Parking problems won’t go away

I LIVE in the centre of Oban and have a car.

I also have a resident’s parking permit for zone A which costs me the princely sum of £ 85 for the year.

I have to say that I pay for the permit quite happily as I think it represents pretty good value for money … when you can find a space, that is.

There is an unfortunate juxtaposition that the more Oban’s economy booms – and that is brilliant for everyone in the area – the harder it becomes to park in the town.

As we gear up for the beginning of the high season, the Oban area is becoming busier by the day. At the same time, the availability of parking spaces, both on and off street, is being diminished by ongoing works.

The car park at North Pier has many fewer spaces because of work on the new pontoons to be installed there and the demolition of the former Harbour Bowl building is causing disruption in the Shore Street area.

I’ve written here previously criticising the moaning minnies who constantly grumble about the temporary disruption and would make that point again. This is, after all, short-term pain for longterm gain.

In the long haul, the new pontoons will bring more business into the centre of Oban, while the new Premier Inn on the site of the former bowling alley will augment the town’s economy in the same way.

Councillor Roddy McCuish has suggested we need to consider a multi-storey car park, perhaps at Lochavullin. That is certainly an intriguing idea, though there will be questions over where the substantial cost will be met from.

One thing is definite: the shortage of parking in Oban is a problem that won’t go away.

However, it is good to know that consideration is being given to potential solutions. We need to do something sooner rather than later to address the issue.