Plans by a ports giant to charge recreational sailors a fee to effectively sail down the Clyde was a disgrace and have rightfully been scrapped after an outcry, argues Herald columnist Alan Simpson.

On a warm, sunny day down on the Ayrshire coast it is always pleasant watching the many small boats bobbing about out on the Clyde.

It is a very popular past-time and the west coast is the ideal place for sailors, given the many sea lochs and quaint seaside towns and villages.

So pleasant, in fact, that sailing up the west coast was immortalised in the classic Deacon Blue song Dignity.

I have done one sailing trip myself in which a few of us sailed from Largs to Tighnabruaich via the Kyles of Bute for an overnight stay.

It was a cracking weekend and one that whetted my appetite for sailing, which I have sadly not done since for many reasons.

There was also a legendary, and almost certainly untrue, story told about the late Prunella Scales, but that’s one for an entirely different column in an entirely different type of publication.

Sailors are a key element in Scotland’s domestic market, leisure ones I mean - not like Captain Pugwash, and are generally big spenders in hotels and restaurants up and down the west coast.

But they faced an unwelcome charge plans were unveiled to charge a £100 annual fee to use small boats in the Firth of Clyde.

Thankfully this has now been put on hold by the river’s harbour authority following a bit of a stooshie.

Betrayal of our sailing heritage

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© Herald Scotland