Kintyre recovering after Storm Eowyn battering

Many of the caravans that line Kintyre’s coasts suffered damage, with one static van between Tayinloan and Muasdale, owned by Sarah and Malcolm McFadzean, being overturned.

“We are heartbroken to lose the caravan,” said Sarah. “It was the sea that did it, it got right up and the foundations became unstable – the concrete is still attached to the bottom of the caravan, it came right out the ground. 

“It has withheld four years of wind, but with such a ferocious high tide causing the sea to come right up, tearing away the shoreline and the fence as well, there was nothing we could do.”

Sarah added that the family is planning to replace the static caravan with a tourer so it can be moved off-site for future events like this.

Conditions had calmed considerably by about 6pm on Friday but the destruction meant many parts of Kintyre, Islay and Arran were left without electricity at the end of the day.

Although hundreds of engineers worked to restore power to affected areas as quickly as possible, the extent of the damage meant some places remained without electricity for up to five days, with parts of Southend and West Kintyre only being reconnected on Tuesday, and areas of Gigha remaining off until Wednesday.

Speaking on Monday as the battle to restore power continued, Andy Smith, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) director of customer operations for the north of Scotland, said: “This storm has been the most destructive for parts of our network in many years, and rebuilding damaged overhead lines has been a huge task. 

“While we’ve done this, we’ve done all we can to be there for our customers, whether it’s been at the end of the phone, or through the extensive welfare provision we’ve put in place in communities.

“I’m grateful to customers for their patience and understanding while we work to reconnect the last remaining homes.”

During the power outages, communities rallied to support their most vulnerable residents, while several shops and businesses in Campbeltown and other areas with electricity offered to allow people to charge phones and fill flasks, and free showering facilities were available at Aqualibrium Leisure Centre.

SSEN provided hot food vans in the affected areas and worked with local hotels and restaurants to provide free meals to those without power for an extended period.

Those on SSEN’s priority service register without power for over 24 hours could also claim costs for alternative accommodation, which applied to all customers after 48 hours.

Joanne Schofield from Muasdale said: “My husband Chris, due to a disability, is on the priority service register and we heard from neighbours that alternative accommodation could possibly be paid for. We had not been notified about this by text from SSEN but confirmed it by phoning the 105 number.

“We did try to stay at home as long as possible but, with having no heating, the continuous extreme cold proved too much with my husband’s disability, and for me too.

“Having no lighting was a real problem with Chris’ mobility issues. Losing the phone signal on the third day and the ability to contact someone in an emergency was what finally prompted us to realise we needed to find a safe place to stay. 

“A ground floor room was essential and a wet room so were really pleased to find something that perfectly fitted Chris’ needs at the Grammar Lodge Guest House in Campbeltown.

“We know having alternative accommodation hasn’t been an option for everyone so feel quite lucky that it has been for us.”

She added: “I think it has been a challenging time physically and mentally for many but it’s been uplifting to see people supporting each other too.”

The Met Office said Storm Eowyn was “probably the strongest storm” to hit the UK in at least 10 years, with many people in Kintyre describing it as the worst in the area for decades.

Emma Macalister Hall of Torrisdale Estate in East Kintyre said: “Eowyn was nothing like anything that has hit Torrisdale in the 11 years we have been here. 

“We lost around 60 trees, most of them healthy, many of them over 100 years old. A particularly sad loss was a silver fir which was 120 years old and has a girth of 4.5 metres. 

“Our main avenue was completely blocked by at least six trees. One fell over one of the bridges but luckily it wasn’t badly damaged. 

“A tenant lost his outhouse when a tree came crashing through and a decent size branch has damaged one of our holiday cottages but, on the whole, structural damage was fairly limited. Even the castle roof survived. 

“We were very lucky not to lose power and were able to start the clean-up job on Saturday with an amazing squad on chainsaws. We were still recovering from Storm Darragh which took out several bridges! 

“The estate looks very different and it will take a long time to clear-up all the fallen wood but Torrisdale is resilient and walkers are still very welcome to come up for a stroll.”

As the clear-up continues, South Kintyre’s councillors are praising all those who rallied to help during and after the storm, as well as raising concerns about the community’s resilience measures.

Councillor Jennifer Kean said: “I would like to express my gratitude to all of the frontline workers who had to brave the storm on Friday and to those who have been working tirelessly to get power back to our communities and involved in the clear-up operations since. 

“As usual, our communities came together to look after one another during a trying time and I am immensely proud of the people of Kintyre for their kindness and resilience.

“The extended power cut has, however, highlighted the major issue of the ongoing BT ‘digital switchover’ from analogue phone lines to a fully digital service countrywide. I have received concerns from constituents who were forced to switch to the new system which left them completely cut-off and without any way to contact anyone during the power outage as mobile signal was also affected in many areas. 

“This is extremely concerning and even more so for the older generation, many of whom do not use a mobile at all. 

“I have contacted BT to raise my concerns as, with the increase in episodes of stormy and extreme weather in recent times, I believe we should be increasing our resilience to deal with problems arising from what has become a very much online and electrical world, leaving many at great risk when events such as Storm Ewoyn occur, especially in our rural and remote communities.” 

Councillor John Armour said: “It’s been really difficult for many residents and businesses but everyone has come together so well to help each other. 

“Well done to all our fantastic Argyll and Bute Council staff for all they’ve done to clear up the damage and get roads open as quickly as possible since the storm on Friday. 

“Some roads and infrastructure have had pretty substantial damage and will take a bit longer to be fixed but our hard-working staff will endeavour to get this done as quickly as possible.

“Getting the power back on has been a real challenge in some parts of Kintyre and SSEN need to have a look at improving the infrastructure in the area, as I am informed that some of the poles damaged were not in a great state of repair anyway. 

“However, this is not the fault of the staff who have been out in really difficult conditions working tirelessly to get the power back on as quickly as possible.

“It is easy to forget when we were sheltering at home during the worst of the storm that frontline staff had to work on Friday in the worst of the weather. 

“We owe them a huge debt of gratitude for all they did in getting to those who most needed care and attention.”

Councillor Tommy Macpherson added: “As the local tier of administration, will Kilmory be up for having an open and honest conversation on the causes and effects yet again experienced by many of Kintyre’s villages and scattered settlements?

“Too many homes were left helpless due to a situation outwith their control. At a very local level, there was a complete lack of communication and support to meet our vulnerable, elderly, and families’ needs. 

“Of particular worry, with no designated warm space nor hot food provision, the peninsula’s western seaboard and Gigha was just too desperate for many households.

“It became very apparent Kintyre’s resilience strategy was to ‘make do’ and cope in isolation. In the coming days and weeks, we’ll be told of the successes, which will have many fathers. Failure is an orphan.”