Author Archives: John Holliday

Some information on the changes at the Calmac terminal.

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We have been sent a document showing the phases of the work at the calmac terminal. As with all projects of this size we assume things may change. However, the first few pages show the changes that will happen in the coming weeks. It does show some parking spaces and access to the EV chargers.

Covering email from the terminal works team:

“The contractor and our consultants are still putting the final touches to the Traffic Management Plan for the works during the various phases.  There will always be a section of the existing car park that is still available for customer and CFL parking (around 12-15 spaces depending on the size of the contractor’s compound)  To this end, please see attached the basis of the phasing of the project which is subject to some minor changes in the development of the TMP but is still largely as it will take place.

I will get some visuals from our consultants and pass on once received for the actual building. ”

Terminal Works

TCC submission to the Marine Directorate on the MachairWind wind farm application

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MD-00012385 / MD-00012386

MachairWind Limited

MachairWind Offshore Wind Farm 

This is the response of Tiree Community Council (TCC) to the above application.

TCC has discussed this application as an agenda item at two public meetings. We agreed to reflect the full range of community views in our submission to the consultation.

We published links from the developer’s website and the community group site hebrideanhorizon.co.uk on the TCC Facebook page, which has 1400 followers. We did this three times. We also contacted island marine tourism businesses and fishermen.

Tiree has its own experience with wind farm applications. Scottish Power Renewables’ Argyll Array stimulated a community campaign against the proposal from 2010 to 2013.

A few islanders did support the MachairWind proposal because it represented an expansion of green energy.

By far the largest number of responses we received, however, were hostile. I have summarised the main points that have been raised:

  1. Visual and Landscape Impact:

This response from one islander was typical: ‘The scale of the proposal—involving up to 91 turbines standing 340 metres high—is industrialisation on an unprecedented scale. These structures will dominate the horizon, irreversibly damaging the character, tranquillity, and natural beauty of our coastlines, which are vital to our local community and tourism-based economy. The historical and heritage implications are also huge.’

Several respondents suspected that the visualisations of the turbines from Tiree presented by the applicant did not represent the true scale of the project.

  1. Dark Sky Degradation:

 

This response summed the matter up well: ‘The requirement for aviation and maritime safety lighting on these turbines will cause severe light pollution, destroying the dark-sky environment that is a precious and cherished asset of our islands.’

  1. Historic and Cultural:

The island’s seascape has important historical and cultural significance. Tiree has connections to the other islands of the Inner Hebrides going back to the arrival of St Columba on Iona in the 6th century AD, including the Lords of the Isles on Islay and the MacLeans of Duart on Mull.

Hynish is at the southwestern tip of the island, and will be the most affected by the development. Skerryvore Lighthouse, said by many to be the most beautiful in the world, was built from a workyard in Hynish. The trustees of the Hynish Trust, a charitable community body that owns the Skerryvore Lighthouse Shore Station, have made this point: ‘Hynish is one of Scotland’s most important industrial heritage sites.  A defining aspect of Hynish’s significance is its relationship with the surrounding seascape … The introduction of a major industrial development on the horizon risks undermining these qualities and could have long-term consequences for tourism and the local economy.’

  1. Economic:

Many correspondents made the point that the landscape industrialisation caused by MachairWind will harm the tourist economy, one of the largest sectors on Tiree. This comment was typical: ‘Tourism is one of the principal economic drivers for Tiree, Iona, Mull and the wider Hebridean islands. Hotels, restaurants, guest houses, self-catering businesses, wildlife tour operators, boat trips, retail businesses and many other small enterprises depend upon the area’s reputation for spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife and an unspoilt environment. Any reduction in the area’s attractiveness, or the perception that its unique landscapes have become industrialised, risks having direct economic consequences for businesses, employment and investment across fragile island communities.’

The island’s fixed gear fishing fleet of six boats occasionally uses the waters within the projected footprint of the wind farm. It has also been shown that brown crabs are ‘mesmerised’ by undersea power cables, inhibiting their movement. This subject is poorly understood. But since it is known that female crustaceans migrate hundreds of miles, it is possible that Tiree fishermen on their traditional grounds will be impacted both during the construction phase and throughout the life of the wind farm.

  1. Wildlife:

 

Concern was expressed about the impact of the wind farm on birds flying through the development. Of particular importance is Tiree’s corncrake population, currently one-third of the UK’s total, and economically important to the island’s crofters and visitors. Corncrake migration is nocturnal, and birds are be likely to pass through the projected wind farm. These birds have poor in-flight manoeuvrability, making them more likely to suffer impacts from the rotor blades. Corncrake migration is still poorly understood, and the precautionary principle should apply in this instance.

  1. Lack of Local Benefit:

Tiree has not been designated a host community—the nearest turbine would be 18 miles from Hynish. There is currently no proposed community benefit to Tiree in the application. As one of our correspondents wrote: ‘Tiree, Iona, Mull and the surrounding Hebridean islands would bear many of the consequences of this proposal through changes to their landscape, seascape, dark skies and visitor experience, yet there is little evidence that the development will deliver significant long-term employment, meaningful investment in local infrastructure or reduced electricity costs for our island communities. Most construction activity and specialist maintenance are likely to be undertaken by contractors based elsewhere, with only a limited number of permanent operational roles remaining locally.’

Conclusion

 

It is therefore fair to say that the overwhelming majority of opinion on MachairWind Offshore Wind Farm submitted to Tiree Community Council is strongly against the proposal.

Yours sincerely,

Dr John Holliday, Secretary, Tiree Community Council

Draft minutes of the 2026 AGM of TCC

MINUTES OF TIREE COMMUNITY COUNCIL (TCC)

2025–6 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)

7 pm 18 June 2026

In person at the Trust Offices, Crossapol; Zoom; and streamed on the Tiree Community Council Facebook page

  1. Present: In person: Gerard McGoogan (chair) and John MacCaskill. Online: Dr John Holliday and Frances Khetrat. Kirsty MacFarlane Convenor of Coll CC also joined online.
  2. Apologies: Tim Arkless
  3. Minutes of the 2024–5 TCC AGM and matters arising: these were accepted as a true record. Proposed JMC, seconded JH. There were no matters arising.
  4. Chair’s report: 2025–6 has been a busy year with a lot of meetings, including with other island CCs, the police, health board and the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretaries. Over half the minutes over the last year were taken up with transport. JMC has borne the brunt of this and GMG paid tribute to him for his work. There should be a proper transport post on the next TCC. JMC said that our relationship with Coll CC was excellent, that transport problems were being brought to him earlier, and that CalMac local management had been very responsive. We had met the CEO and other managers from CalMac. The £4.4 m Business Resilience Fund was extended to include Tiree and other islands from the Inner Hebrides after lobbying from TCC among other CCs, and a number of local businesses had applied successfully. A few had not heard in time, and we should redouble our efforts to publicise any next round. The Oban air service had become less reliable. The new Transport Forum Facebook page has been useful. Storm Amy had a bruising impact on Tiree, with a prolonged communications outage. The island had rallied impressively to solve the many problems. This effort had been led by the team at Tiree Broadband and Rhoda Meek’s political lobbying. Some lessons have been learned, but the essential vulnerability of the island to future similar weather events remains. The Tiree library closed but re-opened with reduced hours after lobbying by TCC. Unresolved issues were the Ring’n’Ride bus, the community garden and three remaining telephone boxes.
  5. Presentation of accounts: (GMG) This year we have overspent by £135. The previous year, we had overspent by around £1000. These were legacy costs due to a planning permission application and a copyright infringement cost of £150 (down from an original charge of £800). GMG had paid a number of small items personally and then claimed them back. These are marked ‘GMC’ in the accounts. We have paid £940 of restricted funds earmarked for the bicycle repair stations to the Tiree Trust. They have now taken over this project. JMC thanked GMG for his considerable work on all this. Next year there will be an additional £357 in the grant from Argyll and Bute Council (ABC).
  6. Election of officers:  The current holders of the posts were re-elected unanimously. Convenor (GMG), proposed JMcC, seconded JH, Secretary (JH) proposed GMG, seconded FK, Treasurer (FK), proposed GMG, seconded JH.
  7. AOCB: there was none.

The meeting closed at 7.30 pm.

Dr John Holliday, 21 June 2026

Draft minutes TCC June 2026

Following on from the AGM

TIREE COMMUNITY COUNCIL

JUNE PUBLIC MEETING

7 pm 18 June 2026

In person at the Trust Offices, Crossapol; Zoom; and streamed on the Tiree Community Council Facebook page

  1. Present: In person: Gerard McGoogan (chair) and John MacCaskill. Online: Dr John Holliday and Frances Khetrat. Kirsty MacFarlane Convenor of Coll CC also joined online.
  2. Apologies: Cllr Willie Hume, Tim Arkless.
  3. Declarations of interest: JH and GMG are trustees of Solar, which uses the Scarinish phone box. JH is a trustee of the Hynish Trust.
  4. Minutes of last meeting: these were accepted as a true record. Proposed JMC, seconded FK.
  5. Matters arising (not covered later): the mirror at Pier View. JH has contacted West Highland Housing Association and it should be installed soon.
  6. Correspondence:
  • We have received the Coll Place Plan, which was excellent. KMF said that it had taken a meeting almost every week for 18 months to produce it
  • The May police report for Tiree and Coll recorded 7 calls and 3 crimes
  • JH had contacted the doctors about the state of the present mortuary. Police Scotland will make it secure and wind and watertight. A replacement will be considered in the longer term
  1. Meeting reports: 
  • PlanetYouth: JH had attended. This youth work project has been rolled out nationally. Tiree already has an excellent youth programme, but there may be some additional funding available to expand this
  • Mull CC: JH had attended. there was nothing to report relevant to Tiree
  • Coll CC: JH had attended. The Coll capital roads maintenance budget for this financial year is £0. JH will write to Cllr Willie Hume to find out about the equivalent situation for Tiree. Coll has similar issues with the use of single-track roads by visitors. Coll CC has asked if the Tiree poster on the ferry could be changed to include ‘Tiree and Coll’. Their secretary will write to us about this
  1. Transport (JMC):
  • Members of Tiree Transport Forum had met the CalMac CEO Duncan Mackison and other members of his management team. This meeting has been separately minuted. They acknowledged that the Isle of Mull is not suitable for the Tiree run. KMF had also had a meeting with the group, and had liaised with JMC. She felt that the Area Manager should be out on the network and in the communities every other month or so, and having joint meetings with both islands. JMC agreed to support a joint letter to this effect. The company now agrees that the Colonsay service needs to be de-tangled from Coll and Tiree
  • A Freedom of Information request has gone in about the failure of the Isle of Mull to complete service on three specific days. On 7 May, the statement from the company was that weather conditions ‘were outwith the safety parameters of the vessel’. There was no acknowledgement of the state of the vessel’s bow visor. Transport Scotland has advised us that a FOI application should not be necessary in such circumstances. JMC will follow this matter up with CalMac
  • Deck space pilot: The pilot had been withdrawn during the turmoil of the last two months. JMC favours going back to a 7-day booking period for this. KMF said that the current 14-day period suited their community better, as one could be sure of making the return booking before one set off. We agreed to continue to monitor the situation. One problem is that it is, deliberately, poorly advertised. Michael Scobie, head of communications, has promised a mailshot to islanders about this and medical priority schemes once they are finalised. JMC and KMF will contact Area Manager Stephen Wood about this
  • KMF and JMC had written to CMAL about a new ferry. Kevin Hobbs CEO of CMAL has replied suggesting that a programme to procure a new vessel for Coll and Tiree is indeed likely to start next year, although no funding has been allocated for this yet. There are issues to do with the shallow berthing at the Tiree pier and the state of the pier itself that will also need to be addressed. Hobbs will visit the islands later this year
  • Kevin Hobbs also said that the new marshalling area and office at the pier are now going ahead
  • Transport Scotland (TS) Community Needs Assessment meeting at An Talla. GMG and JMC had attended and there was a healthy turnout from the island. One member of the public had put their points across very strongly, and it was important to treat visiting politicians and civil servants with respect
  • An online visitor survey for the Inner Hebrides conducted by Stantec concluded in June
  • The winter timetable submission from Tiree and Coll has gone to TS and will be passed to the Cabinet Secretary
  • Round 2 of the Business Resilience Fund: GMG has extracted the openly-published data from HIE on the Tiree and Coll businesses that have benefited. A typical grant was £5,500. One Tiree company had not heard of the fund, and if the fund is repeated—as promised in the SNP manifesto—we need to improve the publicity. Any future fund will only apply to tourist businesses and those handling perishable goods. A better way would be to have an improved weather cancellation compensation scheme
  • The Glen Sannox will not be coming to Tiree for a berthing trial
  • Coll, Tiree and Colonsay all agree to ask for a change in days to the HebAir service. KMF will write accordingly. A new contract for this service is not far away
  • Additional ‘bank’ flights for Sea Change and TMF have been agreed. The arrangements for the additional flights for the Tiree Ultra Marathon (early September) and Livestock Sales (October) are at the final stages of putting on the Loganair on-line booking system, and should be in place within the next week or so

  1. Dental service: JH had met the Chief Dental Officer John Lyon and his deputy Gill Rees from the Highland Health Board along with two other members of their team. The minutes of that meeting have not been made available yet. They acknowledged that the service has reduced since the turn of the year. Instead of a dentist on site four days a month, they were coming for four hours a month. Taking one of two children to Oban means taking them off school for a couple of days and can cost around £200. This is impossible for many families. Lack of staff, contracts which do not specify overnights away from home and the use of an air service with a 55% success rate have contributed to this. They have plans to boost the service over the next three months, and we will meet again at the end of this period. Some Coll patients are also registered at the Tiree practice.
  1. Broadband resilience: GMG has written to BT but has not had a reply. He noted the passing of Tiree Broadband, which has been incredibly successful. He thanked those behind the project from the beginning.
  2. TCC projects: 
  • Telephone boxes: three still need to be disconnected. This will have to be done by the next community council
  • Community Garden: GMG has spoken to a number of people about our Keder house, which is still in storage. We agreed to pass it to Heylipol Church Trust. If they are not successful, we will have to think again
  • Bicycle pumps: a cheque for £940 of restricted funds has been [assed to the Tiree Trust, who will now take over this project
  1. Recent planning applications: there have been 30 applications this year, the same number as last year. Some, however, are just amendments of previous applications. Most are at the east end of the island. The fragility of the road around Gott Bay to future sea level rises will need to be considered in times to come. No applications this month came within our protocol.
  2. Councillors’ reports: Jim Lynch had sent his written report. There were no others.
  3. Upcoming community council elections: nominations are still live, and we are keen for as many as possible, particularly from younger and Gaelic-speaking islanders. An election would be good. Nomination details are on our website and Facebook page.
  4. MachairWind: this is set to be a large wind farm closer to Colonsay than to us. The nearest turbine will be 18 miles away from Hynish. The turbines will be very tall. We have asked for response from the public. There has been little reaction on the island, but we have around 14 replies to our Facebook post. Most have been against; some are in favour. JH will draft a letter summarising this for submission to the Marine Directorate when the time comes.
  5. AOCB: this is likely to be the last public meeting of this session of TCC. As usual, there will be no meeting in July and due to the community council elections, no meeting is currently scheduled for August.
  6. Final remarks: JH thanked councillors and members of the public for the support of the community council, which was more needed than ever.

The meeting closed at 9 pm.

Dr John Holliday, 22 June 2026

Agenda TCC June meeting and AGM Thursday 18 June (change of date)

TIREE COMMUNITY COUNCIL (TCC)

2024 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Thursday 18 June 2026 7pm

In-person at the Trust Offices, Crossapol; Zoom; and streamed on the Tiree Community Council Facebook page

To join Zoom meeting:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83215515073?pwd=WZamLEOubmXwyvqODxzW392F9aAwFr.1

Meeting ID: 832 1551 5073

Passcode: jrHrb1j

  1. Welcome
  2. Apologies
  3. Minutes of 2025 TCC AGM and matters arising
  4. Chair’s report
  5. Presentation of accounts
  6. Election of officers: Convenor, Secretary, Treasurer
  7. AOCB

following on

TIREE COMMUNITY COUNCIL (TCC)

JUNE PUBLIC MEETING

As above

  1. Welcome
  2. Apologies
  3. Declarations of interest
  4. Minutes of last meeting
  5. Matters arising(not covered later): mortuary
  6. Correspondence:
  7. Meetings reports: MachairWind; Mull CC; Coll CC
  8. Transport
  9. Dental service
  10. Broadband resilience
  11. TCC projects: 
  • Telephone boxes
  • Community Garden/
  • Bicycle pumps
  1. Recent planning applications
  2. Councillors’ reports
  3. Upcoming community council elections
  4. AOCB
  5. Final remarks

Meeting with CalMac 22 May 2026

NOTES ON THE MEETING OF CALMAC MANAGEMENT WITH TIREE COMMUNITY COUNCIL (TCC) AND THE TIREE TRANSPORT FORM (TTF)

1pm 27 May 2026, Business Centre, Crossapol

Present: Duncan Mackison, CEO CalMac; Finlay MacRae, Head of Operations;  Stephen Wood, Area Manager; Michael Scobbie, Head of Communications; John MacCaskill (chair TTF); Ann MacDonald; Kirsteen MacKinnon; Donnie MacInnes; Dr John Holiday (TCC); Phyl Meyer (TTF) joined the meeting online.

DMK outlined the published fleet roll-out plans with new large and small vessels joining the fleet over the next year. This will improve reliability. He acknowledged that he had given a similar report at his last visit to Tiree two years ago, but he hoped that we were closer to the promised improvements this time. The new vessels have more powerful bow thrusters and a new propulsion system, which should help, over time, create a channel in the sea bed beside the pier. There was, going forward, a need for a new vessel every 18 months.

JMC indicated to the CalMac reps that it is the intention of the Tiree and Coll community representatives to jointly write to Stephen Flynn, MSP, the new Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport, urging the commencement of the process for a new vessel for the route urgently. From start to launch takes around ten years. With the MV Clansman being 28 years old and our other potential vessel, the MV Hebrides, being 26 years old, it is imperative that this process starts soon. DMK agreed that this was the correct method to raise this matter, and urged us to do so.

There was an ambition to de-tangle the Tiree-Coll route from Colonsay.

The carriage of dangerous goods on the new vessels is likely to be different going forward, as various exemptions currently offered by the MCA to the older vessels expire.

There was an acknowledgement that the LOTI and the Isle of Mull were no longer suitable for the Tiree-Coll run, and every effort would be made in future not to deploy them here apart from the traditional IoM runs at TMF. The trim for the IoM was particularly sensitive, and it may have been the case that heavy loads had been denied passage on this vessel because of this.

They were still hoping for the Tiree pier and marshalling area refurbishment, but no funding has been identified yet.

CalMac was looking forward to the arrival of a new government-appointed chair of the Community Engagement Board.

CalMac was looking into freight only services to Tiree from Oban. A freight-only service out of Troon for the whole west coast has been suggested.

There was strong support for the continuation of the Coll-Tiree-Barra link, particularly to continue the links between Tiree and Coll and to allow day visits from Oban. Because the Tiree-Barra link was thinly used, there have been considerations how to use the vessel instead of steaming north: either tying up or doing an alternative run.

There was an acknowledgement that two back-to-back evening sailings on successive dayswas unbalanced, and an attempt would be made to change this.

Changing the timetable was difficult. The port of Oban was at capacity. Limitations of crew hours was an increasing problem as vessels were deployed back and forth across the network. Crews usually stay with their vessels in dry dock, but consideration is being given to deploy masters to sea duty if required. A number of senior, experienced crew were expected to retire in the next few years. Training new officers for induction on different vessels and routes will take time. CalMac have asked the Scottish Government for an increase in manpower resources and a standby vessel for the fleet.

Members of TTF and TCC asked CalMac to provide more details about interruptions in sailings instead of just ‘weather’ and ‘technical’. DMK has shown the chief executive of British Columbia Ferries around the network. Their cancellation announcement protocol was worth looking at.

There was a discussion about the priority matrix at Oban after the cancellation of sailings. There have been times when this has not appeared to work. Part of the reason was the unprecedented number of cancellations, meaning the system was overwhelmed. The hauliers asked for better communications with port staff after hours. Hauliers were also being charged for sailings they had been denied. These matters are being looked at.

The priority desk pilot group has not met for 18 months. Mull, Coll and Tiree were diverging in the systems they preferred. The pilot had also been cancelled at times of peak demand. There was an urgent need for another meeting.

The meeting concluded with a representation of the impact that ferry cancellations have had on Tiree in April and early May. TCC had had received significantly more correspondence over this period than for any other comparable period. Small local businesses have lost £10,000s, and even resilient islanders were in despair, thinking of winding up their businesses and even leaving the island. DMK accepted these points; he had heard similar points from many other communities that the company serves. The company would respond, and was hopeful that the additional resources coming through would make a real difference.

TCC and TTF thanked the CalMac team for coming out and for the constructive meeting.

Dr John Holliday, 28 May 2026