Public have say over Ganavan
PLANS to lease land at Ganavan Sands are for the benefit of everyone in Oban, councillors told a public meeting on Monday.
Standing before a 30-strong audience in the town’s Phoenix Cinema, Councillor Roddy McCuish said he was grateful to Oban Community Council for the invitation to answer questions.
‘ We’re residents of Oban,’ he said. ‘ We want to do the best for Oban. If you think we’re doing something horrible, tell us.’ He confirmed Argyll and Bute Council planned to lease, not sell, a piece of land at Ganavan.
A member of the public countered that Ganavan belonged to the MacDougalls of Dunollie who handed it to the council in the 1920s, ‘ with the provision it was wholly for the benefit of the people’. He added: ‘Can we be reassured whatever this land will be for, it will be for the benefit of the people of Oban?’
Councillor McCuish responded: ‘I am convinced it will be. It will be the councillors’ decision.’
Another audience member advised: ‘The pavilion is sorely missed. It was well used. It would be ideal to build something to bring that back, for tea, coffee, ice- creams ...’
Councillor McCuish agreed, saying the lack of showers and changing rooms for the shinty pitch was ‘disgraceful’.
Another person added: ‘It’s hard to keep a good business the whole year round. You need to guarantee people are going to go. If you’re spending a lot of money, you have to guarantee people are going to come all the time.’
Mr McCuish replied: ‘I’d look for a guarantee toilets are open all year round. You can put conditions on the planning applications. It’s a business decision. All we’re doing is leasing a piece of land. If people don’t want to lease it, it’s entirely up to them.
‘It will not be houses. It won’t be a nightclub. Ganavan will never be like Blackpool.’
A resident said extra traffic would bring disturbance and asked if there was an upgrade planned for Ganavan Road. Mr McCuish replied: ‘That road will be dressed and chipped in two weeks. It’s a cheap option, but it has to be done.’