Several correspondents this week have pointed towards legislation which apparently suggests the barrier would not be necessary - not least the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, which applies to ships larger than five hundred gross tonnes in weight making voyages in international waters.

Neither, of course, applies to Rothesay pier, and island councillor Robert Macintyre has contacted officials at the Department of Transport in London this week in an attempt to clarify exactly what the relevant legislation requires of Argyll and Bute Council as Rothesay's harbour authority.

"At this stage I would say there is some dubiety about the height of, and maybe even the need for, a fence," Cllr Macintyre told us on Tuesday.

"The council leader has called all parties concerned to a meeting about the pier, which will take place on Tuesday, July 15.

"Looking at the legislation, I think the regulations have been somewhat misinterpreted by our officials - and I know, after speaking to Caledonian MacBrayne, that they do not want a fence.

"I still don't understand the need for this vast amount of change, especially since ferries have been berthing overnight at the pier for many years."