Oban Bay berthing fiasco
In an astonishing volte-face Argyll and Bute Council (A&BC) decided in early September not to part-fund a yacht berthing facility in Oban Bay, saying the project was not viable and hanging on to their £900,000.
SCOTLAND: Argyle and Bute Council (A&BC) decided early last month to pull out of a £900,000 project to part-fund a yacht berthing facility in Oban Bay, a facility that has been badly needed for the last 30 years, writes Mike Balmforth.
A&BC cited financial un-viability as their reason, a decision made following the conclusion of a second report into the proposed facility by AECOM, the independent consultancy appointed to assess the viability of the proposal.
Their input was to be £900,000, money that is still available! The decision has dismayed the sailing tourism industry, local Oban businesses, and many other supporters of a facility that has been badly needed for the last 30 years.
Oban Bay Marine, the prospective developer, is a community company dedicated to providing facilities for local and visiting pleasure and commercial vessels up to 24metres.
Supporters have been so far unable to find out exactly why the project has been dropped, as A&BC has refused to publish their consultant's report, leaving interested bodies to file a Freedom of Information request, with the attendant risk that the A&BC will redact facts that shows it in a poor light.
A common view in Oban is that it is the job of the local authority to make things happen, and it is unfortunate that embarrassing A&BC seems to be the only way forward. To that end Jamie McGrigor, a Highland MSP, has already tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament asking for greater clarity. It will be interesting to see how the £900,000 allocated to Oban Bay and Harbour development will now be spent.
