Funding needed for Oban trust port

Plans are moving forward to see if Oban Bay can be managed as a trust port.

A meeting in Oban heard groups of stakeholders were carrying out work to see if it would be a viable option but there would still have to be a general consensus among all community groups as well as all partner groups, including CalMac, before it happens.

Andrew Spence, chief executive of BID4Oban, outlined how much a feasibility study for a trust port could cost and mentioned a potential for Highlands and Islands Enterprise funding for a consultant to take the project forward. ‘It’s such an important move, not just from the management of Oban Bay but for the economic development of the town and will require match funding,’ he said.

Chris Wilcock of Transport Scotland was at the meeting explaining the key feature of a trust port is that it would be non-profit making.

The meeting also heard how community-led Tobermory Harbour Association (THA) now has a turnover between £400,000 to £600,000 every year re-invested in services. THA harbour master Robert Hemming said in the region of £2.6 million is brought into the local economy from Tobermory Bay.

Paul Jennings, Oban Bay harbour manager for CalMac Harbours, said CalMac was ‘fully supportive’ of the efforts to look at trust port viability and offered help where required.