Frustration has been voiced at the slow progress in getting a new business park at Oban Airport off the ground.
Argyll and Bute Council is building the industrial estate in an attempt to boost the local economy as part of the Lorn Arc project, a series of infrastructure improvements.
The site was placed on the open market last summer in an attempt to move new businesses into the area. A road has been built by the council to service the site.
In a report before the council’s Oban Lorn and the Isles area committee yesterday, councillors were told in a report: “The airport business park was placed on the open market in the summer.
“A limited number of offers have been received and they are being considered by council officers before being presented back to the area committee for a decision on how to proceed.
“Recent discussions have also involved Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in looking at how to address the constraints associated with the site.
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“New prominent entrance signs at the airport, funded through European funding,
have been erected at airport.”
Councillor Roddy McCuish, Policy Lead for Roads and Amenity Services, said: “If we have had offers as long as a year ago and we still have not had an update, we want to know what these offers are and why and why this area committee is still asking questions.
“We need this sooner rather than later. Given the work that has gone on, we need to get this business park up and running. Why are we not getting feedback from the officers?
Councillor Hugh Lynch said: ” We need to get an update. It is sitting there doing nothing. I want to know what the reasons are that the interested people aren’t in there yet. Let’s get it moving.
Elaine Robertson, Lead Councillor for Oban Lorn and the Isles said: “This is going on too long. We need to get feedback at the next business day. I think we need to push this.”
Councillor McCuish asked for an update to be given as part of the agenda at the special area committee meeting in April. He added: “It is a tremendous site, it is right on a major trunk road.”
Councillor Robertson added: “I remember five years ago we cut the ribbon for this site. We all share the frustration. We will ask for a paper to come to the next area committee meeting.”
