Proposed marina tramples on community amenities

by Courtmacman Mon Mar 24, 2008 07:21

The village of Sandbank, in Scotland, had two boatyards and then for 30 years an American navy base. The yards closed and then the Yanks left and the place hit hard times. Houses empty, businesses closing, high unemployment. A local man built a marina. Did he have trouble with the begrudgers? You bet he did. Dozens of objections including five from the same household and one from a three year old child. But he got his marina built. Eleven people now work there and a further fifty in the village owe their living to it. Twelve new businesses now operate from the marina including a repair workshop, a chandlery, an art gallery, an Internet cafe, a boat brokerage, a cruise boat company, a yacht charter fleet and a trips-round-the-bay flotilla. People are flocking to buy houses in Sandbank, which from a scenic point of view is drop-dead gorgeous. As for Courtmac, the County Council's Marine Leisure Infrastructure Strategy for West Cork (published January 2008) dentifies it as one of nine "hubs" for "medium to large scale marine developments". And about time too.

by starboard Wed Feb 06, 2008 22:27

The author displays the usual kneejerk reaction that is the tiresome norm for the proponents of misery-socialism which is the staple diet of Indymedia.

The proposed marina is not only supported by the locals, but will not interfere with public access to the water as alleged by the person who wrote this risible bit of invention. The only local objectors that I am aware of are the few serial objectors who object to everything here. These people see Courtmac as a quiet little get away from their highly remunerated real lives in Dublin and London. They want to see it preserved as their retreat from the lumpen unwashed. No doubt they would prefer the locals to be few, quiet, and picaresquely impoverished like some scene out of an impressionist painting. Interestingly, the real local working people, the fishermen, are four-square behind the proposed marina because it will ease their access to the water and encourage the development of facilities which they use.

I remember Brittany in the 70s. Poverty, de-population, demoralization. A region deserted in winter and populated by rich Parisians in the summer. All very picturesque. The government built or subsidized marinas along the north and south Brittany coasts in the 80s. Brittany is now the centre of a year-round leisure - marine industry employing hundreds of thousands in boatbuilding, boat-storage, marine-equipment manufacture and maintenance. Jose Bove (slayer of Ronald MacDonald and well known capitalist pig) keeps his little yacht on the marina at Etel near Lorient. Sailing is now a mass-sport in Brittany. Marinas have provided the access and impetus. The rich po-faced Parisians no doubt see all this activity as a bad smell under their superior noses.

People in Courtmac and Timoleague have seen what happened in Crosshaven. A once dying town, Crosser is now the home of three marinas, three boatyards, a sailmaker and a small legion of boat-mechanics, artisan-boatbuilders, composite construction specialists, and riggers. The fishing fleet in Crosshaven has expanded, attracted from places like Courtmac by the availability of facilities and services they share with the leisure sailors. The children at the local community school enjoy the thrill of sailing on the yacht bought by their school and refurbished by the students and teachers in the local boatyard. A yacht crewed by local teachers, fishermen, yachties from the local yacht club, won the last around Ireland race against all the hot-shots from Dublin.

Mr class-hatred who wrote this head-piece needs to get a life. The rest of us have moved on.
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by Nora Wed Feb 06, 2008 14:57 noorazao at hotmail dot com Malaysia 00-60125394924

Not everything is about economy? I agree fully with the brilliant author who clearly appreciate the fact that sometimes natural environment should be preserved than increasingly becoming the playground for the rich; just like the parasitic golf courses. To the arrogant commentator previously, he's the one living in fantasy sci-fi land, don't other people have the rights especially not from the rich class who can afford a yatch; not to want to have the serene beauty of such natural environment be trampled. The natural beauty is not just physical but also very spiritual for many people especially the traditional Irish, hence wanting such serenity to be preserved. All over Ireland I see such marina being built carelessly for the rich's playground and with condescending yuppish urban-glorification kind of attitude. Traditionalism needs to be balanced carefully with modernity; so that such unique heritage of Irish great natural beauty is not destroyed just for the sake of economic values. Other factors are also important such as environment, social and cultural ones.

by Courtmaclocal Wed Feb 06, 2008 14:43

The author is living in a fantasy land,the local population fully support this local project as we all know that West Cork villages are fighting for their economic survival.The Marina would be an asset for the Village ,creating much needed employment,facilities for local boat owners,new berth for the Local life boat making response times faster and safer,modern facilities for visiting boats.Local People,Local Project,Local Jobs.As for someone buying up all the papers when a small article appeared in the papers,that is just a downright lie and shows how weak and pathetic Courtmacsherryite has become!