Seil Chat

Most mouses aren't so sophisticated, Nonny.

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the moderator of this site could perhaps draw the OT's attention to this thread

I've submitted a letter both by email (web form on the OT site) and by post, the text of which is as follows:

Dear Sir,

Many Seil residents have been more than a little annoyed by your one-sided reporting of the Seil sewage project. The majority of the people I speak to are both in favour of the scheme in principle and happy with the way the contractors are carrying it out.

They feel that last week’s article was based on the views of a small and unrepresentative number of residents and that to compound matters the selection of letters for publication on this subject has also focussed on the views of a vocal minority who are against the project.

If your readers would like to peruse a wider selection of local opinion on this matter then perhaps I could refer them to the very active Seil Chat forum on the Community website at http://www.seil.oban.ws and the thread entitled ‘oban times and works on the island’

Yours etc

Whether it will be published remains to be seen. I think it would be better if anyone who feels strongly that their views are not being represented wrote their own letter, as I believe it is the size of a postbag on any particular issue that convinces most editors - they do not trust this new-fangled medium. If you DO write to the OT perhaps you could indicate here that you have done so and include the text of the letter. Then if none of the letters are published people can make their own judgement on the paper's lack of bias or otherwise. I suspect that they will publish one or two if they receive enough - and it only takes seconds by email at http://www.obantimes.co.uk/info/contact_us.php

- NickB

Well done, Nick!

Well done Nick! You deserve a pat on the back!!!

When is the OT next week? seeing as Thursday is christmas day?!

tinkerbell wrote:
When is the OT next week? seeing as Thursday is christmas day?!

Wednesday

wrong thread sorry....

Anyone think there's a correlation between badmouthing the sewage works and wealthy Conservatives?

I am really enjoying this subject.
All have written eloquently and sensibly.
It was the outrage of feeling that some folk would take it upon themselves to represent the entire population of this island by using the royal "we" and trumpeting their own views on this that and the other that prompted me to write in about the Seilachan in the first place.
Now there is no doubt that some of these folk are well meaning and good hearted, but that is no excuse for being big headed and insensitive enough to imagen for one moment that their opinions are in any way the opinions of the quieter people of the Island and even that these silent people may resent their interferences.
You wouldnot marry someone just because you liked the look of them and then set about trying to change WHO they were into something entirely different just because it was more suitable to yourself, but that is presicely what some people that move here try to do. They fall in love with the beauty of the place and have some romantic notion of living on an island and once they have been here for five minutes,Hey Presto, they are complaining about bait barrels on the pier, lack of footpaths, ferry timetables and the odd sheep or deer nibbling the garden In other words they bring the rat race with them.
To the loudpseakers, Hush, Hush. Listen to the quiet ones, they may be talking louder than you think

Finally some positive representation of the works! I have tried in previous threads to express these views myself. Many of us are inconvenienced on a daily, even hourly, basis however the work in principle and the rate etc. at which it is being carried out is worth giving these guys and girls a pat on the back for. It is a huge project and will finish, perhaps not to our desired timescale or aesthetic satisfaction but will be over within months. Thank you Mr B for clarifying issues with the Oban times.....

Now can we find something cheeky to talk about??!

Just to add my thoughts...

The article in the paper last week (18th) may have had a point despite it's bad journalism, front page sensationalism - namely that it is to be questioned whether the money spent has been spent in the most appropriate way. However, that is a question for Scottish Water, who spent the money on our behalf, and regardless the work is now with us.

What I can't stand hearing is the moans and grumbles of folk who object to the work on a purely aesthetic point of view. Any work on this scale was bound to produce large scale disturbance and, from my point of view, Balfour Beatty, their engineers and site workers have gone out of their way to make the process as painless as it possibly can be, while having to work through some fairly horrendous conditions above and below ground themselves. I take my (colour coded safety) hat off to them.

I truly don't believe that most visitors to the island in a couple of years will even know that there had been any major works. Grass and trees have a habit of thriving on disturbed soil....