Minutes

Attendant: John Duncan (Chairman), Mary Madsen (Vice Chair), George Docherty (Secretary), Robert Dunn (Treasurer), Reeni Kennedy, Sue Downie, Gerry Chambers, George C Train, William Lavender, Julie Reid, David T Herriot, John G Cameron, Stephen Cameron, Donald Middleton, Mike Blair (Buteman)

John Duncan welcomed attendees, outlined housekeeping of building, summarized main issues addressed during the year and pressures faced by the group. Remarked on decision by committee to continue the group. Outlined future issues such as link span; passenger access; and frequency of service. Set out agenda, explaining there was some formal business for the AGM to attend to and hoped for open dialogue around particular issues.
First item was regarding membership fee for renewal of member and new members. It was agreed that going forward only donations would be asked for as group have enough reserve to meet current needs.

Robert Dunn summarized in brief Treasurers’ report detailing incomes and out goings from BFUG account and reporting a positive year end balance. Invited questions from assembly and replied to one enquiry that the group bank with Royal Bank of Scotland.

George Docherty began Secretary report by explaining some of the changes within the committee during the year and proposed changes needing attention today. Resignations of John Duncan (Chairman), due to work commitments and Julie Reid (Minute secretary) due to ill health, both received a vote of thanks for their hard work and commitment.
Meeting with Calmac attend by BFUG committee members and elected representatives was summarized detailing issues raised and subsequent outcomes. Comments and questions were invited from the floor.

One attendee outlined availability of wheel chair at both Rothesay and Wemyss Bay piers with prior notice and commended Calmac staff for their service and in particular support when lift was out of service. Other comments included praise for staff on board new vessel Bute, for their discretionary support to allow disable passengers to remain in vehicle. Chair recognized both of these positive stories and confirmed that disabled passengers are within rights to ask to remain in vehicle when gaining access to upper decks required a concerted effort.
Proposal to ask Calmac to advertise this service more widely to ensure that passengers in need of assistance know what is available to them.

Issues were raised from the floor on steepness of the ramps and stress in trying to access ferry in the short turn around time. Also exiting from ferry at Wemyss Bay side and making it in time for train. Issue of ferry > train transfer time was discussed at length including some recent changes to ferry times. In general it was felt that people with mobility issues did not have enough time to make the transfer and at times when ferry was late docking even the most able bodied needed to sprint. Also that when visitors have much luggage availability of trolleys would be a useful addition, proposal to take this up with Calmac/First Rail agreed.

Comment made that an hourly crossing always in harmony with train timetable would be good for visitors to the island who use public transport. However, the group consensus was that a reduction in frequency of service would have serious impact on the majority of users such as commuters.

One aim of the group is to have an improved journey time – it was raised that Calmac measure of crossing time is ropes off to ropes on and that this conflicts with actual crossing time for passengers which can be as much as ten minutes more.

Efficiency of Rothesay office staff was noted as being able to issue ferry ticket in timeuous fashing whilst continuing to deal with telephone query.

Recognition for George Lyon, MSP and three local councilors was voiced for their support and help with ongoing issues.

Other issues raised included not enough seating indoors when tour buses are on board. Particularly when weather conditions make outdoor seating dysfunctional; and complexity of ticketing rules with regarding to ferry/rail tickets beyond Glasgow; further that changes to bus timetables meant important link services to Inverclyde Hospital were out of sync with ferry time. It was noted that Councillor MacIntyre has written to bus company MacGills re this. Group decided to await outcome of this action before getting involved.

There was generally positive comments regarding Calmac staff and improved customer service with disabled passengers and increased flexibility on parking at Wemyss Bay.

This open discussion was summarized with all issues and positive feedback taken on board for future dialogue with Calmac.

Item regarding quorum was discussed with pressures to committee such as commuting time, work life balance. Suggestion was put to reduce the number required for quorum from seven to five. This was proposed, seconded and carried unanimously with no abstentions.

Elections of office bearers was penultimate agenda item.

New Chair – Reeni Kennedy – proposed, seconded and carried.
Mary Madsen continues as Vice Chair with vote of thanks from assembly.
Robert Dunn continues as Treasurer.
George Docherty continues as Secretary.
Also elected as general committee members were – Gerry Chambers; John Duncan; Stephen Cameron; Donnie Middleton; Sue Downie and Julie Reid.

There was a discussion around having visitor representation on the committee was needed. Consensus was that for attendance at meetings this was impractical however, feedback was welcome from visitors in any format.

Any other business – update of BFUG website

Meeting was drawn to a close with thanks to all who had attended and the many who had offered apologies.

Letter from the Chair

Welcome to the group’s winter newsletter of 2005. We continue to lobby on behalf of all travelers to and from Bute. Here is a short round up. A stall at the Highland Games generated a lot of interest. We gained some insight from visitors who commented on expensive fares being a factor preventing return visits. MV Bute has kept us busy with articles in local press and an item on BBC’s ‘Reporting Scotland’. Cal-Mac requested a meeting with BFUG , 19th Sep. Your service issues were all raised., which Cal-Mac committed to look at and for some responded quickly. Passenger priority if disembarking from car deck; solution for streaker gangway access at all tides and meeting with Scotrail to resolve timetabling issues. We are pleased that Cal-Mac have begun to listen. We will keep talking.

In response to concerted pressure and argument from BFUG and our elected represetatives, Cal-Mac Managing Director, Laurie Sinclair agreed to consider the possibility of operating a licensing scheme

for regular car users to allow them overnight car parking privileges on the understanding cars would be removed early the following morning and not left in the marshalling area over the weekends. In effect, this would represent a return to the situation which existed before August 2004. Cal-Mac were again made aware of