Seafarers to Tarbert Harbour are in for a surprise thanks to an upgrade of facilities for sailing visitors.
It is hoped new shore-side developments on Loch Fyne, worth more than £425,000, will increase the number of visitors to the west coast town and lead to further improvements around the bay.
With the aid of a £300,000 grant from the Coastal Communities Fund, Tobermory Harbour Association has upgraded facilities.
It includes making a larger toilet and shower area, providing laundry and baby changing facilities, while, at the same time, upgrading disabled facilities at the harbour.
With a further grant of £125,000 from Argyll and Bute Council’s Tarbert and Lochgilphead Regeneration Fund the association made use of the old shower and toilet block to convert it into a harbour reception, office space and chandlers.
Dougie Spence, funding manager for the Coastal Communities Fund, said they were “delighted” to support Tarbert Harbour Authority’s successful project to upgrade existing and create new berthing facilities in 2015.
He added: “The further Coastal Communities Fund support for the now completed new and improved onshore facilities builds on the initial support and will help consolidate and deliver on Tarbert Harbour Association’s ambition to make Tarbert Harbour an accessible and attractive destination for visitors for many years to come, creating vital jobs and supporting the local economy.
Duncan Cunningham, chairman of Tarbert Harbour Authority, said: “We are delighted with the finished schemes, helping to make the harbour a more pleasant place to visit.
“This is a great boost to the harbour’s plans for providing the necessary facilities to meet the demands and expectations of visitors and berth holders.
“The grant from the Coastal Community Fund allowed for the much needed shower and toilet facilities to progress at a rate that would not otherwise have been possible and allowed the Harbour to apply for funding from the Argyll and Bute Council’s ‘Tarbert and Lochgilphead Regeneration Fund’ to progress other planned developments.
“The increased business we expect to achieve will lead to other improvements of our shore side facilities.”
