The recent bad weather and resulting powercuts has left many island residents complaining about the general lack of accurate information available.

Extremly high winds on Monday night affected local power supplies; the Ardbeg area of the island being without power from around 7.15am Tuesday morning (3rd) until around 1am the following Wed morning (4th). Power then went off again around 9.15am Wed until just after 1pm, then off again at 5.15pm until 7.45pm on Thur evening (5th).

Apart from the lack of electricity supplies for lighting, many residents were without heating, and in some cases toilet facilities!!              

Both landline and mobile phone networks were also affected.

Many local businesses were forced to close with supplies of bread, milk, batteries and candles said to be in short supply. One local resident told of having to go to Greenock to buy baby food as local shops were closed!

What has angered many people is the lack of accurate information available. Various "rothesay rumours" have been doing the rounds regarding the reasons behind the powercuts; the delays in restoring the power and also the likelyhood of further powercuts!

Most of these rumours have only served to add to the confusion and uncertainty.

It seems that Radio Scotland broadcast details of the island's plight, but this was of little comfort to those without battery operated radio's!

Residents outside of Rothesay seem to have been literally kept in the dark about events! Many residents were unaware of the Pavilion being open and serving hot drinks and also of the mobile burger wagon that appeared in Deanhood Place, apparently supplied by Scottish Hydro.

Many residents in out lying areas of the island are angry that no information had been relayed to them.

Some suggested that the local Police could have visited shops, Post Offices and pubs in these area's to let people know the situation.

As the island residents tried to get back to some sort of normality on Friday, many were left counting the cost and also asking questions as to why there were not better contingency plans in place to deal with the situation.