More from the Stornoway fuel meeting from Maciver TV

More footage of how a string of Scottish Fuels flunkies tried in vain to defend their pricing policy in the Western Isles.

Office of Keith Brown
Scottish Transport Minister

Dear XXXXXX

The Outer Hebrides Transport Group will not be accepting as specified, the invitation to meet with Transport Minister Keith Brown MSP.

We are appalled that Keith Brown and our MSP Alasdair Allan are manipulating the list of people who can go and represent more than 90 island based companies who’ve signed up for our campaign, at the meeting scheduled for Edinburgh next Tuesday. And to add further insult Mr Brown is offering us only 45 minutes of his time.

Barmy Brown thinks he and Allan can decide who can complain

As you should know by now, the withdrawal of RET for commercial vehicles is not an issue that solely concerns the hauliers of these islands. This economic folly will impact on every family and business in the Outer Hebrides. And our Group is implacably opposed to the flawed household and haulage tax that the SNP Government is determined to implement in two months’ time.

Sadly, fundamental democratic principles and the conventions of common courtesy have been jettisoned by Mr Allan and the Transport Minister. Can they explain why the names of our MP, Angus Brendan MacNeil, (critical of the policy) and our council leader Angus Campbell (a critic also) have been omitted from the list those of those “approved” to meet the SNP Government next week?

And can they further explain why SNP councillor Donald Manford has been added to the “approved” list without any reference to our Group or indication as to why he should attend and the council leader and others be denied access to the meeting.

When did the Scottish Government begin approving those fit to lobby or meet with SNP Government minister? This type of censorship, control and attempted manipulation should embarrass any democrat.

This RET issue affects every man woman and child in the Hebrides and to that end government must hear the views from across the economic community of the islands. The goods we take to and from the Hebrides sustain our economy, and hauliers are a small but vital part of that process. Our MP and our Council Leader, along with others, must be allowed to make that case in Edinburgh.

As co-ordinator of the Outer Hebrides Transport Group I was asked to bring together a representative group to meet with the minister – but I can assure you that neither I, nor my colleagues, will be bullied or coerced into meeting on the terms dictated by Alasdair Allan MSP or Transport Minister, Keith Brown.

I look forward to hearing from you and hope that they will see sense and allow our Group to determine in the normal manner those who should make the case to protect the interests of the islands economy.

Yours sincerely

Gail Robertson
Co-ordinator
Outer Hebrides Transport Group

Angry scenes at Stornoway fuel meeting by Maciver TV

Here are some exchanges at the public meeting with representatives of Scottish Fuels who turned up to deny they were responsible for high fuel prices in the Western Isles.

The chairman is Reverend Iain D Campbell and to his right is Norman Macleod, who is not only a senior manager of Scottish Fuels but also a local councillor.

Unedited.  More clips to follow.

The last few weeks have seen the onset of winter weather and the Comhairle wishes to reiterate its revised policy on gritting and snow-clearing to the travelling and general public.

Chief executive Malcolm Burr said: “A full review of the Comhairle’s Winter Maintenance Policy and Operational Plan was carried out earlier this year, and the Comhairle approved the new Policy and Plan in September.

The service provided in the past was simply no longer affordable and had resulted in significant overspending in the last two years. The policy provided a more enhanced level of service compared to other areas in the north of Scotland, and changes were accordingly necessary.

To summarise the new policy, gritting operations will not start until 0600 with the highest priority routes (Priority 1 and Priority 2) to be completed by 0730 and 0830 respectively with the lower priority routes (Priority 3 and Priority 4) being treated by 0930 and 1030 respectively.  In the event that the gritting of roads is required in the evening, generally only Priority 1 routes will be treated, with an intention of doing so by 1800.  Only under exceptional circumstances will any other routes be gritted in the evening.

On  Sundays and  Local Public Holidays, only Priority 1 and Priority 2 routes will be gritted, in the mornings, starting at 0800 with completion by 0930 and 1030 respectively.  In common with the other days of the week, only Priority 1 routes will be treated by 1800; only under exceptional circumstances will any other routes be gritted in the evening.

Details of the policy and of the routes across the Western Isles are available on the Comhairle’s website at www.cne-siar.gov.uk/techservices/wintermaint.asp.  The public are encouraged to familiarise themselves with how the details of the prioritisation of routes and the target treatment times affect them and their ability to travel to and from their homes.

 The Comhairle’s Director of Technical Services, Iain Mackinnon, emphasised that, in accordance with the Comhairle’s legal responsibilities, the Comhairle shall “take steps as they consider reasonable to prevent snow and ice endangering the safe passage of pedestrians and vehicles over public roads”.  Mr Mackinnon confirmed that the terms of the Policy constitute what the Comhairle consider to be reasonable and emphasised that the travelling public are responsible for ensuring their own safety and that of their passengers when travelling in such conditions.

“Excellent advice is available from the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) website on  www.drivingadvice.org.uk/media/12310/10_10_2011_winter_driving_tips_pdf.pdf; members of the public should be aware of the risks associated with driving in such conditions and change their driving style to suit the conditions.”

He suggested that members of the public should always carefully consider the weather and road conditions prior to any journey and, in certain conditions, ask how essential the journey is.

The above information is also available from Technical Services at the Council Offices in Stornoway, Tarbert, Balivanich or Castlebay for those who do not have access to the internet.

This is what council leader Angus Campbell had to say to me about TV host Matthew Wright this evening. (Click the arrow if it doesn’t start)

“I am ashamed”

A panellist on the Channel 5 talk show The Wright Stuff says she is
“ashamed” that she did not speak out when host Matthew Wright and
comedian Charlie Baker started making fun of the murder of Western Isles
teenager Liam Aitchison on Tuesday.

Wright did an unfunny parody of the TV series Taggart by shouting “There
has been another murder” in a mock-Glasgow accent. Baker then called the
time since the last Hebridean murder in 1968 as “the longest episode of
Taggart”.

After complaints, Wright on Wednesday responded by firstly
apologising and then telling those who had called for him to be
investigated by Ofcom to “grow up”.

However, another panellist on Tuesday’s Wright Stuff said she was
“ashamed” that she didn’t point out that their comments were
inappropriate. Independent columnist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown was asked by
Isle of Lewis-born teacher and author Donald S Murray, who now lives in
Shetland, why she and a fellow panellist, explorer Jeremy Wade, “failed
to utter any protest when these antics occurred”.

Ms Alibhai-Brown wrote back: “Yes, I should have and you are right to
pull me up. I am ashamed.”

There have also been complaints about the fun poked at the murder by
Western Isles Council, Angus Macneil MP and Alasdair
Allan MSP.

A Channel 5 statement said: “Channel 5 and the producers of
The Wright Stuff have reviewed the comments made in yesterday’s
programme. Matthew has apologised in today’s programme making it clear
that there was no intention to “belittle the seriousness of a tragic
story, or offend anyone who knew Liam.”

The agents for Matthew Wright and Charlie Baker have still not commented. Ofcom confirmed it had received many complaints and would publish them next week.  Although Ofcom has the power to order an immediate investigation, it has not done so.

Statement on behalf of Liam Aitchison’s family:

 “We would like to thank all those who have offered their support and good wishes to the family at this difficult time.
“We are very disappointed at the insensitive and offensive nature of the comments made on the Channel 5 programme The Wright Stuff. This is very upsetting and insulting for not just the family, but for the whole community of the Western Isles.
“We are being kept informed of the progress of the enquiry onto Liam’s murder and we have every confidence in the Police to do their job. If anyone has any information about what happened to Liam please come forward.”

Detective Chief Inspector Kenny Anderson confirmed thwy were now treating Liam’s death as murder.  He added: “The response from the community in Stornoway to appeals for information has been very positive and I would appeal to anyone who may have information in relation to this crime to contact the the incident room at Stornoway Police Station.

“In particular, we wish to trace witnesses who may have seen three people wearing hooded-type tops, who were seen walking in the Steinish village area shortly after midnight on Tuesday 22nd into the early hours of Wednesday 23rd November 2011.”

From speaking to certain people, it may be that some local commentators may have been less than accurate in their assessments so far. That could persuade younger islanders to feel their own accounts would be so different as to be disbelieved. This is a time for absolute honesty about recent incidents.  Tell the police all that you know.

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 01851 702222.

For the first time the nationalists are fielding candidates in all nine enlarged wards, with a total of 16 candidates. They will be officially introduced to SNP members at a St Andrews Evening  tonight (Friday).

The SNP’s candidates will be:

Ward 1 – Barra, Vatersay, Eriskay and South Uist – Cllr. Donald Manford
Ward 1 – Barra, Vatersay, Eriskay and South Uist – Cllr. Gerry MacLeod
Ward 1 – Barra, Vatersay, Eriskay and South Uist – Willie Douglas
Ward 2 – Benbecula and North Uist – Bryan Macpherson
Ward 2 – Benbecula and North Uist– Andrew Walker
Ward 3 – Harris and South Lochs – Cllr Philip Mclean
Ward 4 – Uig and North Lochs – Cllr Annie MacDonald
Ward 4 – Uig and North Lochs – Bill Houston
Ward 5 – Point – John Norman ‘Orica’ MacDonald
Ward 5 – Point – Iain Don MacIver
Ward 6 – Stornoway South – Mohammed Ahmed
Ward 6 – Stornoway South – Gordon Murray
Ward 7 – Stornoway North – Bob Duncan
Ward 7 – Stornoway North – Rae MacKenzie
Ward 8 – Broad Bay – Cllr John A MacIver
Ward 9 – West Side and Ness – Kenny MacLeod

The Labour Party, meanwhile, is in turmoil since the last Holyrood election. Its candidate was a Free Church elder who famously confirmed his support for the right of accomodation providers to discriminate against paying guests who fail to engage in Free Church-approved sexual practices.

He failed to get the backing of even hardline church members so is now expected to stand for council on the basis that there may be more rabid homophobes per square mile in Point compared to all of the islands.

The SNP knows it could now be in line for a historic takeover. Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, confirmed the SNP was putting up more than three times as many council candidates in the Western Isles than they ever did before.

“We do this because there is a clear demand for a new council with fresh ideas, one which will work hard in the interests of jobs and services in the islands during tough economic times.
“I intend to get round as many doorsteps as I can with our council candidates between now and May to listen to and respond to people’s views and concerns, and I know we have selected a team which can make a real breakthrough for the SNP in the islands.”

Angus MacNeil, the islands’ SNP MP, added: “We will fight a positive campaign and one which draws on the depth of support which now exists for the SNP in the islands. The SNP’s candidates are serious about taking local responsibility in communities from Ness to Vatersay.
“The SNP in the islands is clearly energised, not just by our success nationally, but by the trust which the party has earned within the community. Today’s announcement of 16 council candidates marks the arrival of the SNP as a decisive force within local politics in the Western Isles.”

Council group leader Donald Manford said the SNP were sending out a clear signal that they intend to dramatically increase their representation on the Comhairle from the current group of four councillors.

The firm has blamed a computer error for direct debit payments being taken twice. It said all customers would be refunded within the next few days.  The heating oil company was recently taken over by DCC Energy, the parent company of Scottish Fuels, GB Oils and Brogan Fuels.

DCC has also been fined tens of thousands of pounds for overcharging customers in Wales. The company was also found to have set up bogus price comparison websites for heating oil. The sites were fixed to make sure that only quotes from DCC-owned companies were shown.