Re: Commission calls for 11,000 affordable homes/yr in rural areas
- From: " Jill" <newsNOSPAM@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 23:31:03 +0100
Oh No wrote:
Thus spake Jill <news@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
"Burkie" <Burkie50@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message >Actually that is not my analysis at all. Oban is a thriving town.
The figure of 11,000 houses equates to about six new houses a year
in each rural ward.
They are planning 700 in one village hereabouts and that is only
phase one
No-one has fully explained what they will all do mind you - there
seem to be some idea that big businesses will flock to the area
which has no skills, services, costs a fortune to get to and from
!
I am interested on how you come to this. Seriously.
Its so contrary to conversations held all around these days.
So much has happened that contradicts this.
So many good little businesses have closed in the past 10 years. They did
not fail but they simply did not make enough to support employees or cover
for holidays etc.
Most of the small ones last about 4 -5 years and disappear
Ironically I was talking to someone recently about the craftspoeple who
were working in the area 10 years ago - we got to over 100, we could hardly
come up with 20 in the same league now. The others have either left the area
to somewhere where there was more support and more customers or are doing
something else for a living.
The tourist spend has decreased - The cost of getting here and staying has
really bitten into any budget. More folks will sit and chill out in their
various accomodation, enjoying the view and the peace.
A lot of "attractions" have closed due to lack of sufficient income.
Not even 99p shops can survive.
There is NO money in any kitty - enterprise, council, EU
The roads are terrible
The health service is bankrupt and we are now to be covered by a board
controlled from Inverness
The council is facing the worst years in living memory and gives little
support to local business or even the population in general. They are inept
at best.
They are unable to even suppport a musuem which could have international
importance.
There is the most prime spot just become available in the centre of town --
and is being taken by 'Superdrug' !!!
yuck -- yuck -- yuck
It seems to be largely holiday and travel trade, almost taken over with
B&B.
Which have declined in recent years.
Stay length has declined.
There are a good number of people passing through which makes up the numbers
through the tourist office but then there was not the same measuring ability
10 - 15 years ago so we have no accurate comparison
Don't forget the coach tour companies who now own or supply patrons to most
of the biggest hotels in the town.
But I gather people also flock to the area on retirement incomes,
Agreed
so they are hardly in need of industry, and having arrived don't want
to
go anywhere else.
Except that they live in the villages around and holiday elsewhere and spend
mail order / online or simply elsewhere. In other respects they will become
an increasing drain to the community.
One recent visitor to some friends was very telling - she has been coming to
the town for more than 20 years, she loves it, she enjoys shopping nad
spending and always done both
Her opinion of the town this visit was damning - tired, dirty, dowdy, poor
shops, few shops of interest, nothing to spend money on. She was pretty
appalled in the change since she was here a few years ago.
She will not be unhappy if the friends do what they are planning and move
away.
Its not a decision that has come easy to them either
As a place it certianly gets a hold on you but there needs to be some major
overhauling to make it attractive to the sort and numbers of people who are
going to support it into the next 50 years.
--
regards
Jill Bowis
Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment, Books, Videos, Gifts
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
Working Holidays in Scotland
http://www.kintaline.co.uk
.
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