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Thursday, 21/Aug/2008
More Pier Problems (Not Islay for a Change)
Over the last few years a lot has been written about the various pier problems on Islay, be it Bruichladdich pier, be it the work in Port Askaig. But there are also problems with a pier on the mainland many visitors to Islay will be familiar with. No, not Kennacraig, the one in Tarbert. Many people who have travelled along the A83 to Kennacraig will have stopped in Tarbert, just a few miles before Kennacraig. Earlier this week I learned about problems with its pier:
ClydeSights writes Tarbert Pier - the end? and links to a report in The Buteman: Tarbert cruise calls set to end.
The paddle steamer Waverley (also an occasional visitor to Islay) will have to stop her weekly visits to Tarbert as the pier has become too unstable. Unless £750,000 can be found to restore the 130 years old pier it can't support ships the size of the Waverley any longer. This would close a tradition of more than a 100 years, regular sailings from Glasgow and the Clyde. A sailing with an Islay connection:
Until 1969, Tarbert was served with a daily call by the MacBrayne mail steamer from Gourock, which gave an onward connection to Islay and other islands on the west coast.
Hopefully the money can be found and the pier be restored, so that at least the weekly sailing can be continued.
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