Key stage reached in Oban marine development

Members of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee are to consider options for a visitor centre and transit berthing facility on Oban’s North Pier.

Two papers, one on the design options for a new visitor centre on the North Pier and another on plans to develop a transit berthing facility, will be considered by the Committee at its meeting on Monday.

Pippa Milne, the council’s executive director for development and infrastructure, said: “Over the past few months we have been working hard in the background to develop concepts for these two related projects.

“In developing the plans for the visitor facility we have focused on form and function, as well as affordability. We need something practical which will serve the needs of the various groups who will use it – cruise passengers, kayakers, yachters, maritime day trippers, tour operators, leisure ship tenders and sea-life enthusiasts.

“Our recommended option gives us more commercial space, generating income to offset the running costs, and more toilet/shower space, making it very user friendly.

“Associated to the visitor centre development are the pontoons on the north side of the pier – the best location from an engineering perspective.

“There are four options for consideration on this project, with two being attached to the Oban Times slip and two being attached to the north face of the pier. We are recommending the option which will give us the greatest flexibility and financial return for the operator, option four.

“This provides more transit berths and a bigger, more flexible breakwater as well as keeping the Oban Times slip available for its current users. A development of this type will complement the existing offer in the wider Oban area.

“These are two very exciting projects. Once members indicate their preferred options we will look to move forward towards construction. We would hope to have both the pontoons in the water and the visitor facility operational by next summer.”

More details on the options are available at: www.argyll-bute.gov.uk