A bid by CalMac’s sister company to control Oban Bay ‘lacks transparency’ and ‘ignores’ local views, according to the Royal Yachting Association of Scotland, writes Sandy Neil. Last week local business groups jointly raised their concerns about Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd’s (CMAL) plans to create a single port authority for Oban Bay, arguing there had been little consultation.
The Oban Bay Management Group (OBMG), which endorsed CMAL’s bid, responded by inviting users to have their say in an online survey, and hosted a public meeting at the Corran Halls yesterday (Wednesday July 18).
A CMAL spokesperson said the volume of traffic using Oban Bay had increased to 39,000 vessel movements per year: ‘The OBMG has identified that, as well as a number of interim measures, the establishment of a harbour authority to cover the wider Oban Bay area is necessary to reduce risk from increased traffic, to improve marine safety and enhance the commercial viability of the harbour.’