'Cut and paste' responses anger Oban Harbour campaigners

Although Argyll and Bute’s consultation on its draft Harbour Revision Order (HRO) has moved on in the last two weeks with the first responses being sent to some of the 126 objections, "unfortunately these responses appear to be cut and pasted from a store of stock answers", says OCHDA.

Objectors hoped the council would directly address peoples’ concerns but "instead they have all been served up with a selection from a menu of dull and often irrelevant responses which don’t directly answer their questions", says OCHDA chairperson Phil Hamerton.

Argyll and Bute Council says full responses are being sent to all the individuals who made representation to address the matters raised and that those responses will be "clear and consistent to avoid confusion".

Comparison of 28 responses seen by OCHDA show that they contain identical paragraphs on common concerns such as finance, moorings and the harbour limits, repeating existing text from the council’s website as well as "completely irrelevant material describing the council’s other maritime responsibilities", adds OCHDA.

Objectors have not been told when they must respond by or what will happen to their objections if they fail to respond.

"In view of the importance of safe day-to-day management and the future development of the harbour, it is disappointing that, ten weeks after the consultation period closed, Argyll and Bute Council hasn’t even bothered to reply to individuals’ worries.

"It looks as if it hasn’t even read the objections and it has certainly given no hint that there might be a need for any changes. Objections, which had to be prepared and submitted over Christmas and Hogmanay, have not been given the respect they deserve.

Mr Hamertson added: "The consultation, run under the supervision of Transport Scotland, will determine not just who runs Oban Harbour but will also make a huge difference to how it is run. The recent debacle over cruise boats accessing the North Pier and pontoons during the Clipper Race shows how vital close collaboration between everyone involved in running and using the harbour is, but the draft HRO doesn’t cover this at all."