Plans for link road on island approved

A LINK road connecting two communities on Kerrera came a step closer last week, when Argyll and Bute Council agreed to design it, if a local group bid for the £ 500,000 cost to build it.

The six-mile-long island opposite Oban is home to more than 30 residents in two communities in the north and south, each linked to the mainland by ferries at Gallanach and Oban’s North Pier, but only linked to each other by a dirt track. A communityled initiative aims to provide a road connecting the two settlements, which could expand the island’s population.

A report on the Kerrera link, presented by head of roads Jim Smith to the Policy and Resources Committee on Thursday December 15, explained: ‘The island community has been seeking to have a road built linking the north and south. Residents view the provision of a road as a lifeline link due to concerns regarding existing access for emergency services and medical staff to the island.

‘Planning permission is in place for the road but no detailed design has been completed. No funding has been identified to undertake detailed design [and] legal processes to confirm the availability of the land and onsite construction materials.

‘To assist with the bidding process and to make the bid application more robust, council officers arranged for a topographical survey along the route corridor, which has been completed and made available to the community group.’

The report proposed the council should carry out the design of the road, while the community group progress the planning applications and ‘seeks to secure contributory funding via the sale of building plots on the island.

‘The likely cost of construction is estimated to be in excess of £ 500,000. The final price will not be known until tender returns are received. This is particularly relevant due to the island setting and the logistical challenges of bringing plant, materials and equipment onto the island.’

Councillors approved the recommendations on Thursday, adding only that the council ‘write to the community group seeking agreement to the arrangement prior to the commencement of the detailed design’.