Hi Andy

Andy Hall wrote:
On 2008-05-22 08:54:07 +0100, Adrian said:

HI Andy

Andy Hall wrote:
On 2008-05-22 07:29:11 +0100, Adrian said:

You're absolutely right - you can fly to Cork.
Many people who have filled in our e-petition have their own reasons
for wanting to bring their own cars / vans etc, and bring them to
Cork rather then Rosslare on the East coast.

Yes, and I've done that on several occasions and for that matter to
Dublin.

OK



Parents with young kids prefer the shorter driving distance (landing
in Cork removes 4 - 5 hours from the journey at the start and end of
the holiday.

So one answer there is to factor this into the holiday. For
example, add a couple of extra days and make overnight stops. It
isn't as though there aren't attractive places to visit on these
routes to and from the ferries.

That's fine - but most holiday lets are on a weekly basis - so you'd
either need to take a couple of extra days over your holiday to allow
for the travelling, or persuade the owner to let you the property for
5 days rather than 7....

I was thinking two extra days.






Many people prefer to bring their own bits & pieces - kayaks, rowing
boats (yes - really!), hang-gliders, bicycles, caravans - not so
easy on the plane.
People prefer the familiarity of their own vehicle, rather than an
expensive hired car.

Agreed for some purposes. For some purposes I take my car to
places all over Europe. For others I rent a car and take that or
rent one locally. Overall, I am not sure that there is a
substantial cost difference when all factors are taken into account.

True.... there are many sides to the argument






and so it goes on...

And as to wanting people from Swansea - you'll be aware that the
Irish as a nation are famed for their friendly, hospitable attitude
- and this extends to everybody, regardless of nationality. As a
'blow-in' myself, I can vouch for this.

I know, I was being facetious.

Sorry - missed the smiley...

Well I *was* being facetious.

OK - I believe you g






Some 15% of the vehicles carried were bring freight, rather than
passengers - so all that freight is now going either via Rosslare
(+4 hours), via Dublin (even longer driving), by air - or just not
going at all. There's a story on our 'my stories' section from a
chap who rund a small courier firm - used to do lots of trips from
West Cork to London - specialising in art & antiques. Because the
Cork Swansea ferry no longer runs - he's now so uncompetitive
(longer travelling times) that he doesn't even tender for UK-IE
business..

Well.... for this one there are several sides to the discussion.
Another is that some people choose to live in SW Ireland because it's
relatively remote, in the same way that they live in the extremities
of the UK such as Cornwall and the Scottish outer isles.

In the latter case there has been the discussion about the subsidy of
the ferry services. There may be a case for that if it's the only
available option.

I don't know the detail of the Swansea/Cork case, but presumably
there is an element of commercial viability?

Looks like it from the accounts I was reading - mind, accounts can
show anything g

So it was viable or not?

Apparently...
though I do suspect that some creative accounting was involved to make
it look less viable....





Commercial ferry operators are not in the business of providing
public services. If there is a shortfall, then there are a few
options to do something about that:

- Attract more business for the ferry.
- Raise fares.
- Arrange subsidy for the ferry operator from central government,
local government, local business.

Swansea Cork Ferries seem to have adopted option #4 - sell the boat !
Strange behaviour - especially when you don't have a replacement lined
up...

Indeed. These decisions are made by accountants.

Hmm.
Rumour has it that the boss of the company used to be a Finance Officer
or somesuch in local government...... draw your own conclusions !

What is a bit odd is that they allegedy sold the boat - but their
accounts don't show them as eve having _owned_ the boat.....

darn good trick if you can do it....

Anybody want to buy London Bridge ?? g





What are you trying to achieve with your petition?

Simply to act as a focus for the discussion and to raise the profile
of the issue. Dublin is a long way from Cork & Kerry - and there's a
feeling that our concerns aren't being heard up there.


OK, I thought that that was it. I've done a few of these kinds of
thing in the past, at different levels of impact and scale.

The common themes that I found worked a

- Build momentum quickly. A slow one like an open petition won't work
on its own but may be a precursor to a more concerted effort.

Yes - we didn't want to go to the media until we'd got sufficient
content / signatures to look credible - but I think we're approaching
that stage now - so we're starting the media 'push'


- Build a contact base of movers and shakers and do it widely. Find
professionals such as solicitors and accountants who may be willing to
donate their time or do so at a reduced rate.

That's a thought. My colleague in the campaign has all the contacts -
I'm new in these here parts....


- Find the politicians at all levels and identify their hot buttons.
Play to those. Sideline anyone likely to be a detractor.

Yes....


- Find the media contacts. This is critical.

Working on that



- Don't be afraid to embarrass politicians and especially public officials.


Now you're talking my language g

My email address is valid - if you don't mind the occasional 'brain
pick' then I'd be grateful if you could email me and I could maybe
ask the odd question from time to time....?

Some things are perhaps best discussed 'in private'...

Thanks
Adrian