A new-look for Oban’s waterfront was revealed yesterday as part of a £6million regeneration project.
Oban is well on its way to to realising its potential as a marine destination as plans for a new pontoon development and visitor centre set sail.
The regeneration at the North Pier is part of Argyll and Bute Council’s ambitious plans to invest £6.9million bringing improvements to Oban town centre.
The council’s Oban Lorn and the Isles area committee will consider two papers on Monday, one on the design options for a new maritime visitor centre on the pier and another on plans to develop a berthing facility for visiting yachts and cruise ships.
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.”
