Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

Blasting at Harbour disturbs residents

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 8th May 1970

Ardrossan Harbour Company became the target of criticism from nearby residents this week owing to the nightly blasting being carried out at the new pier being built for the Arran ferry.

The work, which is being carried out on 24 hours a day, is a race against time by the harbour company to put the new service in operation as soon as possible.

However, nearby householders, who have been awakened night after night by the warning blasts of a siren, and then the blasting itself, show little sympathy for the company and for its problems.

"RIDICULOUS"

Mrs. Irene Kane, of 209 Glasgow Street, told our reporter : "I think this blasting at night is ridiculous. I have two scholboys who are being wakened night after night by the noise. I can understand them wanting the work finished, but I still don't think it is necessary for them to carry it out in the early hours of the morning.
"They could stop work at midnight and start again about six in the morning, and that way," she added, "we would be sure of getting a few hours sleep, but as it is we are wakened by the sirens and then terrified by the blast which is making this whole building shake.

Mrs. Martha Kerr, who lives some distance away from the harbour at 9 McKellar Avenue, said she understood the necessity of the work being completed, but what she objected to was the fact that no one had been notified prior to the work starting.
Seventy-three-year-old Mrs. Kerr told our reporter : I have a heart complaint and the first night I was wakened by the blasting I was badly frightened. I had absolutely no idea what was going on and it's not very nice to lie awake hour after hour waiting on the next blast going off.
"I find it difficult to sleep at the best of times, but this work being carried out at night is now making it impossible. If we had even been notified before work began, at least we would have been expecting it," she concluded.

NO ALTERNATIVE

To find out how much longer the blasting is likely to go on, the "Herald" contacted Mr. J. H. Shields, manager and secretary of Ardrossan Harbour Company, who told our reporter : "At the moment it's difficult to say, but it will take a few weeks yet before we are finished. We have no alternative but to work during the night as this is a race against time to have the job completed.
"The new boat service is required very shortly, so work must go on."

When the new service does go into operation, return journeys each day will be increased from four trips to five, and loading and unloading will be speeded up.