Campaigners have blasted Argyll and Bute Council for running a consultation on Oban Harbour’s future over the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Oban Community Harbour Development Association (OCHDA) is demanding to know why, almost two years after deciding to establish a Municipal Harbour Authority for Oban, Argyll and Bute Council has chosen to formally consult the public at a time when most people will be busy with festivities.
“Why now? What are the council trying to hide?” OCHDA is asking.
The consultation starts today, November 30, and runs until January 11 as the council seeks powers from the Scottish Government that would give it complete control over all existing and future moorings in Oban Bay as well as all activities in it.
Consultation over the festive holiday is a “disgrace” said Oban Community Council convenor Frank Roberts after he wrote to Argyll and Bute chief executive Pippa Milne asking that the consultation should not take place over the holiday period. He heard back the council would be sensitive to that.
“Most people would take that to mean Argyll and Bute Council would avoid consulting over Christmas and New Year. Instead it has chosen to consult right across the holiday period, starting before and ending just after it. This is beyond being economical with the truth and seems deliberately intended to restrict the level of public involvement,” he added.
The matter was discussed at Monday’s community council meeting where Argyll and Bute Council was accused of “appalling” and “disingenuous” behaviour over the timing of the consultation and lack of transparency on its plans “riding roughshod” over the town. See next week’s Oban Times for a report on that meeting.
With the council effectively closing down for two weeks, the consultation period will be much shorter and the chance to discuss concerns will be limited, fears OCHDA.
Oban Community Council and OCHDA are now organising their own public meeting on December 14 to help explain what the council’s proposals mean and are urging anyone with an interest in Oban Harbour to go along to The Rockfield Centre at 6.30pm.
OCHDA says the council’s proposals will give Kilmory HQ total control of all activities and moorings in the bay as well as becoming responsible for the safety of shipping. Existing mooring-owners will have to apply for a new licence and, even with a licence, may lose their mooring or have to relocate if council officers decide it is necessary, they say.
It will also make Oban Harbour Authority the second biggest Harbour Authority in Scotland, in terms of the number of moorings within its boundaries – in excess of 250 in addition to those associated with Kerrera Marina, OCHDA claims.
Visits by small cruise ships and Oban boats taking visitors round Kerrera, for
example, would be completely at the council’s “say so” and activities like the 2024 visit by the Round-the-World Clipper fleet or the Round Kerrera Kayak Race would also need the council’s permission to go ahead.
OCHDA says that despite repeated requests, the council has refused to say how much they expect the new operations will cost to set up and manage, what fees and charges they intend to levy, or whether they will make money for it. At present, it says, the council does not publish accounts for any of its harbours including existing Statutory Harbour Authorities.
Harbour Board chairperson Councillor Andrew Kain said the council had been sensitive to balance the need to progress the Harbour Order with the need to make sure that the six week consultation period did not begin or end during either of the Christmas or New Year holidays.
The starting time was for the council to determine while the arrangements for the consultation were governed by the Harbours Act. There is no provision for the 42 day period to be extended or altered, he said.
Details of the HRO had “actually been available for parties on the council’s website since August 24 this year,” he added.
Councillor Kain continued: “As the Harbour Board we were updated on the arrangements and timing of the consultation by the responsible director in the council on November 17, with no issues being raised.
“As Harbour Board we also agreed Terms of Reference in August for two Consultative Forums based on the guidelines and recommendations of the Port Marine Safety Code (PMSC). This provides a forum for the organisations with financial and legal responsibility in the bay and a further broad consultative forum giving voice, for the first time, to stakeholders and communities reliant on Oban Bay. This also provides a more equitable relationship between council and users of Oban Bay.
“The progression of the HRO to its implementation is a key step in improving management arrangements for Oban Bay. The six week consultation is a part of this process and we need to ensure that the HRO is in place as soon as possible.”
If Transport Scotland is satisfied with the outcome of the consultation, the Harbour Order will be presented to the Minister for Transport Fiona Hyslop MSP for approval before passing into law. This is why everyone who has an interest in the harbour must make their voice heard, says OCHDA.
“Whether you paddle a kayak or a paddle-board or rely on a ferry for your island business your future is in the hands of the new Harbour Authority. Make sure that you take part in the council’s consultation,” added OCHDA chairperson Ross Wilson.
Information about how to take part will be available here: Oban Municipal Harbour | Argyll and Bute Council (argyll-bute.gov.uk)