Prinsendam from Strone

Dunoon’s shopkeepers received a very welcome shot in the arm today with the arrival of the liner MS Prinsendam. The 37,800-tonne Holland America Line vessel was berthed at Greenock on Tuesday but was forced to stay overnight due to the stormy weather. She was scheduled to leave Greenock at 17.00hrs on Tuesday however the departure was delayed until 06.45hrs on Wednesday, prior to the arrival of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth.

This morning the ship was anchored off Strone and the Holy Loch. Passengers were ferried with the Prinsendam’s own launches between the mouth of the Loch and Holy Loch Marina. They were then shuttled by bus between Sandbank and Dunoon.

With some 835 mostly US tourists on board, Dunoon’s Argyle Street was buzzing with activity.

The Prisendam’s next cruise leaves Tilbury on 12 September for hopefully much improved weather conditions in the Mediterranean.

20.45hrs: Prinsendam is now off the island of Arran enroute to Portee, Skye.

In a Dunoon Observer front page report related to the proposed closure of Toward School, Councillor Alister McAlister made the observation that without a school, Ardentinny was now known locally as ‘Jurassic Park‘. We wonder if Ardentinny’s residents agree with Councillor McAllister’s labelling of our community?

Extract from Dunoon Observer 22 April, 2011.

Read the full article here.

It took just one man and a large digger only a couple of hours to demolish a 70+ year-old piece of history which was the last remaining corrugated long hut at the former HMS Armadillo, Glenfinart Bay, Ardentinny. Work clearing the site will probably continue until the end of the week. See our live stream of the demolition here.

The site early this evening

SSE electricians were in attendance earlier today disconnecting the electrical supply to the beach hut. Security fencing is now being erected. Demolition of the building appears imminent.

Community Councillor Stephen Johnstone taking his campaign to the community and beyond

Update 11 Feb: We understand that Ardentinny’s loo is safe and that no public conveniences will be closed.

Ardentinny’s award-winning public conveniences could be the latest casualty of the current Argyll & Bute Council cutbacks. The immaculate toilets won a 4 star award in the 2004, 2006 and 2007 Loo of the Year Awards.

Community Councillor, Stephen Johnstone informs us that the building is on an Argyll and Bute closure list due to the swingeing cuts soon to be put in place.

Given that the public toilets have remained closed for some time, Stephen asked at the last Community Council meeting when they would be re-opened. This resulted in a response email from local Councillor Bruce Marshall stating that the toilets are on a closure list. He added that he would argue the case for retention but, in view of the desperate financial settlement received by the Council, he was not optimistic that he could save them. He went on to ask if the village could take on the responsibility of keeping the toilets open.

As a result, Stephen is taking his campaign to retain this facility to the village and beyond.

What do you think?

Facilities go down the pan as top toilet faces closure – The Herald

Several tons of hard core material was this morning tipped into the large hole in the road at the south entrance to the village. We assume this is a temporary measure to prevent any further erosion of the road and sea wall. See also Credit where it’s due.