could even be sold a second-hand mattress recovered and labelled with logos to look like new.

 A spokesperson said: “The mattress sold from the back of a van scam has been known to our Trading Standards colleagues throughout the country for several years,  however we believe this is the first time the islands have been targeted.”

 Trading Standards are looking for any information on doorstep sellers operating in the area. Trading Standards can be contacted on 01851 82294 or out of hours on Faire the community Careline on 01851 701702. Doorstep sellers may also be reported to the police on 101 or in an emergency dial 999.

 Trading Standards again advise residents to keep an eye out for elderly neighbours and relatives who the sellers may target for a sale.

 A Youtube video “The rip off van scam”  produced by The National Bed Federation, gives an insight into some of the problems which you could encounter when buying at the doorstep.

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Because of the breakdown, all foot passengers currently must walk along the vehicle linkspan to get on and off the £42 million Ullapool-to-Stornoway ferry MV Loch Seaforth.

The Stornoway PAS

It has now emerged the fault is so serious that a team of engineers has to fly to Stornoway from Barcelona to carry out the repairs to the walkway, officially called a Passenger Access System (PAS).

Discussions about the faults with the Spanish manufacturers, walkway specialists Adelte in Barcelona, have resulted in agreement that engineers must come to fix the walkway on-site in Stornoway.

The latest annual accounts of Stornoway Port Authority show that the airport-style walkway, which was bought to get easier access to the new MV Loch Seaforth, cost £1.75 million. It has only been in use since February 16 this year when the Loch Seaforth officially started service.

Alex Macleod, the new chief executive of Stornoway Port Authority, confirmed: “The fault on the PAS has now been identified. The Adelte team are due to arrive from Spain over the weekend, and expect to complete the repairs by Monday or Tuesday next week. The PAS will remain out of operation until the repair works are complete.”

Mr Macleod confirmed there was an extensive warranty on the PAS and he did not envisage Stornoway port having to pay any of the repair costs.

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Loganair has apologised and admitted its services have fallen short over recent months. The company has also announced that it is to undergo a ‘top-to-bottom’ review of its entire operation to achieve better punctuality and reliability for all of its passengers.

Loganair trading as Flybe

Shadow transport minister David Stewart was caught up in a four-hour delay himself at Benbecula Airport last month after the plane was removed from the route and redirected to Glasgow. He complained to Loganair and transport minister Derek Mackay after constituents said services had slipped in recent months and delays were becoming commonplace.

Mr Stewart said: “I welcome the acknowledgement from Loganair that services have fallen short over recent times, and I welcome the operational improvement programme which they have launched to address this. Loganair have told me that they appreciate the punctuality and reliability of services have not been good enough. The improvement programme is a ‘top to bottom’ review of their entire operation to achieve better punctuality and reliability for all Loganair passengers.

Mr Stewart continued “I know how frustrating delays and cancellations are for passengers, particularly when onward journeys and overnight stays have to be altered as a result. Island communities need to know they have reliable air and sea services. I welcome the apology from Loganair and I look forward to seeing improvement in the future.”

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It will be on Thursday 10th September in An Lanntair, Kenneth Street, Stornoway at 7.30 pm. The announcement was made by Alex D Macleod, the new Chief Executive of the SPA.

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Record-breaker Norman leaves Stornoway and heads west over the town before heading home to Larne.

When cancer survivor Norman Surplus touched down at Stornoway Airport today (TUE), he went straight into the history books for piloting the first gyrocopter to ever cross the Atlantic.

Norman, 52, from Larne in Northern Ireland, set off in 2010 but had to postpone his crossing from Japan to Alaska for three years when the Russian authorities refused him permission to enter their airspace.

I asked Norman why it had taken him five years …

While recovering from bowel cancer and having no flying experience, he learned no one had ever succeeded in flying a gyrocopter from the USA to Europe and made it his life goal.

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The round-the-world gyrocopter man Norman Surplus is on the way and took off from the Faroes after 8am today. He should be in Stornoway before lunch, depending on weather conditions.

Photo: Belfast Telegraph

The live Satellite Tracker will show his actual progress at any time.

Planned timetable today (subject to change at short notice)

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Ideally, record-breaking pilot Norman Surplus will have time to fly on to Oban before the final hop to Belfast but that depends on leaving the Faroe Islands by 10am on Monday morning.  Norman initially left Larne, where he lives in 2010 but was dogged by delays and a refusal by the Russians to let him into their airspace.

Norman leaving Larne in 2010

If he is delayed departing from Vagar in the Faroes due to possible misty weather in the morning then the chance of getting as far as Oban during daylight hours becomes less likely.

No gyrocopter has ever successfully crossed the Atlantic before. The Satellite Tracker (below) will show his actual progress at any given time.

Satellite Tracker

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This is an update on the progress of the gyrocopter flight around the world piloted by Norman Surplus.

The wind forecast for today and tomorrow (Sat. / Sun.) are giving a very strong southerly headwind to the north of the Outer Hebrides. As a result it is most likely that he will only be able to arrive in Stornoway on Monday (Aug. 10) when the wind forecast is much better.

Norman arrives in US state Custer County.

He will then either stay Stornoway or move on down to Oban on Monday evening, ready to join up with some other gyro aircraft in Oban on Tuesday. On that day he make the final flight home to Larne in County Antrim via the Mull of Kintyre peninsula) to arrive early-mid afternoon.

Norman is currently in Vagar in the Faroe Islands having flown in here yesterday from Iceland.

World Reach Comms

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