Arnish Lighthouse

It was in the news today that Stornoway Golf Club is not allowed to have its members tee off on a Sunday, an arrangement dating back 20 years or so. Non members are able to play golf on the course. The Golf Club has this restriction imposed by its landlord, the Stornoway Trust. On being asked permission for Sunday play, the Trust said no.

It is one of those contradictions for which we are less than famous. I deeply respect people’s religious convictions, but do not have a lot of time for double standards.

You either forbid ALL play on a Sunday, or allow it to everybody. It is at best unfair on paying Golf Club members that they cannot play whilst non-members are free to take to the course.

Similar contradictions exist when it comes to a Sunday ferry service.

* On Easter Sunday, MV Isle of Lewis sailed across the Minch to transport a total of 20 trailers which were stuck on either side of the water.

* On Sunday, ferries ply between Skye and North Uist, and between Oban and South Uist and Barra. All three islands are part of the Western Isles, as is the Isle of Lewis.

* On Sunday, planes fly in and out of Stornoway Airport.

* People work on a Sunday to make that all happen.

* People work on a Sunday in the filling station on Sandwick Road in Stornoway to serve petrol and other goods.

Let’s get ourselves straightened out, because once again we are in danger of becoming the (inter)national laughing stock. .

The Audit Committee has today held another meeting to consider the problems surrounding the Western Isles Health Board. During this session, the so-called Cook Report was considered, together with written submissions by the former Chief Executive of NHS Scotland. The deliberations were in private.

It was decided that no further oral evidence would be taken, and during the next meeting a draft report will be considered - in private.

Although the Health Board staff had requested permission to also be heard by the Committee, they will not be called. I am not unduly worried about that, as I feel that the Audit Committee saw through the evidence presented by Messrs Manson and Currie - the fact that they took their time to remember the Cook Report, and the facts contained in said Cook Report (which I do not know) will probably speak for themselves.

Kildun Cottage and Arnish Point in the 1950s

Reader Trevor White, in commenting on my post “Stornoway, March 2008″, requested an image of Kildun Cottage. The above image is of Kildonan Cottage, as I was advised by a local man today. The picture was taken in the 1950s, and cannot be reproduced today.

The position of the photographer would be suspended in air, several dozen feet above the ground, as the hill he stood on has been bulldozed to make way for the Arnish Fabrication Yard. The cottage was burned down by way of demolition.

Related to today’s topography, Kildonan Cottage stands between the Lighthouse and the Fabrication Yard, close to Downie’s Pier.

This is the view, two years ago, from Charlie’s Monument, just south of the Fabrication Yard.

Trades Unions representing staff at NHS Western Isles have asked the Audit Committee of the Scottish Parliament to be interviewed on the continuing saga of the Board’s problems.

On February 27th, Messrs Currie and Manson were interrogated by the Committee, and their evidence was greeted with dismay by staff. They do not agree with the former managers’ version, and want to put their side of the argument across.

I remember attending the two public meetings in the Town Hall, and the public meeting organised by Mr Manson in the Caberfeidh Hotel to present the service redesign he had contrived one day after the first public meeting. Mr Manson had scheduled his meeting to coincide with the switching on of the Christmas lights in the town centre. Not a big deal, but a demonstration that he was at best out of touch with his workers. I will refrain from phrasing the “at worst” part of this expression; this is a public blog.

The next meeting of the Audit Committee will be on March 26th, next Wednesday. Business related to NHS Western Isles is the last item on the agenda. The briefing papers are available on-line, and contain a list of questions to the former Chief Executive of NHS Scotland, Mr Trevor Jones. A reply from him is awaited.

Spring appears to be on its way, in spite of the continued chilly spell. Just wanted to share a couple of pictures from around town, taken this month. Most notable: the Pyramid outside Woolworths, has been removed, and the Town House itself has had its fire damage repaired. At present, major ground works are underway in the Narrows, although they are not clearly visible in the pics.

Spring flowers in Carnegie Square

The Narrows

North Beach

Sunset, 18 March

Shell Street from the ferry marshalling yard

Scotland Street

Plantation Road

More developments on the windfarm front. Remarks by the Council Convener during Monday’s Energy Forum were published today, and they do serve to clarify the stance adopted by the Comhairle over this issue.

Basically, they insist on having a commercial sized windfarm in Lewis in order to justify an interconnector - the subsea cable that will carry all the power generated in the island to mainland consumers. The windfarm will also boost investment into the Arnish Fabrication Yard - anyone opposed to these schemes are intent upon turning Lewis into an environmental museum.

Methinks that our Councillors have signally failed to take heed of the words of the Energy Minister at the same Forum, when he said that environmental concerns have to be taken into account. They have also not taken cognisance of the reasons why the North Lewis Windfarm could be on the road to rejection.

The Arnish Fabrication Yard can do much more than just make windturbines. During 2006, they made segments for the Pelamis (wavepower generator), to mention but one thing.

Another point made by the Convener was that he feels that there has been an exemplary level of community consultation. If that is the case, why are up to 90% of Lewis residents opposed to the North Lewis Windfarm and it is yet being forced through? Far from exemplary, this episode has shown a breathtaking level of detachment from the community on the part of Western Isles Council.

Far from being opposed to development, most people would welcome a boost to the local economy. However, economic development and care for the environment are not mutually exclusive. Preserving the centre of the island as a unique habitat could bring economic benefits in terms of tourism, a pillar of the local economy often overlooked.

The Energy Minister mentioned tidal and wave power, for which the Hebrides could equally be a powerhouse, with a far lesser environmental impact. The study, announced by Jim Mather, into Harnessing Renewable Energy, should be a template for the Comhairle to work out its economic development strategy, with a broader view than exclusively windpower.

Remember Don Quixote and Sancho Panza? Cervantes’ heroes, forever battling windmills. Well, the reverse can be said of our local council. They are battling to get a huge windfarm to Lewis, come hell or high water.

Yesterday, the Scottish Government’s Energy Minister, Jim Mather, spoke at a renewables forum in Stornoway, saying that the Western Isles had the greatest potential for renewable energy in the whole of Scotland. Not just windpower, but also tidal, wave and solar. Any such project would have to be viewed against European environmental legislation. His remarks are varyingly seen as a hint towards approval of the North Lewis Windfarm or as a hint towards final rejection. The Scottish Government has told the developers, LWP, on January 25 that they were “minded to reject”.

The local council has decided not to wait for Mr Mather’s final decision, but has already launched an alternative scheme. Another giant windfarm, stretching from Stornoway to Ness, but this time in community ownership to the tune of 50%.

The Comhairle has said that it intends to open discussions with community- owned estates (Stornoway and Galson), to make this happen. Generating electricity on this sort of scale, according to the council, would (I quote) “fund environmental management work that will enhance the sustainability of a wide range of habitats and support jobs for their interpretation.”

I think I need to lie down in a darkened room now.

Nothing has changed, except for the ownership issue. If the current LWP plans are turned down - so will the new plans.

Yesterday morning, the Audit Committee took more evidence on the financial and managerial problems at the Western Isles NHS Board, from senior officials within NHS Scotland. The focus was on the former Chief Executive, Dick Manson.

At the moment, Mr Manson is on secondment elsewhere within NHS Scotland, although he formally remains an employee of NHS Western Isles. He will, however, not return there at any point. The Western Isles NHS can therefore still take action against him, if they perceive that his performance during his time at Stornoway would justify doing so.

It was pointed out that there is a culture within NHS Scotland for people who have problems in post to be moved, rather than the problem addressed. Something that the Committee appeared to be flabbergasted by, as such would not be tolerated in the private sector.

Mr Manson’s secondment was implemented in a unique way, with the position not previously advertised. There was no process of applications and interviews. NHS Scotland stated that this was a one-off, designed to permit NHS Western Isles to move on, and it was for the good of the public in the islands.

The current Chief Executive is suspended on full pay, funded by NHS Scotland.
An interim CEO is in post, paid for by the Health Board.
On balance, the Scottish taxpayer is funding three CEO’s in the islands. That’s good value for money, I don’t think.

Meanwhile, the contentious Cook Report was released to the Audit Committee, who discussed it in private session.

This just gets worse and worse.

It is an unpleasant day in terms of weather, but it is positively Arctic with regards to the continuing horror saga that is the Western Isles Health Board.

I have yet to read the transcript from this morning’s proceedings at the Audit Committee of the Scottish Parliament. However, it has become clear that former Chief Executive Dick Manson is still an employee of NHS Western Isles. He was seconded out to a position with NHS National Services Scotland. They pay his salary as CEO to NHS Western Isles.

Although a senior figure in NHS Scotland has denied that the post was created for Mr Manson, he was parachuted into it to get him out of an extremely difficult situation, it is said.

Leaving that to one side, Mr Manson’s successor, Laurence Irvine, has been suspended on full pay for more than 6 months now over irregularities in his CV, pending an investigation. John Turner is now CEO, but NHS Western Isles is paying the salary bills of three Chief Executives, a luxury they cannot afford.

Is anyone surprised their deficits are mushrooming?

Anyone with substantiated information pertinent to the Audit Committee’s investigation can visit this webpage

The islanders of Lewis are anxiously awaiting whether or not the Scottish Government will approve the North Lewis Windfarm. Highlands and Islands MSP Peter Peacock had questioned the Energy Minister (Jim Mather) on the issue, but had not got an answer, as the Minister felt it inappropriate to comment on an application in progress.

Mr Peacock had queried whether there was an alternative to the Lewis Windfarm in terms of economic prosperity and job creation. Mr Mather replied that such had to be seen in the framework of European environmental legislation. The MSP has interpreted this as a positive hint towards approval, along with Western Isles Council. The Comhairle has said that no other scheme would bring equivalent benefits.

With Easter just a fortnight away, it is never a good idea to place all one’s eggs in the one basket, as the Council appear to be doing.