Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

Closure of Fairlie Pier described as "Dictatorship"

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 11th February 1972

7th February 1972

CLOSURE OF PIER ?DICTATORSHIP?

The attitude of the Caledonian Steam Packet Company over the closure of Fairlie Pier was described as ?dictatorship at its very worst? at the meeting of West Kilbride District Council on Monday.

The denouncement of the company came from the chairman, Mr Donald Robertson, who referred to the CSPC?s failure to reply to two letters from the council regarding the future of Fairlie Pier.

The Clerk reported that British Rail had sent the council a letter which stated officially that the pier had been handed over to CSPC, and Mr Donald Robertson said that the pier station had in fact been closed since last October and rails had been uplifted.

DREADFUL

?It is a dreadful thing?, he went on, ?that Fairlie Pier was closed without any forewarning. It is very extraordinary?.

The clerk pointed out that British Rail did not know for what purpose the pier would now be used by the CSPC.

Councillor Peter Robertson commented that the council should press for a meeting with the CSPC to find out what they had in mind; then the chairman said that it was dictatorship at its very worst as the council had not been advised beforehand.

?It is a lack of sense of common decency?, he criticised, ?and they have not even replied to our letters. I can?t see anything at all happening. We should ensure that they will not leave the pier a derelict mess or an eyesore?.

When Councillor P. Black said that it would be smashed if left as it was, the chairman agreed that it was an ?absolute shambles? and already a trench which had been created with rails taken away was gathering muck.

?HAMMER?

Mr Peter McNab urged the council to ?hammer the CSPC right from the start?.

Councillor Peter Robertson suggested that a letter to Sir Fitzroy Maclean, MP, might be necessary.

Mr Donald Robertston concluded by saying that it was obvious the decision to close Fairlie Pier had been made a long time ago, and the council agreed with his suggestion that they would ask the CSPC again about the pier?s future use.

Scribe Tango