Last Updated on January 27, 2025 by Phil Hamerton
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 their future and are uncertain regarding the Council’s plans for safe operation and future development of Oban Harbour and approaches.
Despite repeated invitations from objectors to hold a public meeting or to sit down and discuss their concerns Argyll and Bute Council have refused to engage with meaningful discussion. The meeting heard that the Council, which had originally stated (2018) that it did not have the skills or resources to run the harbour, changed their mind in 2021 after making it impossible for the establishment of an independent, local Trust to run the harbour to proceed.
The meeting was told that 142 responses were made to the Council during the 6-week formal consultation in December 2023 & January 2024. Only 1 was in favour of the proposals as they were, 139 were formal objections and, a year on, 136 of these objections are still standing. Objectors say that the Council did not seriously consider their concerns and that the Council have dismissed every objection except for the objections of CMAL and CalMac.
The formal consultation was completed in November 2024 and all the objections and the Council’s responses are being sent to Scottish Ministers to decide what should happen next. Objectors are urging the Minister to look into the detail of the matter through a hearing or a public inquiry rather than simply decide on the basis of what has been submitted. Jenni Minto (MSP) has written to Pippa Milne, the Council’s Chief Executive, and to Transport Scotland, saying “with a final decision being made by the Cabinet Secretary in the coming days or weeks I believe it is important that community voices are heard”.
Business owners and leaders made clear that the Council’s proposals and lack of any vision for future development threaten the success of Oban businesses. Chair of Oban Community Harbour Development Association, Phil Hamerton, said that “Development of small cruise organisations such as Hebrides Cruises and visits by large cruise liners as well as initiatives such as the Clipper Race need a safe, well-organised, welcoming harbour which is geared up for visitors. The Council appears to have no plan or even a vision of how Oban could develop.”
“Argyll & Bute Council refused to hold a public meeting to explain their plans in 2023 and have refused to discuss the proposals ever since. Scottish Government guidance refers to the principle of ‘conscientious consideration’ by decision-makers of any objections to a proposal before a decision is made. Argyll & Bute Council have not engaged positively at any stage of this process, dismissing the concerns of many local businesses, harbour users and other stakeholders, as of no significance. A Harbour Authority must consult with users and other stakeholders on navigation and safety as well as regarding maintenance and development; the Council’s Harbour User Group – where all of this should have been discussed – has not met since 2018 and the Council’s Harbour Board, which would become the legal authority responsible, has not been allowed to scrutinise the proposals or the objections carefully.
The Council’s correspondence with objectors has not shown any real understanding of the issues and we have no confidence that they will engage any more constructively in the future!”
Phil Hamerton for OCHDA (22/1/25)