Support Oban's new transit marina

[Nick]

.
Oban Bay Marine have had to submit a new planning application for the proposed Oban transit marina because there have been a few changes to the original plans. Primarily these are making it a piled marina rather than anchoring the pontoons, and moving the pedestrian access from the North Pier to the Esplanade.

More details on the Oban Bay Marine website

Various groups have been trying to get a marina established in Oban for 30 years, but the Council are somewhat anti-yacht and have blocked every attempt in spite of repeated presentations showing how much money a 'walk ashore' berthing facility could bring into the town. If you would like to show support for the marina then you can register your comments on the Council website HERE before the end of Tuesday.

[Gardenshed]

Done
Time for Oban to move with the times and put the old prejudices behind. What do you rate the chances of that happening?

[Nick]

Done
Time for Oban to move with the times and put the old prejudices behind. What do you rate the chances of that happening?

The Council elections are coming up in less than two weeks. Argyll and Bute has mostly been an ineffectual collection of 'independents' who seem by and large to be in local politics for their own ends. They are an arrogant bunch by all accounts. A friend's sister in law who works at the Council headquarters in Lochgilphead described them as 'right up themselves'. I think most of them are probably for the chop come a week on Thursday . . . but whether the new broom will sweep as far as the planning department remains to be seen.

Anyway, a few positive comments in support of the application from West Coast yachtsmen saying they will use the new facility and spend money in the town can't go amiss.

[BlowingOldBoots]

Done
Time for Oban to move with the times and put the old prejudices behind. What do you rate the chances of that happening?

I think it will happen.

[wully]

The planning dept in Oban are well know for being a bunch of total imbeciles.

[Nick]

The planning dept in Oban are well know for being a bunch of total imbeciles.

Wully - that is being a bit hard on imbeciles, do you not think?

[wully]

Hmmmm, yer right.


Sorry imbeciles.

[ubergeekian]

Anyway, a few positive comments in support of the application from West Coast yachtsmen saying they will use the new facility and spend money in the town can't go amiss.

I'd be far more likely to visit and spend money if they provided non-marina facilities. A secure dinghy land and tying-up point would be a start. I'm fed up with the idea that we need marinas everywhere. Look at what has happened to poor old Tarbert.

[Nick]

Anyway, a few positive comments in support of the application from West Coast yachtsmen saying they will use the new facility and spend money in the town can't go amiss.

I'd be far more likely to visit and spend money if they provided non-marina facilities. A secure dinghy land and tying-up point would be a start. I'm fed up with the idea that we need marinas everywhere. Look at what has happened to poor old Tarbert.

As my old friend Skipper Stu from YBW would say, yawn yawn UG.

We know you hate marinas, but Oban is a busy wee town that could do with one. However, if you feel strongly you can always follow my link and make an objection based on the well known fact that marinas are tools of the devil. I wouldn't be surprised if that struck a chord with some members of our planning department.

[BlowingOldBoots]

I'd be far more likely to visit and spend money if they provided non-marina facilities. A secure dinghy land and tying-up point would be a start. I'm fed up with the idea that we need marinas everywhere. Look at what has happened to poor old Tarbert.

You can use the transit marina when its built as a secure landing area for your dinghy. I understand it will have facilities for ribs and dinghies. Oban has at least three places that you can land a dinghy at and secure it with your long chain and padlock.

As a major transit hub, if any place needs a marina its Oban on the land side, for nothing more than convenience. I think a lot of people are glad to sail away from Oban once they have done their victualing.

I agree that the Tarbert, Loch Fyne vista has been visually ruined. However, in past days it could be chock a block with fishing boats and moored yachts on the occasional weekend making finding an anchoring spot quite awkward and at some times impossible - the popularity of the place demanded pontoons.

I consider the Oban thing a bit like the Norwegians approach. Lots of small marinas here and there at popular points surrounded by a huge number of natural anchorages.

[ubergeekian]

We know you hate marinas, but Oban is a busy wee town that could do with one. However, if you feel strongly you can always follow my link and make an objection based on the well known fact that marinas are tools of the devil. I wouldn't be surprised if that struck a chord with some members of our planning department.

I don't hate marinas at all. I use the one at Port Bannatyne regularly (since it's 100yds from my mooring) and I really liked the one at Milford Haven where I kept Jumblie when I bought her. Showing, incidentally, that your old pal from TOP isn't wrong about everything.

What I object to is the view that "facilities for yachts" = "marina". I object for three reasons: (1) we often lose existing facilities (2) marinas almost invariably cost more and (3) many marinas are ugly.

So, for example, Portavadie is fine in my book: nice place, looks fine, no loss of facilities. Craobh lost us a classic anchorage for private profit and was a dump of a building site for years. Tarbert was a perfectly nice harbour and is now an expensive boat park. Largs is a bit of a dump but what was there before wasn't any better.

Oban has been an unfriendly place to yachts for as long as I can remember. I'd love to see better facilities there, and I'd use them. However, I'd prefer something a bit more traditional than a marina, that's all.

Thinking about it, Puilladobhran would make an excellent marina. Stick in pontoons, build a housing development along the shore, build a proper road in and rename your local the Firkin and Folkboat. Job done.

[DaveS]

Comment added.

As a pessimist, I'll believe it when I see it, though.

(A pessimist's life is full of happy surprises... )

[Nick]

As a pessimist, I'll believe it when I see it, though.

(A pessimist's life is full of happy surprises... )

I wish you a happy surprise on May 3rd then.

Fairwinds' crew will be starting what will hopefully be a very pleasant weekend by voting in the local Council elections to remove the entire stinking shower of so-called 'Independents' and installing a local government with principles and committments to something other than their own financial , social and business interests. I think many others in Argyll will be doing the same.

[Rowana]

Fairwinds' crew will be starting what will hopefully be a very pleasant weekend by voting in the local Council elections to remove the entire stinking shower of so-called 'Independents' and installing a local government with principles and committments to something other than their own financial , social and business interests. I think many others in Argyll will be doing the same.

So, are you voting UKIP, BNP or Green??

[Nick]

So, are you voting UKIP, BNP or Green??

No candidates for any of those parties in A&B, afraid I will be voting for your worst nightmare