Great broadband speed this week. Here’s why.

Posted on February 16, 2012 | 9 Comments

I couldn’t figure out why I was getting over 7mb broadband download speed at times this week. Right now, it’s 5.5mb. It’s usually about 2mb. If you have no broadband, I’m very sorry. Actually, I’m not, because you won’t be reading this anyway.

ALLAN CONTACTS BT OVER STORNOWAY BROADBAND PROVISION

Alasdair Allan MSP has today contacted the Head of Scottish Affairs at BT about the recent on-going problems with broadband connections to the Stornoway area.

Alasdair Allan commented: “For the last couple of days it would seem a large part of the Stornoway area has been without a BT internet connection, something which has affected a considerable number of homes and businesses.

“To make matters more frustrating when you eventually get through to BT on the phone they admit that the department dealing with technical issues is “non-customer facing”, something which they have explained to me means that they do not speak to anyone whom a BT customer is likely to be able to get hold of on the phone.

“I have taken this matter up with the Head of Scottish Affairs at BT this morning by phone, who has undertaken to look into this issue. It is important this matter is resolved quickly for all the homes and businesses which to date have had little information about when services will resume.”

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Posted in Isle of Lewis, Scotland, Stornoway, Western Isles

Secrets of TV news

Posted on February 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

If you are offended by the occasional ripe word, please do not watch this.

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Posted in Media, TV

Hauliers’ reply

Posted on February 14, 2012 | 29 Comments

In response to SNP Transport Minister’s statement, David Wood of Woody’s Express said: “The SNP government and their local representatives are twisting in the wind on this issue. After weeks of denying that their flawed ferry pricing policy would take millions of pounds out the islands’ economy the Government has just conceded that they’ve found £2.5 million pounds of “transitional relief” for islanders.
“This “transitional relief” represents a slow drawn out death for our economy. The withdrawal of support still represents a brutal blow for our communities, in reality island customers will have to find the equivalent of £ 2.5 million, every year, to make up for the removal of support. The SNP Government constantly fail to recognise that this is not a “hauliers issue” but a matter for every man, woman and child in our islands – our campaign must continue and it most certainly will”.

Gail Robertson – of DJ Buchanan Haulage said: “By stating that no fare will increase by more than 50% – is the minister saying that he is content with fare increases of 49.9%? the level of support available for commercial traffic for islands is being greatly reduced. Mr Brown keeps referring to hauliers and the prices they will pay – this is not a tax on hauliers but a tax imposed by the SNP Government on island households and island communities.
“The OHTG is meeting with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar later this week to see how we can win more concessions for our islands. We have got momentum but we have to continue the fight until we retain what our islands currently enjoy, if not people and island based business will pay dearly. We are pleased that the Government is taking up our idea of having a proper impact study. In the meantime they should leave the current support in place.”

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Posted in ferries, Outer Hebrides, RET, Scotland, Western Isles

Shocked at Iain Don’s departure, Keith Brown announces incomprehensible pre-RET-type Mark II transitional RET, or something

Posted on February 13, 2012 | 5 Comments

Alasdair Allan MSP has welcomed “major progress” on the issue of ferry fares for commercial vehicles after Transport Minister, Keith Brown, announced a package of transitional relief, including £2.5 million this year (see below). Dr Allan says it will halve the rates of increase which hauliers would face this year.

Alasdair Allan said: “The Transport Minister said that he would listen to concerns of businesses on the islands when we met last week, and that he would come back with improvements to his original proposals.

“He has now done this, committing £2.5 million of Scottish Government funding to transitional relief this year, ensuring that the proposed rate of increase on all routes this year is cut by 50% and that all fare increases are capped so no fare increases by more than 50%.

“The Minister has also ensured that vans up to 6m long will also benefit from RET delivering major savings. Importantly all these measures will apply equally to small and large companies addressing one of the major problems of the old discount scheme from which only a small number of companies benefited. The Transport Minister has also agreed to conduct a six month study into the costs faced by hauliers and the economic impact they have including both ferry fares and fuel costs, information which will feed into the setting of the fares in the future.

“Today’s announcement is a major  investment by the Government  to avoid the sudden and extreme increases about which companies expressed very reasonable concerns and along with the investment in RET for cars is a sign of this government’s continued commitment to the islands.”

end

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

MILLIONS EXTRA FERRY FARES HELP FOR HAULIERS AND BUSINESSES

SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITIES AS PRE-RET REBATE SCHEME REPLACED WITH IMPROVED TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

Transport Minister, Keith Brown, has announced extra financial help for all hauliers and businesses using ferry routes to the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree.

Today’s announcement:

• will provide an extra £2.5m next year to support new transitional arrangements for all commercial vehicles, regardless of size, using these routes

• will mean no haulier will see fares rises of more than 50% in any year

• will bring fare parity across all sizes of hauliers

• will see the Scottish Government work closely alongside hauliers and communities to lobby Westminster and other organisations on issues outside its control

• will work with key stakeholders and hauliers on a six month study to consider the broader socio-economic impact of ferry fares policy

This is in addition to extra help announced last week for all vehicles up to six metres qualifying for RET with potential savings of up to 50%. This represents investment of some £5.3m next year, and follows the recent decision to roll out Road Equivalent Tariff to all CalMac routes in Scotland for cars and passengers.

Mr Brown said: “We are determined to support our island and remote communities and underlined this last week with new arrangements for small commercial vehicles qualifying for RET on routes to Western Isles, Coll and Tiree. That announcement means all vehicles up to six metres in length will qualify for RET from April this year on those CalMac services, giving potential savings of up to 50%.

“Today we are providing more evidence of our commitment in support of those communities and all hauliers serving those communities. We are investing £2.5m on these transitional arrangements for larger commercial vehicles next year. This will ensure all hauliers, regardless of size, have access to the same support and that no fare will rise by more than 50% in any year over the transitional period.

“I had a constructive meeting with hauliers last week and one particular concern raised was that previous discount schemes had benefitted some hauliers more than others. By capping the rises all hauliers on any given route will pay the same. Before RET was introduced some large hauliers were able to claim rebates of a maximum of just 15% on their fares. We believe this new transitional arrangement will better support all hauliers with significant discounts available.

“While the meeting also recognised the budget pressures on the Scottish Government it was clear we must also recognise the external factors impacting on hauliers’ day to day business – like increase in fuel prices, VAT and insurance – all circumstances beyond the Scottish Government’s control and beyond the scope of what RET was set up to do. We would be very happy to listen further to hauliers and communities and work with them in lobbying Westminster and relevant organisations to ensure their concerns are heard and acted upon.

“Building on previous monitoring and evaluation of the RET pilot, we have agreed to work with key stakeholders and hauliers on a six month study which will look in detail at the broader socio-economic impact of ferry fares policy. This will bring additional clarity for all communities relying on ferry services to the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree.

“Our ambition is to see greater connectivity right across the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree, and our pilot has shown the scheme to have had a very positive impact on local economies, boosting the local tourist trade. We want to ensure that continues and for RET to be a permanent feature for passengers and cars on the current routes, while extending to include new routes across the West of Scotland.

Mr Brown added: “When we announced the roll out of RET, we pledged to listen, discuss and agree with hauliers a more flexible approach in the application of a transitional arrangement. We believe this arrangement is a more affordable and equitable approach which will help reduce the impact on affected hauliers and businesses, without compromising on the substantial benefits island communities right across the west of Scotland will accrue through an extended RET.”

A full note with illustrative tables can be found at http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/water/ferries

Today’s announcement is in addition to extra help announced last week for small commercial vehicles qualifying for RET on Western Isles, Coll and Tiree routes, where savings of up to 50% could be realised for those vehicles. The change, which has been brought in early and comes into effect this spring, will see commercial vehicles up to six metres long – up from five metres – no longer be classified as commercial vehicles and qualify for the Road Equivalent Tariff on these CalMac services. See link for more info http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/news/RET-qualifications-extended.

The Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) scheme involves setting ferry fares on the basis of the cost of travelling an equivalent distance by road. Typically RET would offer substantial fares reductions across almost all ferry routes in Scotland. A pilot has been running in the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree since October 2008 and is due to end in spring 2012

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Posted in Government, RET, SNP, Western Isles

Tagged , , , ,

So you really want to be a councillor, eh?

Posted on February 13, 2012 | 4 Comments

Information meetings are to be held for wannabe candidates for the council elections on May 3.

The meetings will include a presentation on the roles and responsibilities of councillors with an explanation of the wider election process. It will also cover topics such as the single transferable voting system, the nomination process, postal voting, polling and count arrangements.

There is nothing in the notice to indicate that the meetings will include instructions on how, once elected, the chosen ones can work behind the scenes to ensure that any local contractors they don’t like can be prevented from getting any council work and how they can blame national legislation if anyone starts asking difficult questions.

However, full details are expected to be available to anyone who asks about the full package of salaries as well as the allowances, subsistence, fees, side-contracts, etc., which are available without causing too much of a stooshie.

Any person considering standing for election to the comhairle, or any elector wishing further information on the election, is encouraged to attend any of the meetings. Joe Public can go along too. The meetings will be:

Tuesday 28 February, Sgoil Lionacleit, Benbecula 7.30pm
Tuesday 28 February, Tarbert Community Centre 7.30pm
Wednesday 29 February, Castlebay School 7.30pm
Tuesday 6 March, Council Chamber, Stornoway 7.30pm

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Posted in council, Government, Outer Hebrides, Western Isles

Who are Fair Fuel Solutions?

Posted on February 12, 2012 | 14 Comments

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

Statement from Iain Don Maciver

Posted on February 11, 2012 | 2 Comments

Following much soul searching and self examination, along with deep discussion with my wife and children and many friends and aquaiitances, I have decided to put myself forward as an independent candidate in the Sgire an Rubha ward at the Council Election in May.

This is not a decision that I have arrived at easily, especially as it means that I have to give up my SNP membership, but given the abandonment of RET for Commercial vehicles, which is going to have such a detrimental impact on the islands I see no other choice for me.

Having said all that I find the reaction of the Labour Party pitiful, especially given their negativity to RET from the outset and I totally refute their statements which only emphasise how out of touch they are with the electorate in our islands.

Regards

Iain Don Maciver
15 Lower Bayble

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Posted in council, Government, Isle of Harris, Isle of Lewis, Labour Party, Outer Hebrides, RET, Scotland, SNP, Western Isles

‘Why I am disgusted with the SNP and cannot stand as a councillor for that party because transport minister Keith Brown is damaging the Western Isles’

Posted on February 8, 2012 | 7 Comments

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Posted in council, ferries, Government, politics, Scotland, SNP, transport, video, Western Isles

Honourable SNP candidate quits over Keith Brown’s RET fiasco. Alasdair Allan still valiantly defends the move that will destroy island firms and jobs.

Posted on February 8, 2012 | 28 Comments

If there is one person in the Western Isles who understands RET and how it works it is Iain Don Maciver. As a CalMac port manager he has dealt with more queries about it than he has had hot dinners.

Rare. A man of honour

Having decided to stand for council, he has set out the things he believes are vital for these islands to survive rapacious fuel barons and uncaring self-absorbed national politicians. As one of the longest-standing SNP activists, he found it incredible that his party was trying to scrap RET for lorries and to hike the price by 172%.

He was sickened. Iain Don realised he could not go on the doorsteps of Point and defend that incredibly damaging move. Only hypocrites would even try. Councillors are meant to pledge to improve people’s lives. He couldn’t do it. So, as the shabby RET consultation is over and the evil levy will happen, he has confirmed he is not standing. He may even quit the party.  A man of honour.

They are rarer than hen’s teeth these people of honour who are prepared to sacrifice their own ambitions because of their own conscience and genuine concern for others. We salute Iain Don.

Make no mistake, you other intending candidates. Listen to the party spin at your peril. Alasdair Allan is happy to defend Keith Brown’s plan. As he so happily pointed out to me last week, in another context, he doesn’t have an election to fight in May. He’s not that bothered.

Any islander who stands on an SNP ticket while that party’s uncaring and relentlessly-ambitious minister Keith Brown is inflicting such damage on these islands will be regarded by the rest of us as a shallow, self-seeking hypocrite.

Many have already put their names forward on a wave of hysteria last year after a daft SNP campaign to put obviously incapable people up to fight every ward. I know a couple of them wish they hadn’t but regret is not enough.

Alex Salmond had a chance to overrule Brown. He failed to do anything because he wants to save £2 million and doesn’t care who suffers. The island candidates now must pull out – if they have a conscience. Otherwise, they will absolutely deserve what the electorate will inflict on them at the election. They will become pariahs. It’s make your mind up time.

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Posted in business, Government, Isle of Harris, Isle of Lewis, Labour Party, Liberals, politics, RET, Scotland, SNP, Stornoway, transport, Western Isles

“Useful” or “disappointing”? One meeting with Keith Brown – yet two very different accounts from the people who were there

Posted on February 7, 2012 | 5 Comments

The SNP-controlled Scottish Government is to punish islanders for voting them in by increasing commercial fares on island ferry routes by 172 per cent. The abolition of commercial RET will cause the collapse of many businesses and could cause people to move away and live elsewhere, some think.

The SNP is now deeply split over what they say is an extortion attempt which betrays how the party regards the islands. We absolutely need fair fares. At least one nationalist candidate for the council is said to have threatened not to stand and to also quit the party if it goes ahead. Others are “considering their position”.

A meeting of hauliers and community representatives was urgently arranged for Tuesday with Scottish transport minister Keith Brown. After it, Dr Alasdair Allan and Angus MacNeil said in a joint statement:

Useful or disappointing? What do you think?

“This was a useful and productive meeting and the Minister listened carefully to the communities’ concerns, which were very clearly put. The Scottish Government is investing £5 million in RET for non-commercial travel and that investment is vital, though the focus of the meeting today was on the future of fares for lorries.

“The Transport Minister was clear as he has been throughout, that his view is that the budget cannot sustain RET for haulage to the islands, but he has agreed to come back with proposals to address the companies’ concerns and we very much welcome that move. Businesses and communities have faced rising fuel, VAT and insurance costs and we made that clear to the minister.

“There were ideas put forward tonight including larger discounts, steps to ensure smaller hauliers do not lose out to larger hauliers and a clear commitment from the minister that he wants to see a fair system of ferry fares in the future. We are confident that when the minister comes back to us he will have taken on board our concerns and we will see a system that takes account of the interests of the community.”

However, this statement then came from Outer Hebrides Transport Group:

David Wood of Woody’s Express in Stornoway said: “We went to the meeting with Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown with the firm belief that he would listen and appreciate the arguments we were presenting on behalf of island communities. Unbelievably, he refused access to the meeting for some members of our delegation. The Scottish government would only allow people of their choosing into the room and sadly our MSP and MP never spoke up for their constituents and left them standing on the steps of St Andrew’s House”.

Norman MacAskill from Drimore Farm in South Uist, one of those denied access – described the refusal as an “affront to democracy”. And he added: “Politicians are meant to be servants of the people and for them to refuse to listen to people who work in businesses and communities in the islands is a disgrace – we are facing a massive price hike in ferry fares.”

David Wood added: ” We have a major fight on our hands to stop this household and haulage tax. Keith Brown refused to accept our very reasonable request for a proper consultation into the Government’s proposal to remove support for commercial traffic to the Western Isles. Without a proper and economic impact study we will not have a full understanding what these price rises will mean for our islands until it’s too late. There is a massive contrast between the efforts of our MP and MSP – my feeling is that Angus Brendan MacNeil is actually trying to secure a positive outcome for us”.

Gail Robertson of DJ Buchanan Haulage and Co-ordinator of the OHTG said: “Today’s meeting was disappointing – but we will not be giving up – there is too much at stake for our islands and the 100 businesses and other members of the public who have signed up for our campaign know what is at stake. We would like to thank leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Councillor Angus Campbell. Angus has been first class, a great ally and is completely focussed on stopping the economic carnage that will flow from the Government’s flawed ferry pricing policy.”

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Posted in business, ferries, Isle of Harris, Isle of Lewis, politics, Scotland, SNP, Stornoway, transport, Uist, Western Isles