Last Updated on March 5, 2026 by Phil Hamerton
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 any Municipal Harbour development meets the needs of all stakeholders. It’s clear from the number of objections that are still outstanding that we have not been successful.
Meanwhile both Transport Scotland and Argyll & Bute Council are behaving irresponsibly and it is a matter of great concern that they are allowing the current position to continue. Both have options and have a public duty to take action, in the interest of safe navigation at least. Either Transport Scotland or Argyll & Bute Council must move the business on!
Transport Scotland could recommend a public inquiry or hearing, could recommend alterations or could simply either reject or support the current proposals. They must simply decide what their advice to the Minister is and give it. None of these will lead to a quick resolution of the impasse we currently find ourselves in but at least we would be moving forward!
Argyll & Bute Council have the option of withdrawing their current proposals and starting again, collaborating with stakeholders and the wider community to develop an acceptable proposal which could be submitted to Transport Scotland and command broad support. This option has been repeatedly rejected and, as a consequence, there has been no movement. If Argyll & Bute Council were to follow this path the situation could be resolved very quickly, to everyone’s advantage, and the new Oban Harbour Authority could be in place in a matter of months.
In the meantime, for the second time since the turn of the year there has been a serious incident in Oban Bay involving an apparently abandoned vessel sinking. On this occasion it involved a vessel moored in Oban Bay close to the fairway in the Sound of Kerrera. Had there been a Harbour Authority in place for these waters it is clear that the Harbour Authority would have been aware of the potential risk and should have taken action to reduce it. Of course, there wasn’t……! It is fortunate for everybody that there was nobody aboard but the environmental consequences may be significant.
Given the apparent indifference of Transport Scotland and Argyll & Bute Council, OCHDA, with the support of Oban Community Council, is now considering submitting new proposals (a s16 Harbour Empowerment Order), to amend the Council’s current proposals to make them widely acceptable. Transport Scotland and the Council have been advised that OCHDA’s is considering submitting new proposals to complement the existing Council proposals.In the meantime OCHDA’s 2026 Annual General Meeting agreed to withdraw support for the Council’s unacceptable proposals – since we clearly can’t collaborate with a body which won’t talk to us. Perhaps the reality of the risks and the frequency of our warnings will now spur Transport Scotland and the Council to reconsider their positions.