THE repeated absence of an Argyll and Bute Council officer at Cowal Transport Forum (CTF) meetings has been branded shocking, disrespectful and “bloody rude” by community representatives.
The CTF brings together councillors, community councils, transport operators, Police Scotland and council officers to tackle transport issues across the peninsula, including ferry services, roads, flooding, parking, speed limits and active travel.
However, at Tuesday’s meeting, frustration boiled over after it emerged that the council’s public transport officer, Martin Arnold, had again failed to attend.
David Clough, transport lead for Dunoon Community Council, told members he had contacted Mr Arnold directly about his continued absence.
According to Mr Clough, the officer replied that it was not council policy for officers to attend meetings such as the forum and that any enquiries should instead be submitted by email.
Mr Clough did not hide his anger. He said: “As far as I’m concerned, I think that’s shocking. That’s just a council officer hiding behind bureaucracy. Words cannot express my feelings about the response I got.
“If that’s Argyll and Bute Council’s policy, then it needs to be changed. I think it’s appalling. It’s downright bloody rude. These people are public servants.”
Dunoon ward councillor Daniel Hampsey, who sits as chair of the Forum, said he would take the matter up with Mr Arnold.
He told members: “Whether it’s councillors or officers, it doesn’t matter that a policy says you don’t have to do something. Engagement should be seen as a positive, and I’m going to follow this up.”
Following the meeting this week, an Argyll and Bute Council spokesperson said: “We welcome direct engagement with communities and there are a number of mechanisms to do this, including through Community Councils or reporting any issues or concerns on the Council’s website. Working with the South Cowal Community Council on their new bus shelters recently is just one example of making things happen in Cowal.
“As the Cowal Transport Forum is not a decision-making body or a formal meeting of the Council, there is no requirement for any council officers to attend.”
The CTF meets several times a year to discuss local transport issues and provides a platform for concerns to be raised directly with transport providers and council representatives.
