Published: Wednesday, 17th September, 2008 12:30
Why does Largs not twin with Barga?
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Having read our local paper over the past week or so one or two items have given me food for thought and raised questions, some that may very well have been answered in the past and others that remain to be answered.
A question on twinning, the Twinning Association to the delight of chairman Richard Wilkinson have confirmed an agreement between themselves and the Mayor of Andernos-les-Bains in France that the two towns should ‘twin’ later this year.
The question is: ‘What for? What is the connection? Was someone out there on holiday and thought this would be a great idea or is it just another excuse for a freebie?
If they were really interested in ‘’twinning’’ why did they not give more thought to the matter and consider our existing connections with other countries, for example Italy.
Thanks to families like the Nardinis and Castelvechis there was a huge influx of Italian people coming to Largs in search of employment, some of those people are still with us here in Largs where many of their children were born and brought up. Why then did they not consider this and ‘twin’ with somewhere in Italy such as Barga where we would have a cultural interest; or if they were really interested in cultural exchanges look at history and consider 1263 the battle of Largs, the Vikings, the annual festival and so on. Why did they not ( or did they ) consider Norway as a country worthy of ‘’twinning’’ where we would have a real historical interest and a difference in culture which could be interesting to explore.
Question (2) is about Largs Pier. Built by Largs for Largs, it is considered by the people to belong to the town I believe.
With this in mind, why over the years, since Caledonian MacBrayne started to use the pier, and prevent the people of Largs from walking along it, are they able to charge visiting vessels berthing fees? Should the council not be charging CalMac for the use of the Pier and reap the benefits thereof?
Furthermore, when MacBraynes knock down the ‘’Dangerous and falling down pier‘’ (Strong enough to provide parking spaces for the staff ) and they invest £6m on its re- construction, on completion, who then will the pier belong to? Caledonian MacBrayne or Largs and who then will reap the benefit? Largs Council, the people of Largs, I don’t think so!
Question (3): With Priory House Hotel now converted to flats, there were two large anchors sited within the front gardens of the hotel, and these anchors were part of a number of anchors (some of which may be seen along the edge of the cycle path behind the Largs Yacht Haven) provided by the Fairlie MOD base free of charge on a ninety nine year lease and to be returned to them after that period.
Who removed them, where are they now, and when will they be returned, or are they already melted down and in China being made into the new superstructure for the failed squinty bridge over the Clyde in Glasgow?
Alasdair W.Woods, Largs
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