THE ARRAN BANNER
It may be the season of dark and dastardly days around Hallowe’en but on Arran it has been exactly the opposite. For it is a long time since a single day produced so much positivity to scare any business gloom away.
Last Friday saw the culmination of two very different multi-million-pound projects launched on the same day – Glenkiln Hydro power scheme and the relaunch of Arran Aromatics (with the aromatics in its name now dropped) – but a global market awaiting the new products. Both show a commitment to the island and its people and are initiatives which can only help bring renewed prosperity.
And it did not stop there. On the same day, the Auchrannie Resort told staff they were handing over hotel to them in a generous move aimed at securing employment for their workers and giving them share dividends down the line.
When the Auchrannie started back in 1988, Arran’s economy and the tourism industry were struggling. Quality accommodation, eating places and visitor attractions were few and far between, while wet weather facilities were non-existent. There was no distillery, brewery, chocolate or cheese shop. The tourism season started at Easter and finished at the end of September when all the businesses closed and the locals headed off for their annual break.