Press Release

NEWS RELEASES

28 NOVEMBER 2006

 

PORT AUTHORITY WRITES OFF DEBT

 

Stornoway Port Authority Board at a recent meeting decided it had no option but to write off debts amounting to £2,439.49 owed by Cambrian Engineering (Cymru) Limited which is in liquidation.

 

The money owed was in respect of Cargo Dues on three cargoes of steel piles weighing in total 2038 tonnes, which left the Arnish Yard in November 2003.

 

The Board was advised by liquidator RSM Robson Rhodes that there was no prospect of any funds being paid to non preferential creditors.

 

REDUNDANT PAY PHONE

 

Following a consultation process with principal users of the Ferry Terminal Building, Stornoway Port Authority Board has agreed that BT may remove the Public PayPhone situated outside the Ferry Terminal Building .

 

BT had informed the Port Authority that the revenue generated from the payphone was insufficient to meet the conditions of their operating licence, and required an annual payment of £1,775 if the payphone was to be retained.

 

Having carefully considered all of the circumstances the Board decided that the Payphone could be removed.

 

Commenting Chief Executive John Maclennan said "Most people now have access to mobile telephones and BT is not prepared to provide the service at a loss. If any member of the Public is inconvenienced by the removal of this facility either Port Authority or Caledonian Macbrayne Ltd staff will be happy to assist".

PAY & DISPLAY CAR PARKING

 

Stornoway Port Authority has received a letter from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar "exploring the possibility" of installing Pay & Display Car Parking at the Town's Perceval Square Car Park.

 

Part of the Car Park, numbering 45 car parking spaces is owned by the Port Authority and leased to the Comhairle. Presently the Port Authority receives a rental of £122 per annum [£2.35 per week] per Car Parking space from the Comhairle.

 

The Comhairle's letter was admitted as a late item by Chairman Iain A Macleod at the 22 November 2006 Port Authority Board Meeting.

 

The Board felt they had insufficient information to determine the application and decided to take separate professional advice with regard to the introduction of Pay & Display Car Parking on Port Authority owned land.

 

In all the Port Authority leases almost 300 Car Parking Spaces to the Comhairle at Perceval Square, North Beach Street, Number 1 Pier and South Beach Street .

 

QUAY NEWS

 

Stornoway Port Authority Board at a recent meeting approved of the purchase of a new Citreon Dispatch van at a cost of £8,995 excluding VAT., for use around the Harbour.

 

Four companies had been invited to quote, and the successful lowest tenderer was Pedigreed Cars of Forres.

 

The Board further agreed that the present four years old van be advertised for sale in the local press and on the Authority's website.

 

At the same meeting the Board agreed that Mr. Ian M Mitchell be given permission to place a small plaque at the Sea Wall at Goat Island providing historical information of the Cromwellian Fort which was built there in 1653.

 

The Board also wishes to express their sincere thanks to Misses Nan and Janet Cowie of Kenneth Street who had gifted two late 19 th Century prints of the Inner Harbour and the Patent Slipway at Shell Street to the Authority. Any member of the public wishing to view the prints is welcome to call at Amity House.