obanbaymarine
...promoting a short stay visitor pontoon transit marina for the heart of Oban Bay, on the West Coast of Scotland...
The community not for profit company (OBM) was formed by a volunteer group with a vision to re-awaken the potential of Oban's exceptional marine location in the heart of the West Coast which has a longstanding maritime heritage.
It is now more than 4 years since the very well attended
public Community Consultation meeting
in Oban in January 2008 demonstrated considerable local enthusiasm for our
proposals to install a short-stay transit marina in the heart of Oban Bay.
The business and local community collectively pledged the funding which
allowed the development of the planning application which received consent
in November 2008 and which was awarded a part-funding grant of £900,000 from
Argyll and Bute Council's Oban CHORD Project Board. The project was on
“hold” for almost 2 years pending the outcome of deliberations by AECOM,
consultants to the CHORD board, who finally announced in late August 2010 it
would not assist, citing doubts over sustainability, although it was
confirmed the project was in the correct location and was both operationally
and technically feasible.
In March 2011, The Board of OBM presented
an initial reappraisal
of the
proposals for a short stay marina for the heart of Oban Bay to the Oban
Harbour Users Group and other stakeholders around the bay area and to OBM’s
membership.
A detailed Site Investigation Survey to remove uncertainty around the seabed
and strata conditions was completed in summer 2011, data from which was
provided to 2 nationally known marina construction companies to assist with
dredging cost calculations and define design parameters.
Preliminary responses from these marine contractors have formed the basis
for amended plans and OBM is now in the final stages of a lengthy tender
process for a complete turnkey design-and-build contract to include
dredging, piling and services provision.
In December 2011, OBM submitted an
amended planning application for “proposed formation of multi-use/short
stay 60 berth transit marina: plus diesel berth, manager’s office, provision
for small dayboat/RIBs and limited overwintering” A subsequent technicality
meant OBM was required to submit a further amendment; that application had
to be withdrawn in March 2012 and has since been replaced by the
current planning application.
sketch plan of current planning application
The layout occupies essentially the same area as the
previously consented design ; amendments include; transferring the seaward
entrance from the north to the south of the pontoons; transferring the
pedestrian access from the Railway Pier to the Esplanade; securing the
pontoons with steel piles rather than anchors; providing some limited winter
berthing and berthing for boats of limited draft; providing a fuel berth and
disabled hoist; and providing launching steps for kayaks.
OBM believes that the project continues to fit with the council policy “to
make the most of town waterfronts in terms of economic development”, and
note that the AECOM CHORD consultant’s report confirmed that for every £1
spent on the OBM project, there should be a £1.98 return to the Council.
Rigorous efforts to pursue all sources of funding continue. When the Council
felt obliged to withdraw their offer of CHORD funding, they did so on the
basis of their advisors cost analysis. This has now been fully investigated.
Uncertainties have been removed, and a set of figures deliberately erring on
the cautious side, but still viable, prepared for the funders.
The delays outlined above mean that the financial climate is a lot harder than it was . For that same reason the town needs this extra business now more than ever.
OBM were delighted to accept an offer to make a short presentation to the
Parliamentary Cross Party Group on Recreational Boating and Marine Tourism
in February 2012, and thank the members present for their kind welcome and
support.
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| area to be dredged for the proposed transit marina location | overlooking the proposed transit marina location |