Cultybraggan Cold War bunker sold for data storage use

It’s almost a year to the day since we reported Former Cold War Regional Government Headquarters in Crieff goes up for sale.

The BBC reports that “The complex went on the market nine months ago” – which means someone there can’t count, since we referred to its own story of the sale dated January 28, 2011.

Oh well, not my problem, I’m not paying their wages. Oh – wait a minute – I pay my TV license, so that means I do.

Anyway, the bunker has been sold to Lincoln-based communications firm GCI Com Group Ltd, and will be used to store confidential computer files.

The Comrie Development Trust took ownership of the site containing the bunker back in 2007, as part of a community buy-out from the MoD for £350,000 . When the bunker was completed in 1990, it cost in the region of £30 million. When it went on sale, offers of around £400,000 were invited.

While the data centre itself will not really create any new jobs in the area – it is a technical facility full of hardware – it is seen as making the area  more attractive to investors, and has been described as bringing high-speed broadband to an area lacking such a resource. The lack of technology was given as one reason why local businesses have been held back to date.

Wayne Martin, chairman of GCI Com, said: “This will bring Comrie and the camp into the national spotlight for a best-in-breed hosting and disaster recovery centre, along with the camp benefiting from access to high-speed data that’s only really available in key cities within the UK.”

Via BBC News – Lincoln firm buys Cultybraggan nuclear bunker

Cultybraggan RGH entrance in 2009 © Bill Clark

The hybrid ferries of CalMac are real

While it would unkind to say that I actually doubted the rumours that I first detected regarding ‘battery operated ferries’ coming to the Clyde, the stories did come as a surprise, meaning that whoever was going to undertake this venture (there were no real details given) had to be ready to try something new.

It wasn’t long before the story broke formally, and the news came of two hybrid RoRo (roll-on roll-off) diesel-electric ferries, described as a world first for such sea-going vessels.

While the principle of using diesel (or other) powered generators to power electric propulsion units (eliminating the need for a direct connection of a drive-shaft between the engine and the propeller), combining this with rechargeable batteries which will supply a minimum of 20% of energy consumed was new.

I’m afraid I find little that ever makes me agree with those I refer to as ‘professional CalMac bashers’, and the fact that CalMac went with this proposal is, to me, yet another reason to turn a deaf ear towards them.

In operation, the ferries can be powered from the generators, or the batteries, which are kept topped up by the generators, and will be charged overnight, while the vessels are moored. Although the overnight charging will be carried out using mains electricity, it is hoped that energy from local wind, wave or solar systems will be used to charge the batteries as such facilities become available near the moorings.

Scottish build

Even more remarkable is the fact that the innovative project will also be undertaken on the Clyde – the ferries will be built by Ferguson Shipbuilders, which will be working along with Glasgow-based ship design specialists SeaTec, and electrical specialists Tec-Source. The project is supported by a Scottish government loan, with an additional funding of £450,000 provided from the European Regional Development Fund.

Ferguson Shipbuilders Limited is now part of the Ferguson Group, and is a shipyard located in Port Glasgow. Unfortunately,  it is currently notable as being the last remaining shipbuilder on the lower Clyde, and the only builder of merchant ships on the river, where it has long been a builder of RoRo ferries.

The contract is worth £22 million, and the media carried news of the first steel being cut on January 30, 2012s, with the first ferries of the ferries set to enter service in early 2013.

The 900 tonne ferries are designed t0 accommodate 150 passengers and 23 cars, and for short routes, including the link between Skye and Raasay.

Some background links to save you the effort of digging:

Hybrid Ferries Project | CMAL | Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd

CMAL Hybrid Ferry Presentation (PDF, 1.3MB)

CMAL Hybrid Ferry Presentation (PDF, 1.9MB)

Hybrid ferry via CMAL publicity

Dark Sky Observatory built in Dalmellington in Galloway Forest Park

It was only in June 2009 that we noted: Galloway Forest Park wins Dark Sky award.

Now, less than two years later, work has started on building a Dark Sky Observatory in the park, aided by £94,000 in funding from the Scottish Government.

The new facility will be used by schools, colleges and universities.

The new observatory, costing almost £700,000 in total, aims to build on the park’s status and will offer visitors a chance to observe the Northern Lights, the Milky Way, planets, comets and shooting stars.

Mr Ewing said: “Scotland has made an immense contribution to shaping the modern world through science and research excellence, and this new observatory builds on our reputation as a hotbed of innovation and ideas.

“The creation of a state-of-the-art, first of its kind in Britain, observatory will attract stargazers and astronomers from near and far.

“The Galloway Forest Park area enjoys some of the darkest skies in the world and this new facility will showcase the area’s stunning natural scenery and resources to attract new visitors and investment to Ayrshire.”

Observatory manager Cath Seeds said it had taken two years to “generate the enthusiasm and raise funds for this project”.

She paid tribute to the wide range of organisations funding the scheme.

“Often, the science can feel overwhelming, so we want the observatory to break down these barriers by bringing together astronomy, nocturnal natural history and arts and crafts inspired by the night sky,” she said.

“We also want to play a key role in the future development of this area.

“Great things are occurring and great talent is abundant.

“Our role is to improve science in our community, whether by inspiring the next generation of scientists or providing the spark needed by an inventor to produce something truly remarkable.”

Via BBC News – Dark Sky Observatory work under way in Dalmellington

The deputy leader of East Ayrshire council has described the observatory as a ‘huge asset’ to the area, and which will attract local visitors, tourists, and international stargazers.

See also Dark Sky Scotland.

Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park

There is one tiny observation (just a detail, not a criticism) which is possible worthy of note. While the location of the observatory is in an area that clearly does not suffer the chronic light pollution of more central areas:

Craigengillan
Dalmellington
Ayr
Ayrshire
KA6 7PZ

It does not actually lie in either the DSP (dark sky park), or the buffer zone defined around it.

See the detailed Forestry Commission’s zone map here: Light Zone diagram for Dumfries and Galloway.

The Commission has produced a list of potential viewing sites, and an accompanying map:

The numbers on the map correspond to these locations:

1. Galloway Red Deer range car park
2. Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre car park
3. Glentrool Visitor Centre
4. Bruce’s stone car parks
5. Caldons woodlands
6. Kirroughtree Visitor Centre
7. Loch Braden car park
8. Loch Doon West end car park
9. Talnotry
10. Raiders road west end car park

map of potential viewing sites (PDF 1.2Mb)

Update

Looking at some of the comments made after this later article, it seems that the matter of light pollution is not taken seriously by many – probably not a surprise, given the response the same folk probably give ‘ordinary’ pollution…

Light pollution ‘saturates’ UK’s night skies

Reminds me of many of my neighbours, who are slowly having up-lighters built into their gardens and driveways as some sort of fashion statement that started a few years ago. Built into the ground, they point straight into the sky. Others are going for down-lighters to wash the walls of their lovely domiciles, and have thirty or more of these little halogen gems burning away as soon as it gets dark – and it’s not to light their visitors’ way, as they don’t go off until dawn, so they are purely for show.

One of the local bookies has a back door accessed over a lawn – it has about a hundred small vertical uplighters (installed only a few weeks ago) highlighting the path from the street to the door when it is dark.

Homes in Orkney may have high levels of radon gas

An interesting alert and some (very) good advice for those lucky enough to live in Orkney.

High levels of radon gas have been found in some homes in Orkney.

Residents are being advised on how to deal with the gas, which can cause health problems.

Naturally occurring radon gas cannot be seen, smelt or tasted and is thought to lead to more than 1000 deaths from lung cancer in the UK every year.

High levels of radon gas detected in Orkney homes

Radon is a particular problem in Orkney which has rocks rich in radioactive uranium, a source of the gas.

A recent test by the Health Protection Agency (HSA) found that hundreds of homes in the islands have radon levels well above the recommended amount.

Experts from the HSA and the Building Research Establishment have been running a series of roadshows in Orkney to give advice to local people.

via High levels of radon gas detected in Orkney homes | Aberdeen and North | STV News.

The way things ebb and flow with the various uses to which uranium can be put, and the similarly various political wranglings between the nations that have uranium deposits, this might be something that could be a nice little earner in the future, as that uranium might become economically viable one day, and the homes above it become worth a small fortune.

Unless it’s the Scottish Government that wants it one day of course, as opposed to an overseas investor. Then, like the properties that lay on land wanted for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, all you get is market value as a compulsory purchase order float through your letter-box.

Kelvin Hall museums plan on track for £5 million lottery award

Kelvin Hall transport exhibits

I have to be honest, and say that I felt double-crossed by Glasgow City Council many years ago, after hearing the announcement that the original Museum of Transport (established in a former tram depot in Albert Drive in 1964) would move to the Kelvin Hall in 1987.

Not being a sporty type, I thought it was some sort of joke as I watched the Kelvin Hall became a massive sports arena. All the shows I used to go and see there came to an abrupt end, and the Museum of Transport was relegated to what was, in my opinion, little more than a corner at the back of the vast building.

Many years later, now that the Museum of Transport has moved to Riverside, it looks as if things might be coming good for the Kelvin Hall, as the sports are ejected and it returns to its proper duties, as intended before it was hijacked.

The building we see today dates from 1927, but this was preceded by another building on the same site, the Industrial Hall – a temporary wooden structure built for the for the Glasgow International Exhibition of 1901, which was held in Kelvingrove Park. The original hall burnt down in 1925, and was replaced by the new Kelvin Hall of 1927, designed to house large-scale exhibitions.

A scheme to turn Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall into a cultural, research and training centre has been given initial approval for almost £5m of lottery funds.

The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded a first round pass for the plan to create a safe home for Glasgow’s city and university museum collections.

The city council said it would provide access to the city’s cultural legacy.

…

The Kelvin Hall scheme would house a combined 1.5 million treasures from Glasgow’s civic collection and from The University of Glasgow’s Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery.

The hall’s international athletics track is also due to close with the opening of the Commonwealth Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. The Glasgow Club leisure facilities would remain at the site.

via BBC News – Kelvin Hall museums plan on track for £5m lottery funds.

More scandal with Tax Break offer to 2014 Commonwealth Games athletes

While you or I get fined automatically if we happen to file a late tax return – and we have just seen a news item about those in the Armed Services who are currently serving abroad and file late still being fined regardless – it seems that the élite ‘Celebrity’ class still lives a life apart from normal people.

Athletes who attend the few days of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, for which we are footing a bill of millions and suffering disruption for, and having our intelligence insulted on a regular basis by being told these games will leave a ‘Lasting Legacy’ (lasting bills more likely), are now to escape income tax.

Not for any good reason, but simply because they might not come if they are made to pay their dues – and we can’t upset celebrities these days, can we?

I might not have mentioned this if the move had been aimed at up-and coming athletes who may not be making a penny (yet), but they made the mistake of naming Usain Bolt in the news about this tax evasion, and I doubt if he is short of a penny or two.

(Even I , who care not one jot about him, know he has a sponsorship deal with Puma, and has already done a lucrative deal for his autobiography, so his pension is in the bank.)

Athletes from outside the UK who compete in the 2014 Commonwealth Games are to be given an income tax exemption.

The Treasury has decided to grant the incentive to encourage top international competitors to attend the Glasgow event.

Chief Secretary Danny Alexander is expected to confirm the move during a visit to the west of Scotland.

A similar measure has been put in place for the London 2012 Olympics.

Any athlete not normally resident in the UK is subject to UK income tax on any payment for performing in the country.

‘Memorable Games’

This can include a proportion of worldwide endorsement income.

The exemption could be particularly valuable to top stars such as sprinter Usain Bolt.

In the draft text of a speech Mr Alexander intends to make during a visit to the Commonwealth Sports Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow, released to the media, he explained the move.

Mr Alexander said: “With six months tomorrow to go until London 2012, I’m pleased to announce this special exemption for Glasgow 2014 which will prolong the Olympic legacy and help spread the long-term benefits into Scotland.

“Everyone wants to see the best athletes compete at Glasgow 2014 and this exemption will make that more likely.”

via BBC News – Tax break offer to 2014 Commonwealth Games athletes.

Your slippers Sir

The pair of self-heating slippers I ordered on the internet a few days ago just arrived.

Not quite what I expected to find when I opened the box!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

Daylight savings bid fails to pass House of Commons

As expected, the bill to allow a three-year trial into the actual – as opposed to imagined – effect of changing DST (daylight saving time) in the UK was scuppered, as the now well-used ploy of time-wasting was used to ensure it was not even formally considered.

The cynical might ask why, since the present form of this proposal has been drafted in such as way as to make it virtually unsupportable anyway – and the recent revival of calls for a referendum on Scottish independence provided an opportunity for that to be thrown into the mix, together with the various lies that some Scottish politicians propagated some years ago (sorry, I thought the links to the news stories about these were in here, but they’re buried in the Forum), when there was a concerted bid to torpedo the same idea when the first trial was conducted some years ago.

You really don’t have to do anything to make this idea sink now – I doubt there would ever be enough support to pass the idea of moving the clocks forward an hour BOTH in summer AND winter, meaning that they will be TWO hours ahead of where they are today during winter.

I actually remember the original trial, and I have even worked in a job where we had to be at our desks for 6 am (no, you won’t find me shovelling stuff around a farm). Getting up at 5 am is not really difficult – the so-called ‘problem’ has more to do with breaking out of the conventional 9-to-5 mindset we are brainwashed into accepting as ‘normality’.

If they did actually want this bill to pass one day – which they clearly never do – then all they would propose is ending the current practice of putting the clocks back an hour in autumn.

I don’t actually care about the morning, going to work or whatever… it’s always dark in winter (even the NFU has realised this, and apparently no longer vehemently opposed the idea of a change). But the evening is a different matter (you can finish early, and have things like half-days to enjoy), and come the end of October, as an ‘inside’ worker, this means that one day I can be happy going home with at least a little daylight to be seen around 5 pm, but overnight, find that I have weeks when I will probably not see any daylight at all, unless I get a pass to go out during the day.

Anyway, with the daft version of the bill now all but dead, I’m just mentioning it now, since it may be some time before the opportunity presents itself again.

For what it’s worth, I’ve stuck a little poll at the foot of this post.

A bid to move the clocks forward by an hour all year round failed in the House of Commons after the legislation ran out of time.

The Daylight Saving Bill would have commissioned a detailed study into the costs and benefits of moving the clocks forward to Greenwich Mean Time plus one hour in the winter and two in the summer, followed by a possible three-year trial.

Despite UK Government support for the study, the proposal faced opposition from a determined group of MPs who believed the extra hour of darkness in the morning would cause problems, particularly in the north of the country.

Daylight savings bid fails to pass House of Commons

The focused opposition saw the Daylight Saving Bill fail to make progress after a series of votes on Friday. Delays in the voting lobbies saw some divisions take longer than normal.

At the Bill’s report stage, Tory Christopher Chope MP said “the Achilles heel” of the legislation was that “it enables the United Kingdom Government to change the time zone in Scotland without the consent of the Scottish Parliament”.

The Bill required the Government to “consult” Scottish and Welsh ministers and obtain the agreement of the Northern Irish first and deputy first ministers, but Mr Chope said that did not go far enough.

“We know that the Scottish Parliament and that MPs representing Scottish constituencies in this House do not support a change that would make winter mornings in Scotland even colder and darker than they are already,” he said.

via Daylight savings bid fails to pass House of Commons | Politics | STV News.

The Forth Bridge Experience – The view from 300 feet

I couldn’t let the idea of installing a viewing platform and lifts for visitors on to the Forth Bridge pass without comment.

At a time when millions are being poured down the drain to promote the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014, on the basis of some fantasy known as ‘Lasting Legacy’ (promised to follow all such events, but seldom delivered afterwards), this idea is just t0o sensible to ever see the light of day.

But, I hope my first thoughts on this are proved wrong.

Rather than the grand ideas that attract publicity, this is sort of thing we desperately need to see more of in Scotland if it is to profit from its role as a ‘tourist trap’ now that it has no industry to speak of.

There must be (and there are) many more ideas such as this floundering around out there, too expensive for inspired individuals to finance and turn into reality without backing, but still costing just a fraction of the huge money-pits like the 2014 Games, whose high-profile, but here-today-gone-tomorrow nature, sees grabbing all the investment.

We need more smaller projects which are sustainable and here to stay, spread across the country and keeping a steady drip of visitors moving around and parting with their tourist cash, rather than big-bang one-off events that cost more to stage than they can ultimately return.

Rail chiefs are looking at the idea of building a viewing platform for visitors to be hoisted more than 300ft to the top of the Forth Rail Bridge.

Network Rail, which manages the bridge, has confirmed it is examining the feasibility of establishing visitor access.

The platform would offer impressive views of all around the Firth of Forth.

via BBC News – Plan for viewing platform at top of Forth Rail Bridge.

Also Viewing platform could turn Forth Bridge into Scotland’s Eiffel Tower | News | Edinburgh | STV

Forth Bridge no scaffolding in 2011 © James Allan

Update

It seems the above idea made it into the news only a few days before the 122nd anniversary of the first train crossing the Forth Bridge.

You can see hundred of images of this iconic bridge, dating from its very beginnings to the present day, here:

Site Record for Forth Bridge Forth Rail Bridge; Forth Railway Bridge; River Forth; Inner Forth Estuary; Queensferry Narrows; South Queensferry; Dalmeny Digital_images

PS Comet bicentenary second newsletter

I’m guessing that most who are interested will have realised that 2012 marks the bicentenary of the:

Original PS Comet

Thurston's illustration, 1878

The original PS (Paddle Steamer) Comet was constructed for Henry Bell in 1811, by John Wood, a Port Glasgow shipbuilder, and completed on January 18, 1812. The first passenger vessel built in Europe, PS Comet was a wooden vessel of some 30 tons, about 40 feet in length, and 10 feet in beam, and originally fitted with four paddle wheels, arranged as two on each side, driven by an engine rated at three horsepower. The two sets of twin paddle wheels were later replaced by single wheel on each side, and the length has been reported as having been extended by 20 feet to increase her capacity. Two engines were fitted to the vessel (not at the same time), but the changeover date is unknown – perhaps the change was carried out when the number of paddles was reduced, and the hull lengthened. The completed boat was put into service on a 24 mile route between Greenock and Glasgow, departing Greenock on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, returning on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. A fare of four shillings (£0.20) was charged for the best cabin, and three shillings (£0.15) for second class. Although Bell was reported to have made heavy losses at the start of the venture, and some months passed before the craft was considered trustworthy by its passengers, it proved itself to be safe and secure transport on the route.

Replica Comet

Replica Comet on the Clyde

The Provost of Greenock came up with the idea of building a model of the Comet to celebrate the forthcoming 150th anniversary of her inaugural sailing. Despite the fact that she was built in Port Glasgow, then a separate burgh, he felt the links with James Watt and Greenock were worth celebrating. There was much discussion as to the scale the model should be built to, and where it would be displayed, until Lord Lithgow suggested building a full sized replica. He canvassed support from other ship related businesses and offered the services of his own shipyard.

On Saturday, September 1, the replica Comet was launched from the same berth that the original boat was built on by Mrs Walter Lucas, and afloat in the fitting out basin to be finished off.

On Sunday, September 2, eleven invited dignitaries plus Lord Lithgow, all attired in period costume, and with two engineers as crew, assembled at the yard and boarded the Comet. The parade of floats arrived, and she cast off at 3.30 pm. Once out of the yard she was met by a large flotilla of canoes, sailing dinghies, yachts, and motor boats to escort her on her journey to Helensburgh. The boiler, fired by lignum vitae logs, worked well and the engine achieved the design speed of 5 knots.

The occasion was further remembered with the issue of a special commemorative envelope designed by John Brown, an art teacher at Greenock Academy.

The above summary comes from out slightly longer Wiki page: Secret Scotland – PS Comet

Bicentenary

There have been a few sites popping up over the past couple of years, and these looked quite hopeful, especially those suggesting that the replica would be restored to steam ans be seen on the Clyde for the bicentenary. As far as I can see, those sites evaporated or went dormant, and were never updated after initial enthusiasm. They also seemed to be devoid of contacts, so I never mentioned them, or returned to them after a while.

That doesn’t include Comet Rebuilt though, which is well worth a visit, and provided the following clip (which is just one of many):

Another has been Helensburgh Heritage.

There have been two newsletters to date, with the most recent being issued in January 2012. You can read the details here (these are downloadable PDF files):

Comet 2012 Newsletter-1

Comet 2012 Newsletter-2

This confirmed that the replica would not be seen on the Clyde. Although it has recently been restored and returned to its site on display in Port Glasgow, the work carried out was not able to be extended to include restoration to full operation, but has ensured that the replica will be able to survive its exposed outdoor display for many years to come.

While many of the events are still to be finalised, a couple have been announced:

Friday 22 June 2012 will mark the start of the annual Comet Festival in Port Glasgow with a street parade and party. The following day the main event – the Gala Day with all sorts of activities – will take place in Coronation Park. Because 2012 is a special year, the Festival will run for longer than usual, with a variety of events taking place daily until Sunday 1 July – see our website for fuller details.

Saturday 4th August 2012 is when events will start in Helensburgh. These will include a visit to Helensburgh by a number of small steam boats. Where they will be on the day will be dependent on weather and (to a lesser extent) tides. These small vessels should prove to be an attractive feature on the day. It is also hoped that the Royal Navy will provide a ship of some sort.

The Comet Bicentenary Website

The final piece of news regarding events concerns the appearance of dedicated website, not yet populated, but promised to be coming along shortly, so keep checking:

Comet-2012

Comet Archway for Helensburgh

I almost forgot to mention another benefit that the bicentenary appears to have spawned.

As the newsletter mentioned above notes, while Port Glasgow has the historic Comet replica on display, and Helensburgh has the Henry Bell obelisk to remember him by, and the flywheel from the PC Comet is displayed on the shore, there is not really anything in the town that makes an obvious link to the past events around the vessel(s).

Replica Comet on the Clyde

Henry Bell obelisk © Stephen McKay via geograph

Comet flywheel © william craig via geograph

This looks set to change in the not too distant future, as it has been revealed that plans are well underway to produce a steel archway as a permanent reminder to those past events surrounding the Comet, and is to be sited somewhere on, or near, Helensburgh Pier.

The main steel work for the memorial is to be carried out by the apprentices being trained by Babcock Marine at Faslane, while other services will be provided free of charge by those involved and supporting the project.

I really look forward to seeing this.