Last Updated on February 2, 2026 by Phil Hamerton
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 clearly unable to make a decision as to the best way forward. In the meantime the risk continues! Our letter to the Cabinet Secretary did not prove successful – you may even regard the reply as dismissive!
OCHDA’s 2026 Annual General Meeting is approaching (18th Feb) and all members are urged to attend. Surely this year a decision will be made about the future and, in the meantime OCHDA needs to decide whether its support for the Council, to try to ensure that a fit-for-purpose Harbour Authority is created, should continue.
As we approach the next Holyrood election there may be an opportunity to put some pressure on either the Council or Transport Scotland to move things on. Speak to your MSP, and the candidates to become your local MSP, and stress to them the unacceptable nature of the current impasse and the risk. It’s now (at 1st February) 794 days since the consultation process was completed and Transport Scotland have yet to decide what to do, apparently………….