Oban Bay’s second sinking of the year: OCHDA tries to break the deadlock
It’s over 800 days since the draft Harbour Revision Order (HRO) was submitted by Argyll & Bute Council on 30/11/23. The extended consultation was concluded on 7/11/24 with 142 responses – 139 of them objections. 136 of the objections are still being maintained. Since 2022, OCHDA’s key task has been to try to ensure that […]
New year – same old story!
As 2026 starts the shame that is the delayed decision over Oban Harbour simply gets worse! It’s almost 7 years, now, since OCHDA came into existence and, frankly, it seems that we are as far from establishing a new Harbour Authority as when we started. The Council refuses to think again while Transport Scotland are […]
Newsletter 12 (9th December 2025)
What’s going on? The short answer to this question is, “Who knows?” 139 of the original 142 objections to Argyll & Bute Council’s (A&BC) proposals for a Municipal Harbour Authority for Oban are still outstanding. There has been no direct contact initiated by A&BC or by Transport Scotland (TS) with objectors in relation to these […]
Newsletter 11 (July 1st 2025)
The summer sailing season is now in full swing and the annual period of holidaymaking is about to slow down progress even further! In the absence of any really ‘new’ news we have issued a July update which brings everyone up to date with the latest position regarding the draft HRO and also highlights the […]
OCHDA members meet MSP: press release
Representatives of land-based businesses in Oban, in addition to fishing, transport and tourism industries and leisure sailors met Jenni Minto (MSP) last Monday in connection with the plans by Argyll & Bute Council to establish a Municipal (Council-run) Harbour Authority covering the whole of Oban Bay. The meeting heard that many businesses are fearful for […]
OCHDA Newsletter 10 (December 2024)
Here’s our latest newsletter, bringing you up to date with recent developments. Our 2025 AGM is scheduled for February 25th and we would welcome attendance by all members. If you aren’t already a member, send an e-mail to us at “info@ochda.scot”.
Analysis of objections to the draft HRO
Having finally managed to get hold of all 142 submissions (139 were objections) we have had the opportunity to compare the Council’s analysis, as initially reported to the Harbour Board Members in September and, more recently, reported on the Council’s website. Surprisingly (!) we don’t entirely agree with the Council’s view…… In the meantime we […]
Only 3 objections withdrawn but Council says it has engaged
Argyll & Bute Council has failed to respond to recent submissions and have assured Jenni Minto (MSP) that the Draft proposed HRO has been subject of a large engagement process and that The Council has responded to all representations received… This is clearly untrue and appears to be intended to mislead our elected representatives. Transport […]
Finally, all the objections – we are told!
At last the reportedly-complete set of objections has been made public. With the addition of the previously-butchered (the writer’s description) objection numbered 67, we now have all the objections complete and together, as far as we know – 372 pages! I have been unable to integrate the full No 67 objection in the same landscape […]
HRO decision to be referred to Ministers
As of this morning (7th November) we understand that Transport Scotland will be referring the current ‘stalemate’ to Scottish Ministers for consideration. This follows A&BC’s decision not to make a further representation on the matter. We have no idea how long the process may take having been advised by Transport Scotland that “there is a […]