Protests waved aside as OIC sail on with £10.5m pier plan
(From The Orcadian dated December 14, 2000)

Plans to build a multi-million pound ro-ro ferry terminal near Crowness in Kirkwall were approved by Orkney Islands Council this week despite a wave of protest and claims that a secret agenda was being followed.

A rough draft of the layout for a new ro-ro terminal at Hatston. (Click image for an enlargement)

In a full council meeting on Tuesday that nearly turned acrimonious, councillors voted by a narrow margin for the terminal to be built near Crowness on the edge of Hatston Industrial Estate.

Officials say the terminal will cost £10.5 million and the project depends on achieving necessary grant aid.

But a backlash was unleashed against the plans – particularly from Stromness – because the council say the terminal should serve the new passenger ferry between Aberdeen, Orkney and Shetland, due to come into service in 2002.

The current St Sunniva ferry on the route berths at Stromness, but councillors were told that the new ferry operator Northlink preferred to use Kirkwall instead.

The replacement for the St Ola will continue to ply the Pentland Firth route from Scrabster to Stromness.

Arguments raged this week – both at the full council meeting and at a packed public meeting in Stromness on Monday night – as to whether or not Stromness could cope with the larger ferry proposed by Northlink.

Officials say the water at Stromness is not deep enough, but opponents of this view say the harbour manages with similarly sized vessels. Dredging work is due to be carried out in Stromness to cope with the replacement vessel for the St Ola and it was argued that extra work could be doe in Stromness for a fraction of the cost of building a terminal at Crowness.

But the wording of the agreement reached on Tuesday stated that even if ship simulation tests showed that Stromness was suitable for the new ferry, Crowness should still be designated as the port for the Aberdeen-Orkney-Shetland service.

The public crowded into the gallery at Tuesday’s meeting to watch as a war of words broke out between Stromness Councillor John Brown and convener Councillor Hugh Halcro-Johnston before the debate had even begun.

Councillor Brown had a list of questions prepared and wanted to receive an answer after reading each one, but Councillor Halcro-Johnston ruled that he had to read all of the questions before receiving his answers.

“This is self-gratifying for the convener who is obviously on the other side,” said Councillor Brown.

The convener replied that he did not wish to be insulted and had made his ruling.

Councillor Brown would not back down though and accused the convener of “stifling proper consideration of each question.”

“I am not trying to stifle debate,” said Councillor Halcro-Johnston. “I have made a ruling. That is it. Will you please proceed with your questions.”

Councillor Brown eventually went on to question the costs of the project as well as the suitability of Crowness. Stromness, he said, was one of the best natural harbours in Orkney with natural shelter and if a vessel couldn’t dock there under prevailing conditions, it was unlikely to get into Crowness.

“This debate is about good governance, due diligence, project appraisal and most importantly our own financial regulations which we breach at our peril,” he said.

Proposing that the issue be referred back to the council’s transportation committee, he added: “With a major project like this – £9, £10, £20 million we do not kow the price – it is important that we get it right from day one and not rush ahead.”

Transportation chairman Councillor Stephen Hagan said deferring the project would jeopardise the new service though.

“We have a responsibility as a transportation committee to see the service running on a regular basis – that there is no break in the service. That is why I want to see the council support this today,” he said.

Economic development committee chairman Councillor Jim Foubister stirred up the meeting when he said the complaints from Stromness were all part of the Kirkwall Stromness divide.

“Undoubtedly there is a bit of east west divide in this. There is the tone of, ‘if we can’t have this in Stromness then Orkney should not have it’,” he said.

This was countered by the Stromness councillors – Councillor Brian Murray adding that he was distressed that proper procedures had not been followed.

Councillor Fred Groundwater said Crowness had been on the minds of some councillors for several years and the project was being fast-tracked on the back of the new ferry contract.

“This whole procedure has been fast-tracked and we are being continually told in the council that we do not fast-track capital projects. This is being done to satisfy a minority. It is going to take business away from the town – lorries, freight. It is going to take jobs.”

Councillor Brown’s proposal to hold the Crowness plans back for further consideration went to a roll call vote. It was lost by eight votes to 11.

Those in favour of referring the proposal back were councillors Cyril Annal, John Brown, Fred Groundwater, John Hamilton, Keith Johnson, Roderick McLeod, Brian Murray and Eoin Scott.

Those in favour of the terminal were councillors Robert Cormack, Mike Drever, Jim Foubister, Stephen Hagan, Hugh Halcro-Johnston, Jack Moodie, Bob Sclater, Sinclair Scott, Jim Sinclair, Ann Sutherland, and Brian Taylor.

There were two abstentions: Councillors Janice Annal and Mac Petrie.