Latest news with #ArgyllandButeCouncil
The Herald Scotland
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Russell Findlay remembers 'respected' Tory MSP dead at 75
Sir Jamie served in the Scottish Parliament between 1999 and 2016 as a list MSP for the Highlands and Islands. He went on to join Argyll and Bute Council in 2017, serving as a councillor for Oban South and the Isle until 2022. Born in London in 1949, Sir Jamie was educated at Cladich Primary School in Argyll and at Eton College. After graduating from the University of Neuchatel in Switzerland, Sir Jamie worked in finance in London before starting a trout farm in Argyll. During his time in Holyrood, he served as Scottish Conservatives spokesperson on fisheries, communities, and sport. Former MSP Sir Jamie McGuire. (Image: Gordon Terris) Scottish Conservative Party leader Russell Findlay told the BBC: "I am deeply saddened to hear of Sir Jamie's death, and on behalf of all Scottish Tories, I would like to send my condolences to his family and friends. "After being elected to the reconstituted Scottish Parliament in 1999, he stood firm for the interests of the Highlands and Islands for 17 years as a committed MSP. "He did an excellent job in several frontbench positions, including fisheries, he was very popular and was respected by his colleagues regardless of their politics." Sir Jamie was remembered by former Conservative colleagues on social media. Aberdeenshire West and North Kincardine MP Andrew Bowie wrote: 'Very sad to hear of the death of Jamie McGrigor, a lifelong servant to Scotland and the Scottish Tories. 'One of the class of 1999, an MSP through to 2017, and then councillor for Oban until 2022, he was one of the best. Respected on all sides. He will be greatly missed.' Former Scottish Conservative boss Douglas Ross added: 'Very sorry to hear of the passing of Jamie McGrigor. Jamie was a kind and dedicated MSP who served the Highlands and Islands with real passion and commitment. 'My thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.' Read more: Extraterrestrial rays to power music performance at Edinburgh Fringe Fresh calls to dual A96 as £65m repair bill for trunk road revealed Why does everyone seem to hate Maggie Chapman? Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser noted: 'Very sorry to hear of the passing of my friend and former colleague & Highlands & Islands MSP Jamie McGrigor. 'A passionate voice for his Highland constituents, he was outstanding company and a tremendous character. Jamie, you - and your guitar - will be greatly missed.' MSP Liz Smith added on Facebook: 'So very sorry to learn of the death of Jamie McGrigor - one of the Scottish Parliament's great characters, passionate ambassador for the Highlands and kind and gracious colleague.'
Daily Record
20-07-2025
- Daily Record
Scotland's 'best seaside gardens' named as nine coastal beauty spots singled out
July is the perfect time to head to a colourful garden. Scotland's "best seaside gardens" have been crowned. Beauty spots in Dumfries and Galloway, South Ayrshire, and the Scottish Highlands are among those that were singled out. Visiting a garden is a classic summertime activity, with Scotland having no shortage of pretty estates. With summer halfway over, there is no time like the present to get out and walk around a vibrant garden. On Tuesday, July 15, Discover Scottish Gardens published a list of the top coastal gardens around the country. A total of nine seaside gardens are featured on the roundup. One of the gardens named among the best coastal spots in the country by Discover Scottish Gardens is Arbigland House and Gardens in Dumfries and Galloway. The 18th century mansion is situated within 24 acres of woodland gardens, which extend down to a beach along the Solway Firth. The formal gardens at Arbigland House are separated into different areas such as a Sunken Garden, a Japanese Garden, and a Sundial Garden. The former features roses and a Pavilion constructed by Italian Prisoners of War, while the Sundial Garden includes a sundial from 1815 that commemorates the battle of Waterloo. Discover Scottish Gardens stated: "From the 18th century mansion house, a long walk, lined by beech trees, stretches from Arbigland House to the beaches of the Solway Firth. The 24 acres of gardens here, which include an Italianate sunken garden, steep terraces and streamside gardens shaded by Giant gunnera, are undergoing restoration but there's no denying the salty credentials of this historic spot on the Dumfries & Galloway coastline. "The Vikings washed up here and the estate itself was the birthplace of John Paul Jones, father of the American navy." Elsewhere, the experts also selected Culzean Castle in South Ayrshire as one of Scotland's best seaside gardens. The castle sits in a 260-hectare estate featuring beaches, woods, trails, and more. Highlights of the estate include its colourful formal gardens and glasshouses. Culzean Castle itself sits atop a dramatic cliff, below which there is a picturesque sandy coastline home to various caves. The experts wrote: "From the battlements of Culzean there are spectacular views across the Firth of Clyde towards the jagged peaks of Arran. Beneath the castle lie rock pools and caves just begging to be explored, while the Fountain Court on the leeward side is filled with tender plants that relish the coastal conditions. "There are hundreds of acres of woodland paths to be enjoyed, along with a double walled garden full of decorative and edible plants." Another seaside garden featured on Discover Scottish Gardens' list is Ardencraig Gardens on the Isle of Bute. The garden, which is located near the island's principal town of Rothesay and is managed by Argyll and Bute Council, is home to a variety of exotic plants in its glasshouses. Other gardens singled out by the experts include Ardmaddy Estate in Argyll and Inverewe Garden in Scottish Highlands. Ardmaddy Estate is situated near the popular coastal resort of of Oban and features a restored and improved 18th century walled garden, while Inverewe Garden is located in Wester Ross and is known for its rare plants that can only grow thanks to the warming effects of the Gulf Stream. Meanwhile, Discover Scottish Gardens also praised Castle of Mey and Dunrobin Castle in the Scottish Highlands. Rounding out the list are House of Dun in Angus and Cambo Gardens in Fife. The full list of the best seaside gardens around Scotland can be found below. For more information about each one, visit the Discover Scottish Gardens website. The best seaside gardens around Scotland
The Herald Scotland
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Mull school campaigners a step closer to court date
A petition for a Judicial Review was lodged with the Court of Session in Edinburgh in June, and was followed by a successful crowdfunding campaign that raised more than £50,000 in just one week. The campaigners have now confirmed that their application has been accepted by the court, which they say 'essentially means that the judge agrees there is a case to answer, and that it has real prospects of success". Argyll and Bute Council now has 14 days to respond to the petition. If it decides to contest the action, a formal hearing is expected in October. A spokesperson for the Mull Campus Working Group Ltd (MCWG), which is pursuing the legal case, said that "democracy is severely lacking" in Argyll and Bute Council but that their community is "more united than ever". The group had previously said that the council's decision-making around the new school had been 'shoddy and biased', which they say left them with 'no option' but to take the matter to court. They argue that the council has behaved irrationally, unfairly, and outwith the bounds of its own regulations, and that the decision to base the new school in Tobermory should therefore be reversed. The campaigners say that they were 'warned not to challenge' the council's decision to locate the new school in Tobermory, and that delays to the programme could 'jeopardise Scottish Government funding,' which they described as being told to accept the plans as they are or risk getting 'nothing at all'. Read more: Speaking recently to the Press and Journal, local councillor and administration member Andrew Kain, who had previously been highly critical of those pushing for a central high school, has suggested that islanders were misled by the council. He said that despite residents being told that the location of the new school was a matter for consultation, and the council running a 'call for sites' and a formal review of several options, the project was only ever intended to be 'a replacement for Tobermory High School'. The move to build a new school was originally referred to as the 'Mull Campus Project', but recent communication from council officials has stated that 'the Tobermory Campus project is focussed on creating an improved and enhanced learning environment for the pupils within the current Tobermory High School catchment area". Although the new school building is being delivered by Argyll and Bute Council, the authority plans to use a Scottish Government funding scheme known as the Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP). Education secretary Jenny Gilruth has already confirmed that delays to the project will not jeopardise financial support, and the government has also found and allocated additional funding to ensure that a new Gaelic primary school in Glasgow, which is also LEIP-funded, can be completed. The council is currently facing another active judicial review over its handling of plans for a supermarket on Helensburgh waterfront. During a hearing at the beginning of July, lawyers representing Argyll and Bute Council argued that local people had no right to challenge the decision, regardless of how it was made. Speaking exclusively to The Herald, a spokesperson for the Mull Campus Working Group Ltd said: 'We are all delighted that our petition has been granted the hearing it deserves. It has taken a huge effort from a team of volunteers to get us to this point and an incredible response from the community to support that work in the form of donations to fund this case. On the other hand we are disappointed that all of this hard work from the Mull community could have been avoided if Argyll and Bute council had chosen to work with us in the open and transparent way that was promised from the new administration. It is also shocking to us all that the council says they have no money to fund community solutions, yet find a bottomless pit to fund their legal defence in this, now their second judicial review. 'The themes of a lack of consultation and meaningful impact assessments conducted by those most closely affected, seem to be endemic across multiple projects and increasingly communities are not feeling represented or heard. The conclusion is that democracy is severely lacking at Kilmory in the eyes of the electorate. 'We hold out hope that a period of introspection by the administration at Kilmory and a commitment to work with us, will mean this legal action does not have to run its course. No one is enjoying having to work this way with our elected and non-elected officials and the stress caused and sacrifices made from countless hours of unpaid work has taken its toll on us all. The core team of volunteers are from all over the island from the north to the south, many will not be directly affected by the decisions being taken, but all of us feel that getting it right for every child and indeed our entire island is too important and this is a decision which will have ramifications for generations to come. 'The council now have two weeks to make their responses in defence of the grounds laid out. It's also worth noting that we have not delayed the project in any way by these actions, the campus team are progressing with spending taxpayers' money on their advanced business case no matter what objections are raised by us or councillor colleagues at Kilmory. The team are also planning statutory consultation to begin after the school holidays, which rather begs the question, why did they not have statutory consultation when applying for LEIP funding or during the process of deciding where this school should be built? 'Rather than the division that A&B expected the community seems more united than ever in their grit and support to do things better for the next generations of children on Mull. We are continually humbled by the response to our actions as a working group and the support that backs us at every stage.' The Herald approached Argyll and Bute Council and asked if it intended to contest the legal action from the Mull Campus Working Group. The council was also asked to respond to Councillor Kain's comments that those on the island were misled. A spokesperson responded to state that the council will not be commenting while legal proceedings are ongoing.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- BBC News
Mull road closed until August after landslip
A road on the Isle of Mull is closed until August after a landslip on the B8035 at Gribun Rocks. Argyll and Bute Council said the hillside would be assessed by a drone because of "further potential loose rock". The Kinloch to Gruline road is on the west side of the island in the Inner survey is expected to begin in early August. A diversion is in place via the A849 Kinloch-Craignure-Salen road.
The Herald Scotland
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Council urged to understand consequences of tourism tax
Fiona Campbell, the association's chief executive, was critical of the proposal for the visitor levy, which council officers have most recently reported remains under discussion. More than 3,000 responses were collected from the public during a consultation conducted by the council, but councillors are yet to discuss the findings and the next step. Read More: Ms Campbell, from Arrochar, said: 'The visitor levy is yet another burden on a sector already struggling. Local authorities have not undertaken economic impact assessments, so have no idea whether it is going to be beneficial. 'It is going to increase the number of day trippers, it is going to increase the number of camper vans on our roads. This is based on an assessment which was done in 2019. 'We are in constant contact with Argyll and Bute Council, but are not encouraged by what we are hearing. There is not enough communication and they seem to have shut down communication with the industry. 'They need to understand the potential consequences before they go ahead with this and the impact it will have. 'Policymakers are thinking that tourism simply happens. If they introduce the visitor levy on top of all the other regulatory processes, that becomes the tipping point, and when will we find out?' The association was visiting venues across the country to express its opinion on perceptions of the self-catering industry's role in housing shortages. Fiona, who was recently awarded an MBE, added: 'We are absolutely fed up to the back teeth with our sector being scapegoated on the basis that we make any impact on the housing crisis. Our sector represents 0.8 per cent of the housing stock.' Argyll and Bute Council has been contacted for comment. On its website, the authority's latest update on the visitor levy consultation process says: 'The independent agency we commissioned to prepare a report on the visitor levy consultation findings continues to analyse findings from the consultation to ensure that all feedback is fully considered and represented in the report. 'When complete, this report will be presented to councillors to consider at a meeting of the full council. We do not yet have a confirmed date for the meeting. We will provide a further update in August.'
