On Thursday last, 22nd January, Jamie McGrigor MSP, held a debate in the Scottish Parliament on his motion on tackling Argyll & Bute’s projected depopulation.
The Highlands & Islands Conservative MSP sought a commitment from the Scottish Government that it will treat tackling Argyll & Bute’s population decline as a policy priority.His motion had cross party support, including Argyll & Bute SNP MSP, Michael Russell, whose response is included below..
Identifying the ‘lack of modernisation of its infrastructure’ as holding back Argyll & Bute’s economic growth, McGrigor called on Ministers to deliver on three specific issues:
- a permanent solution for the A83 trunk road;
- the roll out of fast broadband;
- and extra support for business start-up grants to attract new companies to Argyll & Bute.
He also identified sectors for potential growth including tourism, food and drink and marine science.
Jamie McGrigor’s speech
Speaking in the debate Jamie McGrigor said: ‘May’s NRS projections are that the population of Argyll & Bute will fall by 13.5% over the next 25 years against a 9% rise in the overall Scottish population. Even more concerning, people of working age are projected to fall by 22% by 2037.
‘All that comes on top of a 3.4% decline between 2001 and 2011 with some islands such as Bute, seeing a population decline of more than 10% in that time.
‘When you look at the facades of the buildings in Rothesay or Dunoon or Helensburgh, you see the traces of an era of prosperity and enterprise, but these are fading fast, despite the great efforts of very gifted people like John McAslan who is converting the Dunoon Burgh Hall back to its former glory.
‘I have seen the decline in population on Lochaweside and a sharp fall in the number of people employed in the primary industries of forestry and farming.
‘Forestry villages like Eredine and Dalavich were mainly inhabited by forestry employees up until the 1980s. Now all these jobs are gone so there you have land that was nationalised, taken over by government to provide local employment, no longer fulfilling that purpose.
‘On the farming front I personally remember the hard physical work which occupied many young people on the farms all over Argyll which went hand in glove with the social life which made Argyll living so agreeable. That era has passed, skills are being lost.
‘Fisheries used to employ so many of the coastal communities; again, this is in decline.
‘Small villages were proud communities who competed in a friendly manner to have the best schools, shops, post offices and the like. That was the key to happy living. And there are still strong, sustainable communities like Ardfern and others.
‘All of us here recognise the pressures a declining population- and an ageing one- will place on public services and the local economy. We risk losing the critical mass needed to retain services like rural primary schools, the loss of which will discourage people moving to the area- a vicious circle which is difficult to escape. The challenge for us is to reverse this population decline and sow the seeds of something different.
‘Increasing economic growth and attracting new business is essential.
‘Government must provide the infrastructure, in particular transport links and digital communication technology. People like to be modern and not be considered as hill-billies. Since Roman times areas have been judged by their roads. The future of the A83 trunk road- that key artery into Argyll – must be at the top of the transport list. Many words have been spoken, diversionary routes have been put in place but ask any business in Argyll and they will ask the Scottish Government for a permanent solution to deal with landslides on the route. A canopy or covered emergency route option is the answer.
‘Frankly, people are frightened to travel that road; Argyll needs a reliable and safe road system, please. That is fundamental.
‘As are reliable and safe ferry services to Argyll’s islands and for those who live and commute from Dunoon to Glasgow. The isle of Colonsay suffers from the unfair situation where freight charges there are 25% more for a shorter journey than other islands, a real unfair playing field.
‘On broadband, too many Argyll communities suffer from slow, unaffordable or non-existent broadband. Improvements must be inclusive. On Islay and Jura, Bowmore and Port Ellen are to get fibre optics but while the roads are being dug up at Port Askaig and Keil, they won’t benefit and neither will Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Portnahaven who are being by-passed. It’s not good enough for islands which provide a huge boost to our Treasury. Holiday-makers ask if letting properties have 4G and 3G let alone broadband; no broadband can mean no visitors.
‘Ministers must consider additional funding for HIE to support new business start-up grants and attract new companies to Argyll & Bute.
‘And planning relaxations are necessary where housing can be in short supply and business developments are hampered.
‘What’s the point of conserving particular features of rural community buildings if the end result is no-one ends up living or working there?
‘And how about local government sponsored co-operative initiatives for businesses to overcome the expensive overheads involved in individual efforts? The Council or HIE could act as co-ordinator. And new initiatives between the council and the private sector for land use. What about tax incentives to grow business? Remember what schedule D did for forestry planting.
‘And finally, connectivity, emphasised by Dick Walsh and the Council. The writer E.M. Forster, writer of 5 masterpieces had the motto: ‘Only connect’. That is vital. Connection of transport and digital links and connection, both physical and mental, of people and new ideas.
‘Argyll & Bute has so many positives for businesses and residents. Our wonderful scenery means tourism is a key part of the economy- from Oban’s world-class shellfish restaurants, to our stunning islands, to historic sites like Inveraray Castle and Mount Stuart and endless fascinating and historic ruins.
‘This can be expanded with better promotion and focus on genealogical and archaeological tourism. We have world-class country sports and angling. The reintroduction of sporting rates will not help this sector and should be reconsidered. The food and drink sector- not least Islay’s whisky industry – is strong but look at the telephone and electricity grid on Islay & Jura if you want to see something that needs improving now.
‘Incentives for farmers to actually grow something other than just silage would be good for farming and good for biodiversity. The Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) at Dunstaffnage has modernised and the new European Marine Science Park is a great addition. Argyll has great potential for marine sciences.
‘But I am running out of time so to conclude Presiding Officer, I am looking for a commitment from the Scottish Government that it will treat tackling Argyll & Bute’s projected depopulation as a priority within their policies because Argyll or in Gaelic, Earra-Ghàidheal, the border of Gaeldom, is a land of mystery and history, a vital and integral area of Scotland where the blood and beauty lies strong.’
Michael Russell’s response
After speaking in the debate whose motion he supported, local MSP Michael Russell’s statement released following the parliamentary session, homed in on the immediate obstruction to local growth. [Ed: correction here - his press release did not state that Mr Russell had spoken in the debate but Jame McGrigor's office has informed us that he did - which makes a lot more sense.]
He called on Argyll and Bute Council to prioritise ‘progress not process’ – a move that would propel this council into foreign territory without a map.
Pushing his wish list beyond the possible, Mr Russell asked Argyll & Bute Council to show ‘urgency and intelligence’ in tackling the issue of depopulation and has called for some ‘big thinking’ on infrastructure, backing the work of a group in Dunoon which has been investigating a fixed link between Cowal and the central belt.
Mr Russell said: ‘I congratulate Jamie McGrigor on securing this debate. Obviously the Scottish Government and the Council, along with local communities and private enterprise, are key players in tackling the issue of depopulation, which is projected to be worse in this area than in almost any other area of Scotland. In 25 years we may lose more than 13 % of our population if national projections prove correct.
‘The Government, as last week’s meeting of the A83 taskforce demonstrated, is taking forward a variety of plans which both mitigate existing problems and bring new possibilities. The largest broadband roll out in Europe is underway in the Highlands of Scotland with 86% of premises promised high speed links over the next eighteen months or so. As the Minister pointed out in his concluding remarks to the debate, only 26% of premises would have been covered without the involvement and financial backing of the Scottish Government and the work of Community Broadband Scotland in helping to plug the gaps in provision in areas not served by the BT roll out is also wholly funded by Holyrood.
‘I continue to work with communities to ensure that they get served and I was particularly critical in the debate of the mobile phone providers who are not giving Argyll & Bute a good deal.
‘On other issues there is strong Government involvement too. For example just last night I accompanied a group of Kintyre and Bute dairy farmers to a meeting with Rural Affairs Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead in order that he might hear their worries at first hand and devise action to help them and the area, action which must help to retain jobs.
‘However the Council’s Population Summit was, by all accounts, something of a damp squib and its proposed Argyll & Bute Sustainable Economic Forum has yet to meet even though the issue of depopulation has been under discussion for the best part of two years. T he Council’s ten year aim states that “Argyll & Bute’s economic success is built on a growing population” yet there are no concrete plans to achieve that vital and central objective. As ever with the current administration there is a lot more effort put into process than progress.
‘None the less I want to make common cause with the council and in the debate I suggested three key actions the Council could take including bringing together a small group focussed on action.
‘I would be happy to be part of that. Argyll & Bute Council needs to show urgency and intelligence in tackling the problem and it must subordinate all its policies to the aim of achieving population and economic growth. That means an end to school closures, a much more streamlined and sympathetic planning system and a new “can do” attitude.
‘I also called on the Council to re-consider their refusal to sell Castle Toward to the community as the community proposals could achieve up to 100 jobs in that locality with knock on benefits across Argyll.
‘I was also glad to welcome to the chamber David MacKenzie who has been chairing a small group looking at the possibility of a fixed transport link between Cowal and the central belt. That group is now talking with HIE about an investigation of the cost benefit of a variety of new infrastructure options and I would encourage some “big thinking” about new possibilities across the area. The idea of a new link between Dunoon and Lochgilphead floated by HIE Chief Executive Alex Paterson last year is clearly an important step in the right direction.
‘In 1868 there was the first proposal for a rail link between Northern Ireland and Kintyre and whilst the Channel Tunnel, proposed at the same time, is now in existence there has been no progress at all in implementing that type of visionary project in the area.
‘It is time to start talking about how we can take such things forward across Argyll & Bute.’
