New pontoons in Oban this year - oh really?

[Nick]

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A bizarre story in this week's Oban Times raises more questions than it answers.

A triumphal headline announcing new pontoons is followed by a story that is completely devoid of information (so nothing unusual for the Oban Times there). It seems the council have, without consulting Oban Bay Marine, decided to purchase six pontoons and install them 'by May' so that cruise ships arriving for their seasonal visits will not think that nothing is happening! Roddy McCuish commented :

It is important we look as though we are making progress

Oban Bay Marine, the group responsible for the never-endingly delayed proposal for the transit marina, commented

OBM is still in discussion with the council vis-à-vis longer term proposals for a marina in Oban Bay. But until such time as it has details of the temporary proposal that can be shared with OBM, we can't make any comment'

So the people who have been engaged in planning pontoon facilities in Oban for the last six years were not even consulted and know nothing about this new proposal.

(Full planning consent permission for the OBM proposal for a 50 berth town centre transit marina was granted in 2008. Since then a small fortune has been spent on 'consultancy' and nothing has been achieved. A familiar story when it comes to Argyll and Bute Council. Meanwhile the much-heralded CHORD money remains unspent, the waterfront remains unchanged. Contrast this with the incredible progress made and continuing to be made by Tobermory Harbour Association in the same period)

[cpedw]

I understand they will put a single stretch of pontoon along the northwest face of the North Pier with a ramp to the street level. Exclusively for the use of cruise ship tenders.

I agree it's a pity there is no integration with OBM but I think their currently proposed location would be a disaster. I wish THA was running Oban Bay.

Derek

[wully]

That's what happens when a bunch of useless cooncil waste of space dick heads get their greasy mits on anything.
You can guarantee their chubby mugs will be all over the front page claiming credit for blowing yet more of our money simply to make it easier for tourists to stock up on tartan tat....

[aquaplane]

So when I turn up in my Westerly cruise ship I'll be able to use it for my tender then?

[marisca]

That's what happens when a bunch of useless cooncil waste of space dick heads get their greasy mits on anything.
You can guarantee their chubby mugs will be all over the front page claiming credit for blowing yet more of our money simply to make it easier for tourists to stock up on tartan tat....

If they even managed to do that it would be good. They seem determined to shepherd every visiting car straight to the ferry terminal thus keeping them away from the tartan tat.
What I can't understand is how they get voted in.

[Nick]

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No-one can understand the farcical enigma that is Argyll and Bute Council

[Booby Trapper]

So if no cruise ships are due in for a week say, the pontoon will be sitting unused. Great business sense that one.

[pagoda]

Most councils seem to be of the opinion that the best tourists are those that empty their pockets as rapidly as possible, then move on promptly to let more come through. I don't very much like the feeling of being processed by Oban town itself. Tobermory has a similar sensation, though is more yacht -amenable generally.
Any yachts using a pontoon just clog the throughput of cash..?
I think Kerrera is just far enough away to watch Oban, with the option of going over to shop, but at your own pace. The main bay ( and North Peir) is far too exposed to W/NW to be much use anyway a lot of the time.

[stevepick]

I see from last weeks Oban Times that these pontoons are now unlikely to go ahead , because of planning permission issues??? It does seem like there is some fundamental law of physics that will always prevent Oban having step ashore pontoons. I love some of the comments that have been in the papers about yachts spoiling the view. I was reading last year that once upon a time Easdale was bigger than Oban , difficult to believe now, but shows how things can change. No wonder tourists rush through Oban without so much as a glance.