Western Isles (1 Viewer)

[irnbru]

Suggested motorhome levy.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-41333126

 

[Dan and Jan]

How do you think they are goi

Suggested motorhome levy.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-41333126

How do you think they are going to fund Indy 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. They have never invested in the H&I.

 

[WillH]

I already posted this and have emailed the MSP responsible for the comments. This is his address:-

Alasdair.Allan.msp@parliament.scot

Please send him a polite message.

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[Dan and Jan]

Does it include the words "Up Yours"

I already posted this and have emailed the MSP responsible for the comments. This is his address:-

Alasdair.Allan.msp@parliament.scot

Please send him a polite message.

 

[irnbru]

Sorry was just about to say it has already been posted here.

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/western-isles.161055/

 

[Tykatem]

Same sort of "left wing" thinking that's responsible for Wee Nippy wanting to force Lairds and companies to sell off swathes of their land after it emerged that a Scottish Government commission is examining imposing a legally-enforced limit on how many acres they can own.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/17/lairds-could-forced-sell-land-snp-acreage-cap/

It worked really well in Zimbabwe, didn't it

Pete

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[WillH]

Never thought to compare the Scottish Land Reform Act to Zimbabwe, certainly food for thought. Typical of the SNP though, socialist in Westminster and right wing in Holyrood.

 

[Puddleduck]

I already posted this and have emailed the MSP responsible for the comments. This is his address:-

Alasdair.Allan.msp@parliament.scot

Please send him a polite message.

Have done so ..... basically saying if such a levy is introduced it should be used to provide aires I pointed out how well the aire at Hawick works with figures for the amount we spent as a group when we went across and met with Funsters staying on the aire.

 

[lorger]

Have done so ..... basically saying if such a levy is introduced it should be used to provide aires I pointed out how well the aire at Hawick works with figures for the amount we spent as a group when we went across and met with Funsters staying on the aire.

When we did the Outer Hebrides we met another couple doing the same route, we ended up chatting to them a couple of times and it turns out they loaded their van before coming over and never really spent any money on the isles. I wonder if this is the problem they have seen a massive influx but not the revenue to match.

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[Puddleduck]

When we did the Outer Hebrides we met another couple doing the same route, we ended up chatting to them a couple of times and it turns out they loaded their van before coming over and never really spent any money on the isles. I wonder if this is the problem they have seen a massive influx but not the revenue to match.

That is always an issue.

My own view is that you should always spend locally. especially in the more remote areas.

Fancy going to The Western Isles and not buying Black Pudding, fish, a Harris Tweed item, spending money in tourist attractions etc etc Think what they missed out on!

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

I cannot see how any reasonable levy would make any difference.
If I read the numbers correctly there are well under 2000 return journeys.
At £20 each way it would be less than 80k a year (and some would not make the trip on principle) there would not be enough to provide extra bins and a collection crew never mind a campsite.
Another stupid idea similar to parking charges in small towns near big towns. If you have to pay to park you may as well travel a few minutes more for a bigger choice of shops.
When will these people see that investment in good access and parking for motorhomes in the towns will give the returns for the community.
People travel pre stocked up because they cannot rely on access to the shops.
Yes there will always be some that have no intention of spending locally but that also is true of some of the residents.
Read through some of the posts on here about Funsters trips and there are many examples of retailers that have made them welcome and earned some good revenue.

 

[lorger]

That is always an issue.

My own view is that you should always spend locally. especially in the more remote areas.

Fancy going to The Western Isles and not buying Black Pudding, fish, a Harris Tweed item, spending money in tourist attractions etc etc Think what they missed out on!

Funny you should say that we came home with Black Pudding, Smoked Salmon and a Harris Tweed Purse not for me I may ad. We also ate at several cafes and Pubs during our trip which in my opinion makes the holiday.

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[MR. FUSION]

Never thought to compare the Scottish Land Reform Act to Zimbabwe, certainly food for thought. Typical of the SNP though, socialist in Westminster and right wing in Holyrood.

The SNP have studied a certain handbook to gaining and maintaining power, promise everything, deliver very little, and wait until you have what you want before introducing a second layer of income tax.

 

[klaatu]

They've been talking about a tourist tax in Orkney because of the large numbers of cruise ships. Bonkers.

 

[WillH]

We always buy local when we travel, in the Western Isles it was scallops, crab, salmon, butteries, gin and black pudding and there are plenty of shops.

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[DavidG58]

they could do as the West Harris trust have done and create parking areas and ask for £5 / night donations, I hope people use and pay, put a few of them on each island they will get plenty of revenue and even more MH's

 

[Puddleduck]

They've been talking about a tourist tax in Orkney because of the large numbers of cruise ships. Bonkers.

In Greenland there are more passengers on the larger visiting cruise ships than locals in some ports.

Not sure what the answer is in a situation like this:
(dated 11 May 2017)
The majestic MSC Preziosa arrived at Hatston Pier yesterday breaking all previous records for the largest passenger carrying vessel to ever visit Orkney. The ship had over 4700 person on board and passengers had pre booked over 50 shore excursions throughout the 12 hour port call. Three bendy bus shuttles each with a capacity of 140 passengers rotated between the pier and the Travel Centre in Kirkwall throughout the day, and the local shopping areas were very busy right up until 6pm. Preziosa will call into Kirkwall on four occasions this season, and in total 140 cruise ship port calls are expected delivering over 125,000 passengers.

Kirkwall has a population of about 9,000.

 

[jongood]

In Greenland there are more passengers on the larger visiting cruise ships than locals in some ports.

Not sure what the answer is in a situation like this:
(dated 11 May 2017)
The majestic MSC Preziosa arrived at Hatston Pier yesterday breaking all previous records for the largest passenger carrying vessel to ever visit Orkney. The ship had over 4700 person on board and passengers had pre booked over 50 shore excursions throughout the 12 hour port call. Three bendy bus shuttles each with a capacity of 140 passengers rotated between the pier and the Travel Centre in Kirkwall throughout the day, and the local shopping areas were very busy right up until 6pm. Preziosa will call into Kirkwall on four occasions this season, and in total 140 cruise ship port calls are expected delivering over 125,000 passengers.

Kirkwall has a population of about 9,000.

Its somewhat ironic but a real shame because too many cruise ships can soon ruin lovely places.

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[BusyBuilder]

Little Miss Krankie is a pia.

More daft ideas, they need to get the NHS, Education and Police sorted first.

 

[WillH]

I have spent some time this morning emailing every contact I have in the Outer Hebrides asking them to lobby the MSP about this proposed levy.

 

[WillH]

Follow up, got this reply from North Uist:-

Thank you for getting in touch about the suggested levy.

I was appalled when I heard about our MSPs suggestion and I quickly wrote to him to express my concerns. The Outer Hebrides Tourism Industry Association and Scottish Tourism Association have also raised concerns with the Transport Minister and are not supporting the Levy.

I was interviewed on Radio nan Gaidheal (Highland Radio) and BBC Scotland this morning where both Alasdair Allan MSP and I were on air giving our views. It certainly isn’t supported by the tourism industry and the industry reps are meeting with the our MSP on Monday to discuss further. I have spoken with Mr Allan in the last hour and he has acknowledged that he should have consulted the tourism industry first and I’ve asked him to make a public statement to clarify this.

I’m hoping that his suggestion will be rejected and go no further. There is no proposal by the Scottish Government to introduce a levy.

The cage is being rattled.

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[Puddleduck]

And I have a reply from the MSP

"Thank you for contacting me about the debate in the Western Isles about how best to improve the facilities for campervans and for your interesting comments on this and the state of island infrastructure.

I should note that at this moment this is no proposal from the Scottish Government for any additional levy on ferry fares. There is however, a local debate about how best to ensure we have the infrastructure which motorhomes need, and as local MSP, I responded to that debate.

The idea of an additional charge by the community on motorhomes to fund facilities is one local suggestion, but only one of many, and it is a good thing we seem to have opened up a wide-ranging discussion on tourist infrastructure.

Kind regards,

Alasdair Allan
MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar
alasdair.allan.msp@parliament.scot
01851 700357
20 Kenneth Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, HS1 2DR"

 

[irnbru]