Dunoon plays host to cruise liner

Prinsendam from Strone

Dunoon’s shopkeepers received a very welcome shot in the arm today with the arrival of the liner MS Prinsendam. The 37,800-tonne Holland America Line vessel was berthed at Greenock on Tuesday but was forced to stay overnight due to the stormy weather. She was scheduled to leave Greenock at 17.00hrs on Tuesday however the departure was delayed until 06.45hrs on Wednesday, prior to the arrival of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth.

This morning the ship was anchored off Strone and the Holy Loch. Passengers were ferried with the Prinsendam’s own launches between the mouth of the Loch and Holy Loch Marina. They were then shuttled by bus between Sandbank and Dunoon.

With some 835 mostly US tourists on board, Dunoon’s Argyle Street was buzzing with activity.

The Prisendam’s next cruise leaves Tilbury on 12 September for hopefully much improved weather conditions in the Mediterranean.

20.45hrs: Prinsendam is now off the island of Arran enroute to Portee, Skye.

Fire destroys four caravans

Fire destroyed four caravans at Glenfinart Caravan Park in the early hours of Monday morning (18 April).

Local residents have expressed concern regarding the spate of events at the park over the past months which included a caravan being destroyed by fire in June of last year  and in February of this year armed police raided the site, arresting three people. We understand that the two men and a woman were charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

We are awaiting a response from Dunoon police regarding this latest incident.

Ardentinny: ‘Jurassic Park’?

In a Dunoon Observer front page report related to the proposed closure of Toward School, Councillor Alister McAlister made the observation that without a school, Ardentinny was now known locally as ‘Jurassic Park‘. We wonder if Ardentinny’s residents agree with Councillor McAllister’s labelling of our community?

Extract from Dunoon Observer 22 April, 2011.

Read the full article here.

Long hut demolished

It took just one man and a large digger only a couple of hours to demolish a 70+ year-old piece of history which was the last remaining corrugated long hut at the former HMS Armadillo, Glenfinart Bay, Ardentinny. Work clearing the site will probably continue until the end of the week. See our live stream of the demolition here.

The site early this evening

Demolition draws near…

SSE electricians were in attendance earlier today disconnecting the electrical supply to the beach hut. Security fencing is now being erected. Demolition of the building appears imminent.