Category Archives: Western Isles

Minister should not decide who can complain to him over RET

Posted on February 5, 2012 | 11 Comments

OUTER HEBRIDES TRANSPORT GROUP
Email: outerhebridestransportgroup@aol.co.uk

NEWS RELEASE

OUTER HEBRIDES TRANSPORT GROUP DEMAND THAT MINISTER GIVES ACCESS TO ALL

Gail Robertson of DJ Buchanan Haulage in Benbecula and Co-ordinator of the Outer Hebrides Transport Group said: “The Scottish Government should remember that it’s islanders that want the meeting on Tuesday. By denying islanders access to a meeting in Edinburgh, Scottish Transport Minister, Keith Brown is behaving like a football manager who wants to select not only his own team but also his opponents’.
“We will be taking a full squad to St Andrew’s House in the hope and expectation that Mr Brown will reconsider his position”.

One of those denied a chance to make the case for the retention of RET for commercial vehicles, livestock haulier and agricultural supplier, Norman MacAskill of Drimore Farm on South Uist, said: “I can’t believe that the transport minister is so arrogant that he feels he can dictate to the islands who can go and speak with him and I can’t believe how politically impotent our MSP Alasdair Allan is.
“How on earth can Mr Allan not secure a meeting for people involved in crofting, fishing, construction, fish farming and weaving. Regardless of his attitude we will be going to Edinburgh and hope that Mr Brown will let us into the meeting. Islanders are now appreciating the devastating impact the removal of RET will have on every household and business.
“This SNP tax will have a devastating effect on our economy. Mr Brown would do well to remember that the first SNP representative in the islands was Donald Stewart who campaigned for RET and he would be turning in his grave if he were to appreciate what the SNP Government were proposing. People might think that Islanders have heather growing out their ears but we assure Mr Brown that we are not coming with sticks and knives”

David Wood of Woody’s Express said: “The behaviour of the SNP on this issue has been breathtakingly arrogant. We have a simple message for Keith Brown. We want a continuation of RET for commercial vehicles and we want the government to undertake a proper consultation and not to fob islanders off with the sham they are calling a consultation.
“Islanders are amazed that the government is choosing who can lobby them and shutting the door to a representative group – we hope they will see sense before Tuesday afternoon.”

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Posted in Benbecula, Government, Isle of Harris, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, RET, Scotland, SNP, transport, Western Isles

More from Sam Chambers in the chamber …

Posted on February 3, 2012 | Leave a comment

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.

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Posted in Barra, Benbecula, fuel rip-off, Isle of Harris, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, scams, Scotland, Shetland, transport, Uist, Western Isles

Barmy SNP minister Keith Brown and Alasdair Allan try to ban certain islanders from meeting over RET fiasco. Read why SNP must not be allowed to win in May unless they keep full RET.

Posted on February 2, 2012 | 41 Comments

OUTER HEBRIDES TRANSPORT GROUP
Email: outerhebridestransportgroup@aol.co.uk

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

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Posted in ferries, Isle of Harris, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, transport, Uist, Western Isles

Angry scenes at Stornoway fuel meeting

Posted on February 1, 2012 | 9 Comments

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.

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Posted in fuel rip-off, Isle of Harris, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, Shetland, Stornoway, Uist, Western Isles

Oil chief returns to Stornoway

Posted on January 25, 2012 | 3 Comments

Action Now On Fuel Prices For Islanders

Press Release
24 January 2012
Update: Due to circumstances beyond our control, this meeting will now begin half an hour earlier than previously advised. It will now start at 7pm with doors open at 6.30pm.

Scottish Fuels Boss will address public meeting – note new time

The boss of a national oil distribution company will return to the Western Isles next week to explain why his company is not to blame for the high cost of fuel there.

Sam Chambers, managing director of Warrington-based GB Oils Ltd, the parent company of island main distributors Scottish Fuels, was jostled and shouted at when he arrived at a meeting of local politicians and fuel retailers in October which was organised by islands MP Angus Macneil.

A little public consultation ...

However, the protesters were not allowed in and some stood in Mr Chambers’s way for a while to stop him getting into the council headquarters in Stornoway.

Since then, a petition calling for an investigation into pricing by distributors has attracted more than 1,600 signatures and been lodged with the Scottish Parliament. Scotland Office minister

Michael Moore has also told the MP he intends to get the Office of Fair Trading to launch a “wide-ranging” investigation into the alleged profiteering.

Reverend Iain D Campbell, a Free Church minister from Point, will take on the role of chairman of the meeting next Tuesday.

Fuel prices campaigner Callum Ian Macmillan, a former councillor, who has organised the upcoming meeting, said that the campaign against high fuel prices was an issue for everyone, regardless of political affiliations.

Mr Chambers, to his credit, had accepted the point they had made that it was unacceptable for him to come to a private meeting between politicians and people with fuel-related interests while not answering to the public, said Mr Macmillan.

“He will now address a public audience with his presentation and will take questions. It will then be up to Mr Chambers to tell us all – not the select few – why our prices are sometimes up to 20p more than on the mainland.”

He said he was not holding out much hope that the announcement last week by Angus Macneil MP that Scottish Secretary Michael Moore had agreed to an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading would be worth very much.

“There have already been probes by the OFT and they concluded there was no profiteering. I fail to see what another inquiry by them will do. We need a proper, independent investigation into wholesale distribution costs and profits.”

Unleaded petrol was selling at 141.9p per litre in Stornoway at the weekend while it was 130.9p at several outlets at Inverness. There was a 13p per litre difference in the price of diesel at these same outlets.

Campaigners say they believe fuel is currently shipped to both ports by the same tanker from Immingham in Lincolnshire and that industry analysts calculate the difference in shipping costs to amount to “two or three” pence per litre.

The meeting will be on Tuesday, January 31, at the council headquarters on Sandwick Road in Stornoway. Doors open at 6.30pm and the meeting will begin at 7pm.

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Posted in Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Western Isles

The Back pony lady – “I don’t think I want to be normal”

Posted on January 13, 2012 | 4 Comments

Click the arrow above to hear my interview with Stephanie Noble.

IMPORTANT NOTE – Just a word to those who have been busy putting it around to anyone daft enough to listen that Ms Noble has made a lot of money from her media interviews. That is not the case. I can say with certainty in the case of the newspapers and broadcasters I was working with that she did not ask for, and was not given, any money – although she admitted keeping a pony was a costly undertaking. Other reporters worked with other press but I understand Ms Noble also did not ask them for any money.
However, I hope that one TV station will pay for a bale of hay – when they get my expenses claim.
While I completely understand that feelings in neighbourhood disputes can run high, it is important to correct misleading impressions put around by certain people who are either badly-informed or downright mischievous.

Below is some of my footage (some unedited) that has been used by TV stations.
All material is copyrighted to Iain Maciver to whom terms for usage may be requested.

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Posted in council, crofting, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Police, Stornoway, Western Isles

Hi. Have you met my housemate? Nay?

Posted on January 11, 2012 | 13 Comments

Stephanie Noble comes to the door of her home at Broadbay View in Back with Grey Lady Too, the large pony which now resides in her sitting room.

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Posted in Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, Western Isles

Comhairle’s rapid response to pothole report

Posted on January 6, 2012 | 7 Comments

Credit where it’s due. I phoned technical services at the comhairle on Thursday morning after the car ahead of me on the road to Point banged into a pothole which had appeared in the road, just past Parkend.

When I was back on that road about three hours later, it had been fixed. Well done, guys.

While a lot of people will moan about potholes, it is also true that very few will actually pick up the phone and call the right department and tell them exactly where it is.

PS – There is now another pothole on North Street, less than a hundred yards from the main road.

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Posted in council, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Stornoway, Western Isles

Harris ferry bust

Posted on December 30, 2011 | 8 Comments

It’s another day of travel turmoil in the islands – this time not due to weather.

The ferry Hebrides is still broken and remains in Tarbert where engineers are trying to fix it. It’s turned into a big job, though. Now traffic and passengers have been sent to Stornoway where the relief vessel, the Isle of Arran, will take them from Stornoway to Uig.

Any overspill of traffic from Tarbert will be taken from Stornoway to Ullapool on the lunchtime 1.50pm sailing of the ferry Isle of Lewis.  CalMac advises all intending passengers  to contact their port of departure before setting off.

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Posted in ferries, Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides, Skye, Uncategorized, Western Isles

Accused in Liam murder case out on bail – BBC

Posted on December 29, 2011 | Leave a comment
The BBC is reporting that one of the men charged in connection with the murder of Liam Aitchison has been released on bail.
29 December 2011 Last updated at 17:49

Bail for man charged with Liam Aitchison murder on Lewis

Liam Aitchison. Pic: Northern Constabulary
Liam Aitchison, 16, was found dead in a derelict building on Lewis
One of the men accused of murdering a teenager on Lewis in the Western Isles has been released on bail. Stefan Miller, 20, from Carloway, was initially remanded in custody when he appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court earlier this month.

He and 21-year-old Jonathan Mackinnon, from Stornoway, are accused of the murder of 16-year-old Liam Aitchison. The teenager was found dead in a derelict building on the outskirts of Stornoway in November.

Mr Mackinnon and Mr Miller made no plea or declaration when they appeared in accused of murder.  Liam Aitchison’s funeral is due to take place on Friday at Daliburgh in South Uist.

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Posted in Crime, Outer Hebrides, Police, Scotland, Stornoway, Uist, Western Isles