Easdale RIB Rendezvous 2018 - the official update

[Tony Hill]

Easdale RIB Rendezvous 2018 – an update.

At the end of last year’s ERR Team Seafari did announce the future of the event was uncertain . At present (12th October) this continues to be the case.
Issue 1 – now resolved – An individual complained to Eilean Eisdeal, the community charity that owns Easdale Harbour claiming it was unsafe and demanding a full appraisal by qualified marine consultants. At a public meeting the community disagreed with the complainant who then took matters in his own hands registering his complaint with an Argyll & Bute Councillor, Marine Scotland, The Maritime and Coastguard Agency and The Health and Safety Executive. For the latter 3 agencies the complainant gained the support of Mike Russell the area's MSP. Extensive investigations by each agency followed. Eilean Eisdeal is pleased to report that no agency raised any significant issue. The complainants allegations were unjustified. The final report will be published shortly within the community.

Issue 2 - Hands up on this one, Seafari has caused Issue 2. After extensive negotiations Seafari recently purchased the buildings and site known as Highland Arts.(the campsite,shop, car park etc. Local politics occur everywhere. Our insurers are requesting the whole site be fenced off as a construction site to prevent public access. Many will be aware of Seafari's issues with its new petrol storage facility. Highland Arts hasn’t had a campsite licence for the last 20 years. No complaints, no issues. We believe the moment someone puts up a tent or stays in a motorhome within the grounds we will be reported to the authorities. Seafari is currently in contact with Argyll & Bute Council and our insurers to see if and how matters can be addressed as part of a management plan. If the Highland Arts Car Park closes there will be increased pressure at the back car park. Argyll & Bute Roads may, following representation, be reluctant to give permission for the parking of trailers. This is an exciting business development for Seafari but we do not believe we will see any major development occur until March 2020.

There is no issue with respect to using Easdale’s Harbour. Self catering accommodation providers and the pubs welcome ERR. Team Seafari are always on site. 2018 is Colonsay and Oronsay. Will we ever get there in sunshine? What is important is the infrastructure which supports the event must be in place prior to Seafari organising an open public event. With the tourist boat season 2017 drawing to a close paperwork and meetings take over. Team Seafari will post an update late December/early January 2018

Please do remember you are most welcome at Easdale at any time. Many may just come to Easdale for the weekend of 5 & 6 May 2018 anyway. Seafari will be out on the water. It may just be we cannot have an ‘official ERR’ Everyone for themselves type event.

I hope you accept and understand our predicament

Tony

[jeffstevens763@g]

Thanks for the update Tony I hope it all gets resolved and to the good for the area.

Cheers Jeff

[willk]

Originally Posted by Tony Hill

I hope you accept and understand our predicament

I hope you managed to take possession of an empty shop! A hazardous waste license wouldn't look at it...

Well done, BTW - it's a cracking location and it wasn't doing the locality any favours the way it was/is.

[jambo]

Well done on your development Tony in the longer term mutually beneficial to both The village and Seafari. Hope all falls into place for you.
Cheers
Billy

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by jambo

Well done on your development Tony in the longer term mutually beneficial to both The village and Seafari. Hope all falls into place for you.
Cheers
Billy

X2
I hope the Trouble making Nark thinks it's so dangerous.....he won't be present in the future!

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Maximus

X2

I hope the Trouble making Nark thinks it's so dangerous.....he won't be present in the future!

Here here !!

[Pikey Dave]

I thought "wild camping" was allowed in Scotland

[Hogmonay]

Thanks for the update Tony and look forward to your next update, meanwhile, think we may plan a wee trip to Easdale for early May and hopefully see you there/then.

[beerbelly]

Originally Posted by Hogmonay

Thanks for the update Tony and look forward to your next update, meanwhile, think we may plan a wee trip to Easdale for early May and hopefully see you there/then.

yep we were just saying the same

[willk]

Originally Posted by beerbelly

yep we were just saying the same

Someone do us a favour and light a wee fire on the Easdale summit on the night of the fourth.

They can take our moorings, but they'll never take our ########...

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I thought "wild camping" was allowed in Scotland

It is. But people who enjoy making trouble will soon spot that wild camping:

1. Doesn't involve arriving by motorised transport
2. Is lightweight (so should involve you carrying all your kit at once not making multiple trips to a car)
3. Is not in the curtilage of any building.
4. Is in small groups (although IIRC there weren't dozens of tents)

I have a gut feel (but haven't looked it up) that you only need a license to use for more than X nights p.a. but I suspect Tony is dealing with a gripe and they will find every reason to complain (even without justification) which is just going to make his business interests harder for no personal gain.

It would be a shame if one individual was able to "win" by disrupting the event. It would be somewhat ironic if a less organised gathering were to replace it - which would probably be less safe, and risk more disruption to locals without the considered coordination.

[Hogmonay]

It would be a shame if one individual was able to "win" by disrupting the event. It would be somewhat ironic if a less organised gathering were to replace it - which would probably be less safe, and risk more disruption to locals without the considered coordination.[/QUOTE]


Agreed.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Hogmonay

It would be a shame if one individual was able to "win" by disrupting the event. It would be somewhat ironic if a less organised gathering were to replace it - which would probably be less safe, and risk more disruption to locals without the considered coordination.

Agreed.[/QUOTE]



That scenario also occurred to me, loads of folk turn up mob handed, no organisation or logistics in place = chaos. Job done[emoji12]

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

no organisation or logistics in place = chaos. Job done[emoji12]

Jambo will tell you I can manage that on my own!

[jambo]

Originally Posted by Poly

Jambo will tell you I can manage that on my own!

What happens in Easdale stays in Easdale!!

[Roflhat]

Hopefully everything gets sorted out, was a great event this year, would love to do it again in 2018

[jeffstevens763@g]

what i think is really sad is an individual complaing to the authorities of an unsafe harbour unsubstantiated not thinking of threatening the lives of the islanders, i can think of one thing the ferry being withdrawn as a precaution which would be devastating to all. live & let live i say, it's a wonderful place to live a great place to visit and hopefully ERR will continue.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

what i think is really sad is an individual complaing to the authorities of an unsafe harbour unsubstantiated not thinking of threatening the lives of the islanders, i can think of one thing the ferry being withdrawn as a precaution which would be devastating to all. live & let live i say, it's a wonderful place to live a great place to visit and hopefully ERR will continue.

Sadly Jeff, that's the way we seem to be going. The majority are now governed by the "rights" & feelings of the minorities. SomeONE will have previously been "offended" or felt discriminated against or had his/her Human Rights impinged upon, therefore everyone has to suffer.
I'll get me coat[emoji850]

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Sadly Jeff, that's the way we seem to be going. The majority are now governed by the "rights" & feelings of the minorities. SomeONE will have previously been "offended" or felt discriminated against or had his/her Human Rights impinged upon, therefore everyone has to suffer.
I'll get me coat[emoji850]

Forget the Coat David!.....
..I was just warming to it!

[jeffstevens763@g]

well last i heard we were a democracy governed by the majority and you can cry all you want no cigar IMO but then i am an old git i can't stand selfishness what would all the properties be worth without a ferry service for one through an individual that gets off on making others lives a misery.
for the last 4 years at ERR there's a person who has provoked me over my dog asking me to pick his poop up whilst i am holding a bag full it this year he said you haven't used your boat much is it worth coming up, i happen to have a tongue like a knife when needed and they were dispatched swiftly and for their information i had done 150 miles in it and maybe they should police the village on a more regular basis to keep up with my comings and goings with a few expletives from me ending in off, i went on my way and spent the rest of my stay in the knowledge that i had pi$$ed on their fire. won't have my holiday spoilt by this type of behavior have not got a coat