Kilcreggan Harbour project still ‘paused’

The £9.6m Kilcreggan Harbour project is still ‘paused’ – with no indication of a rethink after it was overwhelmingly rejected by the public, a new document has revealed.

Earlier this week it was revealed here that the results of Argyll and Bute Council’s consultation on the plans for a large new pontoon and breakwater had finally been released – ten months after the survey closed.

Almost 75% of the people who responded were against the preferred option ‘4A’, with only 14% in favour.

There was a total of 550 responses, compared to 222 for an equivalent consultation in Dunoon – where the public also rejected a preferred option.

Next week the council’s harbour board  will consider a report by executive director Kirsty Flanagan which mentions the Kilcreggan project, but without referring to the public consultation results or a possible change of course.

It states: “The Gourock, Dunoon and Kilcreggan combined works plans remain paused while Transport Scotland completes its work on the vessel funding.

“Ground Investigations preparations for both Kilcreggan and Dunoon remain ready to tender when confirmation is received that the funding for the vessels has been secured.”

The cost of the total project – which includes three new ferries as well as infrastructure at Kilcreggan, Dunoon and Gourock – has now reached £70m and last year Transport Scotland said funding was ‘extremely challenging’

Tom Walker of the Save Kilcreggan Pier group, which was launched two years ago amid fears that the new pontoon and breakwater would put the village’s 125 year-old pier at risk, welcomed the consultation result.

“A large response rate from the community shows the importance of our historic pier and ferry service to the community – the response rate is over double that of the Dunoon survey,” he said.

“It’s not surprising a very large proportion of people were against option 4a.

“Its industrial scale is not in keeping with the village, its ever increasing costs, and that the sea wall was unlikely to protect against easterly winds and waves.

“The council agreed to protect and maintain the current pier, and hopefully some minor modifications to the pier or current vessels can be made to improve access and reliability in the short term.”