MULTI-MILLION POUND SCHEME FOR CAMPBELTOWN NEW QUAY

[Kintyre Forum News]

Boomtown indeed!!

MULTI-MILLION POUND SCHEME FOR CAMPBELTOWN NEW QUAY

An exciting proposal to spend £12.7 million in the next three years upgrading Campbeltown New Quay was approved by Argyll and Bute Council today (Thursday, April 30).

The funds will be used to expand the marine facilities at the New Quay, and make the necessary associated road improvements.

The design process, which is still at a very early stage, will now be advanced with a view to agreeing an outline design by the end of the year.

The proposal involves partially extending the existing New Quay to enable larger ships to use the harbour and provide a stronger structure for the anticipated increase in freight movements to and from Campbeltown harbour.

Argyll and Bute Council Leader Dick Walsh said: “This is a very exciting time for the Kintyre peninsula, which is rapidly becoming Scotland’s powerhouse in terms of investment in the renewables sector.

“It is widely recognised that this is a key sector of the local economy and a source of significant future sustainable economic growth.

“We need to invest now in our infrastructure in order to unlock the full economic potential presented by the current and future development of both on- and off-shore renewable energy in the Argyll and Bute area.

“This plan for Campbeltown New Quay will ensure that we are well equipped to make the most of the anticipated significant national and international investment in the area in the years to come.”

The proposal agreed today will see the New Quay part-extended in order to accommodate F-type vessels (138m length and 6.8m draught), but ensure that its new depth will also accommodate the larger S-type vessels (168m length and 8m draught) to allow for future development.

It anticipates Argyll and Bute Council spending £1m in the current financial year, £6.036m in 2010/11 and £5.664m in 2011/12.

The funding will be broken down into:

•£4.5mfrom the piers and harbours capital allocation
• £1m from the CHORD initiative
• £5.1m anticipated from a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) grant
• £2.1m from prudential borrowing, funded through a proposed 4% increase in harbour dues at Campbeltown.

The Council also agreed to spend £3.651m upgrading Campbeltown Old Quay between 2011/12 and 2013/14, and a possible further £1.349m between 2014/15 and 2018/19.

“The fishing industry is a key part of the local economy. This investment will ensure that the local fishing fleet and other regular users have the use of a facility which is properly maintained and fit for purpose,” Councillor Walsh said.

NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS

Campbeltown harbour has a throughput of both timber and wind turbine equipment bound for the international market, and a new contract to import fuel into the MOD tanks generates significant income.

Marine leisure also makes a significant contribution to the economy of Argyll and Bute. Sailing, in particular, continues to expand as an industry bringing substantial benefit, equalling that of golf, to the economy.

Argyll & Bute Council, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and Scottish Development International recognise renewables as a key sector of the local economy and a source of significant future growth.

The sector’s importance to Argyll & Bute is becoming more significant in light of the Scottish Government’s climate change commitments and recent announcements regarding off-shore wind farm locations and a large wind turbine manufacturing inward investment project.

In February, the Crown Estate announced the awarding of Exclusivity Agreements to 10 off-shore wind sites in Scottish Territorial waters. Three of the larger sites are off the coast of Argyll & Bute (Kintyre, Argyll Array and Islay).

The recent announcement of the Welcon Towers project at Machrihanish also demonstrates the attractiveness of the Argyll & Bute area, and especially Kintyre, to investment activity in the renewables sector.

This project will safeguard 85 jobs and create a further 200 jobs in the construction side. It also proposes another 150 jobs will be created in research and development and a further 500 will be required in the construction phases.

It is hoped even more jobs will be created in ancilliary related developments.

It is envisaged that there is the potential for further international and national investment in the area in respect of wind and wave power projects and ancillary developments.

ENDS

[Coxy]

Fantastic news, and i look forward to seeing a bit of bustle at the harbour

Can't help being cynical, and i look forwad more to seeing the first blow being struck

[jdcarra]

Fantastic news, and i look forward to seeing a bit of bustle at the harbour

Can't help being cynical, and i look forwad more to seeing the first blow being struck

Sorry to disagree with you Coxy , but has there not been plenty improvements over the years to both the Campbeltown quays and i think they are well adequate for the present shipping.
Campbeltown has one of the best harbours and facilities in this area now, the money would be better off being transferred to the roads department. After the last facelift, then the threat of Vestas pulling out, it would be another waste of money like the ferry terminal.
Back to the marina side of it, all for improvements here. Look at the extensions to the pontoons at Tarbert

[Coxy]

Sorry to disagree with you Coxy , but has there not been plenty improvements over the years to both the Campbeltown quays and i think they are well adequate for the present shipping.
Campbeltown has one of the best harbours and facilities in this area now, the money would be better off being transferred to the roads department. After the last facelift, then the threat of Vestas pulling out, it would be another waste of money like the ferry terminal.
Back to the marina side of it, all for improvements here. Look at the extensions to the pontoons at Tarbert

See what your saying JD,
lots of money spent recently on the pier.
I was assuming the money quoted was including the development of the inner harbour as a marina, the extension of the pier would be good because the harbour has had to turn away export ships because it was not deep enough or long enough to accommodate them.
I also agree with your cynicism of the long term goals of the new 'Stewards' of Vestas and a lot of people may question the validity of expenditure on this project but i can't help feeling, if we don't get it (for what ever reason) somewhere else will get it in our place.
Like Carradale for instance