Enjoyable parts of Tall Ships event shelved

Published 5 Jan 2011 14:00 32 Comments

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Was just catching up on the local news following a festive break, and was absolutely flabbergasted to discover the Tall Ships event is experiencing difficulties with funding and event logistics.

What is even better is we seem to be well on the way to suggesting that it is no one's fault.

If I understood correctly, spiralling costs were being partly blamed on the completely unexpected need to expand the event site for health and safety reasons.

I'm not entirely sure how this was unexpected as it certainly seemed blindingly obvious to an non-professional lay-person like myself.

Last time, we ran the event the whole length of the riverside, showcasing as much of the area as possible, next to public transport sites. This time we planned to jam it all into an unfinished site at the Sugar Sheds, adjacent to a barely fitfor- purpose railway station, in order to showcase - well I'm not actually sure what, regeneration perhaps?

More an abstract concept than a visitor attraction really. It is entirely shameful that almost all of the parts of the event people enjoyed the most last time, have now been shelved. And surprise, surprise, those are the bits that actually involve, entertain and engage our community.

If we can now just make sure no local businesses get the tenders to be on site at the event, we'll be well on the way to minimising any actual benefit to Inverclyde.

I would like to be clear though, last time, all manner of community groups and schools were involved in producing performances, artworks, puppets, parades - is there to be no financial support for any of this? If so, I must ask, how can that possibly be? It is not as if there has not been the time to pull it together, after all, the race was confirmed in 2008, and then announced with a massive logo filled banner that ran half the length of the Sugar Sheds. Money well spent.

However, there is no schadenfreude to be had here. Riverside Inverclyde's misfortunes are tied to our community.

Like everyone else, I want this event to succeed and I very much hope there is still time to turn it around.

Chris Leigh, Greenock

This letter appeared in Greenock Telegraph 05 Jan 11

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jbhouston
28 posts
Jan 10, 00:30
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Couldn't have put it any better Chris, I was taking pictures of the harbours for the forthcoming inverclydeharbours.com website we're doing and I was completely flabbergasted that the James Watt Dock - where the event is to take place - is a total mess. If Inverclyde Council, Riverside Inverclyde, Peel Holdings or whatever quango supposedly running this is to be believed, I think we're to be grateful with a bit of tarmac on the entrance. We were to have buildings, the sugar sheds were to have penthouse style balconies, the James Watt Dock quayside was to have been landscaped and new fixtures and fittings put in place, the pontoons for these fantastic ships to berth was meant to be installed. Yet again it's as though they have "missed the boat" if you pardon the phrase. Everything the Tall Ships was, everything it brought to Inverclyde in the past was a fantastic experience for both the Communities and local business. I guess we've to be happy with a completely useless Arts Guild Theatre at East India Harbour (remember the 4.2 million spent there to redevelop the area?!?!?). The construction costs of this Theatre are being met by Lottery funding but the cost and damage they have done to the waterfront so far is nothing short of vandalism... two dry docks which were lovingly restored by Scottish Enterprise in time for the last Tall Ships race have been destroyed in the most crass manner with huge big lumps of concrete poured and the fittings damaged. The elegant mono-block paving has also been damaged and badly repaired using tarmac. I fear we're going to be embarrassed this year and your spot on... there's no reason for it... they have had plenty of notice, plenty of planning and did plenty of publicity and artistic drawings to wet the appetite.... where are they now?!?!?!? Regards, John Houston Inverclydeharbours.com / www.facebook.com/groups/saveclydecoastguard

Recommend? Yes 11 No 1
Noremac
1 post
Jan 11, 10:21
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Sirs, Re Tall Ships, We were planning to stay in Greenock for 3 nights at the time of the event.

I logged into the Web site of a local waterfront travel hotel, entered my dates and was pleasantly surprised to find that the 3 nights would cost £121.49.

I decided to go ahead with the booking but when I went through the booking process was flabbergasted to discover that one of the nights was going to cost £242.97 and the other 2 were £60.75 each, a total of £364.47, over 3 times the "normal" price.

This is blatant profiteering and it is sad that the local economy is now going to loose out on what we may have spent over those 4 days.

Yours etc.

Stuart and Maggie Ann Cameron

Recommend? Yes 9 No 1
jbhouston
28 posts
Feb 12, 03:21
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Stuart/Maggie,

There's a travel lodge and a premier inn, did you try both?!?!? Inverclyde has lost a great number of hotels in the past few years (Ramada Jarvis aka Gantock, Gourock as a recent example). You could try the Tontine Hotel in Greenock, although they aren't normally too cheap. Alternatively, you could book into the Premier Inn/Travel Lodge in Glasgow Airport or Braehead. The added advantage here is that you can spend your nights in Glasgow as there will be feck all left in the Inverclyde Tall Ships budget by the looks of it. Don't hold out much hope for a repeat of 1999 event as it's looking like a 2nd rate service we'll get at the moment :( Hope I'm wrong and you enjoy your stay in the area however, it's not all that bad!!! :)

Recommend? Yes 1 No 2
richie1969
1 post
Feb 24, 01:15
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i did the tall ships in belfast last year and fairly injoyed it as a volenteer i must admit im shocked at the prospect of it being held at the sugar sheds in greenock i was planning to come over for the event but now i dont think i will there better places to hold this event than the sugar sheds in belfast next year to mark 100 years of the titanic being built in this city we are holding a big events program throughout belfast we have built a new titanic quarter which is constructed from the bow of the titanic theres a lot of things from concerts to fun days for young kids and adults alike

Recommend? Yes 1 No 2
manmademan
2 posts
Apr 4, 21:33
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Hartlepool hosted the Tall Ships event 2010 it was a success? estimated cost 1.2m it cost 2.4 million pounds of public money, the elected Mayor Stuart Drummond said it was money well spentm he would say that though. People would flock back to Hartlepool they did not. Park and ride at £10.00. was the biggest loser. inflated visitor numbers. Traffic free routes with bio-degradable double yellow lines that are still there since August 2010 some made permanent despite agreement that they would not be. An event controller Michelle Duratte given an executive position three years after her tenure. Tall Ships ended by a parade of sail as promised It did not happen. Council Executives visited Norway. Canada. Ireland. Liverpool.& Russia. All at ratepayers expence. The true cost will never be made public. It was a success but at what cost? We dont want them back in Hartlepool we cant afford it.

Recommend? Yes 6 No 0
******
Apr 21, 18:38
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johng267
2 posts
Apr 27, 15:56
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I find this whole fiasco ridiculous. Greenock town centre was the benchmark upon which the town chased this event. The phenomenal success of last time no doubt played a massive part in attracting it once more. I fear that, after this time, we will likely never see it again. Stuffing it far up the river in an area under construction is a mistake. Never mind the visitors, I wonder how many locals will venture up to the dock for this 'spectacular'. RI want the town to get behind it but the local businesses will see few and far between of any crowd. I also hear that they are charging about £1,000 for a stall for the three days. Who in their right mind can afford that? Sorry, but I'll be heading out of town for a while.

Recommend? Yes 6 No 0
******
May 26, 12:37
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WeeJockW
676 posts
Jun 1, 02:01
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Putting this event on at the James Watt dock is a total farce and a slap in the face to the people of Inverclyde. Not only is the site difficult to get to, but having Bogston and Cartsdyke Stations being the main rail routes to the the venue leaves a lot to be desired.

I travelled from Southall last time the event was hosted in Greenock and it was fantastic, everything within easy reach and I was able to show off to my English friends Greenock at it's best.

Now I'm back living in Greenock, I'll think I'll head back to Southall whilst this farce takes place

Recommend? Yes 7 No 0
craigtho
2 posts
Jun 2, 14:46
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Re the point about £1000 for the 3 days for local business I would like to point out it was actually £1000 PER DAY for the 3 days hence i would expect few if any local businesses will have stalls. Also i could not agree more that by pushing the location away from the town centre will also remove / reduce the potential boom to local business.

I honestly hope I am wrong and visitors will venture towards the town and it will not be a case of all the non local businesses pitching stalls benefiting.

Recommend? Yes 4 No 0
Teenagerwithabrain
2 posts
Jun 4, 23:20
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Re the point about £1000 stall for 3 days, it is £1000+VAT for 4 days, but there are cheaper alternatives, that just happens to be the most expensive one.

There will also be alternative modes of transport e.g, park+ride and there will be many taxi ranks.

This is supposed to be a positive thing for the area, but when people say negative things like this, it will obviously put people off.

To be brutally honest, if you don't like it, don't bother going, stay at home and find something else to complain about.

Recommend? Yes 3 No 10
craigtho
2 posts
Jun 6, 13:47
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Teenagerwithabrain comment - I am not sure who quoted you but we run a business locally and I can assure you we were quoted £1000 per day. Had it been £1000 for the whole event we would have accepted.

I can also assure you i hope the event is a success and well attended. As a local business the point was aimed at why move out of the town centre when last time round it was such a success for local business in the central location.

Recommend? Yes 3 No 1
Teenagerwithabrain
2 posts
Jun 8, 18:52
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craigtho comment- Sorry for confusion, but thats what I had been told from the event organisers. I completely understand what you are saying, those prices aren't aimed at local business' but instead nation chains. This won't help Inverclyde at all.

I understand why people are annoyed about the location, my comments weren't aimed at you. It's just that if visitors were looking for information and were to come onto this page, they would be put off.

Recommend? Yes 5 No 4
Violets49
41 posts
Jun 10, 20:40
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I will not be in Greenock for this event! I will in fact be in Brighton! I did however recommend it to friends as worth a look based on last time! knowing what i do now,

I will now sugest that they don't bother! The sucess of the last event was due to the wonderful weekend in the town centre! I couldn't think of a WORSE venue than the James Watt Dock! I look forwards to the sacking of the idiots responsible when the event is a fiasco! (Or maybe not!)

Recommend? Yes 9 No 1
Tiddles
1077 posts
Jun 15, 12:24
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Everyone is forgetting that the last, 'Tall Ships' event cost the council tax payer dearly and in fact, put Inverclyde Council into the red which ended with the Accounts Commission calling in the annual accounts.

How many local businesses actually benefitted from this event? VERY few, most of the earnings went to large companies and out of town outfits like Nardinis, M&S and their like. Local traders were actively, 'encouraged' to close for the day. Sure, for many it was a great day out but it was at the expense of many council services and much higher council tax rates.

Bear in mind, this 'Tall Ships 'is nowhere near as big as the last one and the background organisation has been lamentable and profligate. Gone are the hoards of upaid volunteers who made the last one go so well only to find the credit taken by the Council.

People, this is nothing more than an, 'opiate for the masses' to keep your eyes off the incompetence of the local authority. And the suggestion that the sugar warehouses would be turned into luxury flats, 'with balconies' is ludicrous. Take at look at the Telegraph's property pages and you'll see how popular housing in that area is and then wonder why anyone would even dream of building more. And wonder all the more at the very idea that someone would want to move to this town at all with all its high unemployment, major drugs problems and knife crime.

Recommend? Yes 15 No 1
WeeJockW
676 posts
Jun 16, 00:09
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I'd like to know just how much the events organising company are being payed for this farce and as a council taxpayer who's money is being used to fund it, I expect answers as to how so much money is being flushed down the loo in order to run this fiasco.

As for the park & ride scheme, Inverclyde council is picking up the tab for that teenagerwithabrain and that wont be cheap. In these harsh times I can think of better uses for that money. In fact I can think of better uses for all the money spent on this load o bull

Recommend? Yes 11 No 0
sc1234
8 posts
Jun 17, 10:17
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the reaon for the move to james watt dock is simple they do not want to upset the orange walks that should be banned which will be going on that weekend

Recommend? Yes 6 No 7
Doric68
1 post
Jun 19, 23:44
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The James Watt Dock should have been left as a working dock,because all these changes are only so the Council will get Council Tax if they ever get someone to put up the money to build new house there(income from no imput that is our Council for you) there is nothing for the local people within Inverclyde from any of these group's that only line there self up with good job's at our expence.

I don't think this Tall Ship will be like the last one or even near it/only that the local trader will lose out again and the people of Inverclyde will be left with the bill

Recommend? Yes 9 No 1
Tiddles
1077 posts
Jun 20, 19:01
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sc1234, are you seriously telling me that there will be Orange Walks going on at the same time as this fiasco?

Recommend? Yes 6 No 0
sc1234
8 posts
Jun 20, 22:51
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yes they will be so much for this goverment about all the stuff going on about the football why dont they ban the walks

Recommend? Yes 4 No 4
WeeJockW
676 posts
Jun 21, 02:04
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In that case then maybe the orange band will play the Sash Latin/Mexican style, in order to blend with the tall ships fiasco, instead of flutes, guitars and maracas.

Maybe a thought to far.

Recommend? Yes 6 No 0
myfindhorn
278 posts
Jun 21, 12:59
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Everyone has rightly pointed out that Greenock as usual made nothing from the last tall ships and I for one will not be bringing up the commercial side of it, I shall write for all the young dancers at the last TALL SHIPS do.

As you will all remember Greenock was in the middle of a heatwave and young Highland dancers wearing full heavy outfits put on a fantastic display of our national dancing and then there was Disco, Stage and Irish dancing etc, and at no time were those young people offerred water, a snack or even a decent place to change costumes.

I will say I personally had to ask members of the town hall for a brush to clear the area in Clyde square wher the dancers were to dance as the concrete slabs were covered with small stones.

Without all those young entertainers the tall ships would have bored the backside off you as it was a total rip off and believe me , most people of this town with mass unemployment cannot afford to do anything but lookon. I shall live in hope that this time the young will be given the praise the surely deserve and if there input is anything like the Captain Kidd show in the town hall, the young in this town has given us all hope.

My one and only concern for Greenock at this time is, WHAT SCULLDUGGERY WILL BE GOING ON WITH THE COUNCIL BEHIND OUR BACKS AS WE WATCH THE .TALL SHIP...WATCH THIS SPACE

Recommend? Yes 9 No 0
allross
31 posts
Jun 24, 13:02
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Once again this bloody council have not a clue how too organize things properly No dought some off them will be lineing their back pockets with all the freebies they will be getting???????????????????????????//

Recommend? Yes 11 No 0
TheWatcher
4 posts
Jul 3, 12:40
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Yeah I suppose they will again lift the idiotic curfew that has plagued Greenock socially for years during the Tall Ships visit, just like last time, but will again insult the people of Greenock by reintroducing it when the Tall Ships leave.

I remember the carnival atmosphere in Greenock the last time and also how the people of the town responded to the Tall Ships visit, it was fantastic and civilised with many bars and restuarants having seating outside like our European cousins. But when they restarted the curfew after an atmosphere that was like a Brazilian football cup final, I despaired of the council's ability to act ina positive way in anything else they do.

They seem hell-bent on making Greenock a laughing-stock and the curfew only punishes everyone for the actions of a handful of morons, and as usual its only so the council and police can make their own lives easier instead of addressing the problems.

They have consistently destroyed the whole character of Greenock since the early 70's when they built a ring road through the town centre. Funny that two towns in Scotland, Greenock and Glasgow, both built ring roads through the town centres and both were Labour run councils.

I think we have bigger fish to fry than a Tall Ships visit, such as making the council account for all the corruption involved in the sale of proerties which were not theirs to sell. For example, Greenock Ear Nose and Throat Hospital, Greenock Eye Infirmary, Gateside Hospital, Larkfield Hospital to name a few. These properties were given to the people of Greenock by the Rankin family and the council held them in trust for the people. They have cosistently proved that this trust was misplaced by the sale of these properties and their failure to account for the proceeds, and rumour has it, the disappearance of millions from the town's coffers.

Hopefully this letter will put your eyes back on the ball.

Recommend? Yes 11 No 0
Tiddles
1077 posts
Jul 4, 16:49
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I have arranged to be out of town for the days that this pocket-lining joke is taking place.

Recommend? Yes 6 No 0
nonee65
7 posts
Jul 4, 22:35
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re the comment from Myfindhorn, June 21st. I visited Greenock with my young daughter at this time 1999, ( to show her where I used to live with my ex boyfriend who was from Greenock ), and I remember the heat, and the fact that we were entertained by the dancing that was put on for us. We really appreciated it all, as everything else seemed to be more expensive than I remembered. I remember it cost me over 12 pounds to help my daughter, then 9, to WIN a huge teddy. Try taking that back to Glasgow on a packed train. To catch up with with my exs family I was going to take a holiday at the same time as the tall ships race, but I will leave it for a while after. Prices for accommodation have increased and the comments here don't give me much incentive to go at this time. Do not get me wrong, I have many happy memories from the time I lived in Greenock, ( and a touch of the accent too still) and I do hope it all goes well for the town. I will keep an eye here with interest. All the best, enjoy it the best you can.

Recommend? Yes 1 No 0
vygon1
2 posts
Jul 7, 09:15
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Yet again rip of Inverclyde, or is it just me that is being cynical, and thinks it is just blatant profiteering for the Tall Ships I mean Park and ride at £15:00, and you can bet your bottom dollar that the taxi fares will also increase over the three day period, and what about the handicapped ??? it is going to be difficult for them, they will have to book a parking place and as far as I can understand that will cost them £10:00 not that they should not have to pay the same as every one else has, but the whole town is going to very very embarrassed not just by where it is being held, but by all the price increases that is going to happen (and that is guareteed to happen)from food, travel, accommodation and parking but every one will be ripped off.

Recommend? Yes 4 No 0
Alex Cochrane
2 posts
Jul 8, 13:05
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Anyone in their right mind knows that this event should be held at Customhouse quay which is closer to the centre of the town. It would not only benefit local traders but the visitors also in providing alternatives to the expected rip off prices for everything from food, drink, transport etc. Reading these previous comments, I can understand the sense of dissapointment of everyone that it is being shoved into a part of town with very few local facilities where the docks are partly derelict. Have Greenock Council got any kind of excuse for excluding the hard-pressed traders of Greenock from this and the townsfolk who have provided the funds to stage it in the first place? 3/4 of a million visitors would have been a tremendous boost for the town but Im afraid that it will be mostly out of towners who will profit from it.

Recommend? Yes 5 No 0
Stephenlafferty
1 post
Jul 8, 20:29
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The Council, Riverside Inverclyde and organisers HAD to have the Tall ships at James Watt Dock because of all the money that has been invested in it. The JWD looks really good just now(Visited the site tonight), but what will happen to it on Wednesday morning when visitors have left? i would put money on it many locals will not be able to park a car or walk around the JWD area. I wait with baited breath, Maybe we just need to listen to them telling us how much of a success it was, back slapping and junkets for many organisers, maybe the wages were not enough, telling you i do not trust them. It may also give the "Tele" something to write about for a few years. :-).

Recommend? Yes 1 No 1
thewean
12 posts
Jul 10, 19:46
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Looking through this article and reading the comments says everything that is bad about these events. Everyone benefits from these events with the exception of the public who come to stay in the area, visit for the day or reside here in RIP OFF INVERCLYDE......not a single local catering franchise or employee to be seen anywhere other than the fabulous job of keeping the place, litter and weed free to all you cleansing dep't working WELL DONE...so far....to the local council let us see you stepping in and stop the good people who support these events in their thousands by ensuring a fair price for all, pick n mix normally £2.20 cost a 12 year old £7 quid.....fancy a hot dog madam yes please £4.00 quid thats the cost of a box for the vendor......and not AN EYE PATCH SHARKS FIN OR BRASS NECK AMONG THE VENDORS.....

Once again our local council stuff us in the pocket and hey everyone welcome all the southerners across the border to provide your security with the company all the way from Rugby outstanding Inverclyde as always that's a laugh....The only thing that makes this area what it is is the good people of Inverclyde and its time the council stood up and gave us their support to drive down the cost of living and bring jobs back to this once great area.

Enjoy the festivities all.

Recommend? Yes 12 No 0
n1colao
1 post
Jul 11, 00:40
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I can't believe how badly organised the whole event was!!! My Husband didn't make it to the last Tall Ship Event in 1999 so I have been telling him how good it was and that he'd really enjoy the whole 'Carnival' atmosphere......... how wrong was I!! We spent the whole day listening to people complaining - and rightly so!! The amount of people I saw falling or tripping was unbelievable and the bottle-necks were ridiculous!! What a crazy idea to hold the event there!! The prices were also ridiculous!!

The whole thing was a complete 'rip-off'!!! My son and I decided to get a pic'n'mix and were charged £17.48 for it!!!!

At the previous Tall Ship I went to the event every day...... this time I went on Saturday and will not be going back to it!!

Recommend? Yes 6 No 0
marti19722002
1 post
Jul 11, 12:04
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I think it was a joke the jokers that put this together they did not think of anyone with wheelchairs or prams

Recommend? Yes 8 No 0
w00dside
2 posts
Jul 12, 11:44
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Saturday was a complete nightmare and enough to put anyone off going back, it took so long to get through the crowds when we got to the other end i realised the only things i had seen were the backs of other peoples heads... On the plus side, living in Port Glasgow meant only having to walk a short distance, and a packed lunch saved a fortune!

Recommend? Yes 4 No 0
alwood
30 posts
Jul 13, 02:38
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All these people in authority, decision making, I remember being told that once upon a time it was an honour to be a councillor and that they did their duties for free.

What happened?

And how can they get things so wrong time after time?

If my workplace was in this state, the health and safety officers would have came down with the tape and closed us all down.

Are they taking care of their own?

As to marti, the grounds looked terrible for disabled people and I also saw children being changed on the roundabout, also noted wires and things sticking out of the ground.

Answers please!

Recommend? Yes 5 No 0

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