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Lochranza’s new pontoon, due to be officially opened by The Lady Jean Fforde on July 12, has run into stormy waters.
Residents Terry Crawley and Hugh McKinnon, who live opposite the pontoon, say it will become a ‘much abused disaster’ and believe their fears about light and noise pollution highlighted when the pontoon was being planned will come true.
They say Lochranza and Catacol Sea Society, which built the pontoon, has reneged on assurances that no vessels would be allowed to berth there, that boarding boats only would be allowed and that the pontoon would be policed by society members.
Now villagers Terry Crawley and Hugh McKinnon have written to North Ayrshire Council to press it to implement a code of practice supported by the force of bye-law.
Their letter states that the society has no intention of honouring these assurances, that it has confirmed that yachts will be allowed to berth at the pontoon and that it will not be ‘policed’ but ‘self policed’.
They also say a draft proposal by the society for the pontoon noticeboard worsens the situation as it asks commercial users to telephone a number to find out the charges.
They added: ‘It is very difficult to believe that North Ayrshire Council granted planning consent for a commercial undertaking in such an environmentally sensitive location without the general public being made aware of it.
‘The Lochranza and Catacol Sea Society have shown that they do not have the will or the intention to administer and maintain this project.
‘Unless steps are taken to rectify this situation the project will have a very seriously detrimental impact upon the environment, the quality of life of local residents and the safety of the general public.
‘It should be noted that this project is extremely close to residential accommodation whose residents are very worried about the impact upon their quality of life if the assurances given are not adhered to.
‘The application was not made by some distant national or multinational organisation. It was made by friends, neighbours and other islanders.There was a great deal of trust and goodwill that would not have been extended to other applicants.’
There was no comment from society chairman Norman Swain at the time of going to press.
Councillor Margie Currie, who received a copy of the letter, said she did not feel there would be too much impact and that it would benefit Lochranza.A copy was also sent to Isle of Arran Community Council and discussed at its meeting on Tuesday night at Pirnmill. The community council felt it was a matter for NAC.
Lochranza community councillor Gillian Langley agreed with Councillor Currie and added that she hoped a gate would be put across the pontoon in the winter for public safety.
