IR 766 Maggie and Robin Woodman - Transport Scotland

Page 1 of2Chappie T (Tanya)From:Grieve C (Colin)Sent: 28 March 2012 16:44To:Chappie T (Tanya)Subject: FW: Scottish Ferty Review Consulatation DocumentTanyaResponse to Draft Ferries PlanRegards,Colin GrieveFerries Division®x41539From: Maggie Woodman [mailto:maggleislay@googlemail.com]Sent: 22 March 2012 16:49To: Michael.Russell.msp@scottish.parliament.uk; islaycc@googlemail.com; Scottish Ministers; Grieve C(Colin); reida@pariiament.uk; Kirsten-ldo@btconnect.comCc: roblnislay@gmall.comSubject: Scottish Ferry Review Consulatation DocumentDear Sirs,As residents of Kildalton and Oa and former B&B owners we wish to make our views felt re the proposal torun fewer ferries to and from Port Ellen on Islay.* The Port Ellen area has the largest concentration of B&B outiets on the island. The vast majority of thevisitors to our B&B reached the island by ferry. Of those arriving by ferry, 80%+ used the service to PortEllen. We have no doubt that our business would have been severeily adversely affected by a reduction in thenumber of ferries to Port Ellen.* The number of visitors using B&B facitiities in the Port Ellen area has a direct impact on the number oftourists visiting the distilleries, hotels, restaurants and other tourist facilities on the south side of the island. Ifthe numberof visitors using B&B outiets in and around Port Elien is reduced this will inevitably have a knockoneffect on the other facilities in the area.* The sen/ices offered to guests would be detrimentally affected by the proposed changes. Guests staying inthe Port Ellen area and leaving the island by the 9.45 a.m. ferry can breakfast at the civilised hour of 8.00 a.m.and still be in plenty of timeto register at the Port Ellen terminal by 9,00 a.m. - if they have to travel to PortAskaig breakfast would have to be served by 7.15 at the latest - severely inconveniencing visitors and B&Bproviders alike. Guests arriving on the late ferry at Port Askaig would arrive in Port Ellen well after 9.00 p.m.in the evening and too late for an evening meal.* Many foot passengers and cyclists travel to the island for a day trip with the specific intention of visitingArdbeg, Laphroaig and Lagavuiin distilleries, arriving on the early ferry and departing on the evening ferry -the new proposed timetablewould render this impossible. Foot passengers and cyclists visiting the island fora short one or two night stay would be very much less likely to visit the Kildalton and Oa area if the vastmajority of ferries dock at Port Askaig.* As residents of Kildalton and Oa we ouriselves will incur additional expense and inconvenience in travelling

Page 2 of2to the other side of the island to board ferries. A third of the island's population live in this area and will besimilarly inconvenienced.* The redevelopment work at Port Ellen pier is to be completed at great expense but under these newtimetabling proposals will not be used to its full potential - in our view this doesn't make any sense.* The Kildalton and Oa area is a thriving and vibrant community with a commitment to constant improvement,growth and development while maintaining the special cultural tradition of the south side of Islay. It isour belief that the residents and businesses of the Kildalton and Oa area are being sacrificied on the altar ofexpediency.We look fon/vard to your reply.Yours sincerely,Maggie and Robin WoodmanSamhchairThe OaIsle of IslayPA42 7AX01496 302596This email was received firomthe INTERNET and scanned by the Govemment Secure Inttanet antivirusservice supplied by Cable&Wireless Worldwide in partnership with MessageLabs. (CCTMCertificate Number 2009/09/0052.) In case of problems, please call your organisation's IT Helpdesk.Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or recorded for legalpurposes.This email has been received from an external party andhas been swept for the presence of compuler viruses.* kkkkkkkkklikk *******************************

Page 1 of2Chappie T (Tanya)From: Grieve C (Colin)Sent: 28 March 2012 16:40To: Chappie T (Tanya)Subject: FW: Scottish Ferry Review Consultation DocumentRegards,Colin GrieveFerries Division®x 41539From: Robin Woodman [mailto:robinislay@googlemail.com]Sent: 22 March 2012 18:55To: Michael.Russell.msp@scottlsh.pariiament.uk; islaycc@googlemail.com; Scottish Ministers; Grieve C(Colin); reida@pariiament.uk; Kirsten-ldo@btconnecLcomCc: Maggie WoodmanSubject: Scottish Ferry Review Consultation DocumentDear Sirs,I have read the proposals in the above document re the revised ferry services to Islay and should like to makethe following observations.The following statement is taken from the consultation document: 'Port Ellen is an important facility for graindelivery and storage'. This bland statement shows littie or no understanding of the demographics of Islay.The changes proposed in the document might be excusable if Port Ellen were indeed merely a facility forgrain delivery and storage but this is only one minor aspect of Port Ellen's contribution to the life of Islay.The community of Kildalton and Oa is a vibrant and growing community, accounting for approximately a thirdofthe population of Islay i.e. 1000+ residents. Within this community are many thriving business, all of whichwould be adversely affected by the proposed changes of reduction in service provision to Port Ellen. Thearea boasts the largest concentration of B&B facilities on either Islay or Jura and, as such, is vital to the touristindustry of the island.The inevitable reduction in the numbers of visitors to the Kildalton and Oa area if these proposals were putinto place, would undoubtedly have a detrimental knock-on effect on the other tourist attractions in the area.With the journey time to Port Askaig being 20 minutes less than that to Port Ellen, I believe that theseproposals are driven purely on the grounds of economy and expediency with liti:le or no thought given to theneeds and wishes ofthe residents and businesses ofthe Port Ellen area. Whilst accepting that the needs ofJura residents also require consideration, there are 200 of them against 1000+ of us!Yours sincerely,Robin WoodmanSamhchairThe OaIsle of IslayPA42 7AX