A marina outside Oban has said that a new publicly-funded £3.1million pontoon development to be opened in the bay this summer is a threat to its business.
Dunstaffnage Marina chairman Ewan Bell has said Argyll and Bute Council’s new “Oban Transit Berthing Facility” will impact greatly on local marinas.
He said: “Having now seen Argyll and Bute’s business plan with the benefit of Freedom of Information this development is clearly intended to be something much bigger and it looks to be far more likely to be 100-vessels along with super yachts.”
The scheme is being described by the council as a 36-berth “safe step ashore facility for cruise ship passengers, kayakers, day trip operators and leisure vessels.”
Mr Bell said: “We have invested heavily in the marina at Dunstaffnage with staff and training and as recently as last summer opened a new £750,000 berth facility to attract super yachts from all over the world since the smaller boat market is at saturation on the west coast.
“There are more than 1,000 berths available up and down the coast within just 25-miles of Oban and none of these operators are full and there appears to be no demand for another facility of this size.
“The council and its officials are in total denial that this project will simply not draw business away from local marinas.”
A spokesman for the council said: “The council’s investment is designed to complement existing marine facilities in the area. Strong and widespread local support has been shown for the project as other local facilities and industries will be able to take advantage of the increase in visitors and vessels.
“We undertook extensive consultation and were directly petitioned in favour of this development by around 80 local businesses, including other local marinas.
“This investment of more than £3million in the transit berthing and associated maritime visitor facilities will make it easier to welcome marine visitors to Oban and provide easy access to Oban for kayakers, yachters, cruise ships and tour operators.
“What we are providing is short-stay berths for visiting yachts that will bring economic benefits to the town and surrounding area. The 36 finger-berth pontoons and concrete floating breakwater will provide flexible short-stay capacity.
“As well as the transit berthing and pontoon facilities, we are providing a new maritime centre with a range of different facilities for marina users.
“Together they will contribute to the country’s marine tourism strategy, ‘Awakening the Giant’, which has identified the need for more berthing facilities. This strategy is backed by all main Scottish development agencies.”
