Pencil

June 24th 2008

I have been informed by the Planning Department that the Slipway Application is not to be “called in”, so it is now being returned to Irvine and will be approved with no more formality.

I have informed David Kent of SSI and Carlyn Elder of the Marina. She appeared delighted.

This is great news for the town and for the Marina. All four local councillors have combined to support this application, to the extent of writing to the planning authorities in Edinburgh to express that support. I believe that the new facility can now be built in time to allow national and international championships to take place, and to provide Largs and Scotland with an high quality, international class venue for prestigious yachting events.

 The planning application will now be returned to Irvine for a final decision by the council. Given that it has been passed at two previous Planning Committee meetings, there should be no problem with allowing the development to commence as soon as possible.   

June 20th 2008

An acknowledgement has been received from Edinburgh that the plans are in the hands of civil servants and the 28-day turn-round starts today, which means we should have a reply by, or maybe even before, 18th June.  

June 18th 2008

Because of the complications of the Planning System, the application was, yet again, brought back to the Planning Committee yesterday. I attended and saw the application finally agreed for referral to Ministers at Holyrood.

I also learned that the World Laser Championships have been allocated to Scotland for 2010 and that this facility needs to be complete to have a chance of hosting the event.

I will now send the agreed letter to relevant Ministers and MSPs to try to ensure that the application is not left on a shelf over the summer, and that we have a chance to get the project completed on time.

Update 03 may 2008

At the North Coast Area Comittee meeting yesterday I raised the question, and got the agreement of all four local councillors, to write to the relevant minister asking that there be no undue delay in reviewing, and garnting, this application.

It transpires that there is a general commitment on the part of Holyrood to process these applications within 28 days, but at this time of the year any delay would take us up to the summer recess, which could be dangerous to the timetable of the project.

Update 29 May 2008

The Planning Committee of the council has passed the plans for a new slip at Pencil Beach but, given that North Ayrshire Council has financial and other interests in the project, the decision has been referred to Holyrood for ministers a final decision.

Any delay in the decision making may be vital to the success of the project, as the timimng of its completion is important to the Scottish Yachting Association in considering the venue for pre-Olympic activities.

I have therefore written to Kenneth Gibson MSP to ask him to use his presence in Holyrood to impress upon ministers the importance of making the right decision and in speed of decision making.

 

Pencil Beach Development.

The Scottish sailing Institute has a proposal for a new slipway at Pencil Beach which is proving controversial.

Although it reclaims an area from the beach for access, the fact that the slipway is described as concrete (in fact a type of concrete webbing which allows vegetation to grow through) has led some people to anticipate a concrete monstrosity.

You can see the reclaimed area and the slip from the drawing above. The slip is about 40m wide at its widest point.

Claimed benefits are the attraction of international sailing regattas to Largs with all the ancilliary benefits, including publicity, national and international exposure and £1million/annum extra income to the local economy. It is also an addition to the Scottish armoury of excelently equipped sailing venues.