Funding sought to re-establish visitor moorings in Lamlash Bay

Previously the two groups worked independently of each other, however, following the retirement of the person responsible for the LVMA, LMMA has taken over the responsibility to try and provide moorings for visiting craft.

Unfortunately, the initiative will need to start almost from scratch as the previous moorings for visitors in Lamlash Bay had to be removed as they were beyond their serviceable lifespan.

David Millar, president and treasurer of LMMA told the Banner: “The lack of investment rendered the remaining visitors moorings not fit for purpose so they have been removed. This means that in one of the best and most sheltered sites on the Firth of Clyde there are no places for visiting craft to come to.

“This will not only have a detrimental affect on the local economy, including shops, bars, restaurants, cafes and other retail outlets, but will also mean that youth organisations, sailing groups and those physically disadvantaged, will not have a ‘safe haven’ to moor at and come ashore”.

David, and the LMMA committee, hope to reinstate the original 20 visitors moorings that Lamlash has had in the past. After securing the services of a local commercial diver who has assessed the requirements for re-establishing the visitor moorings, the LMMA estimate that it will cost around £2,200 per mooring for the chain, rope, new mooring buoys with pickups, and the services of a diver to install them.

To install all 20, the estimated cost will be £44,000. To help fund the project, LMMA has started a gofundme fundraiser and the Arran Trust has shown its support for the project by making a generous donation of £4,000.

David believes that the initiative will be able to support its own maintenance costs after the initial installation. He added: “My initial thoughts are that if we can raise enough funds to install at least 10, then that is a start and better than we currently have. There will be an overnight cost to moor of £18 which is a typical fee on the West Coast, and which will go towards installing other moorings and ongoing annual maintenance”.

The lack of visitor moorings at Lamlash Bay lends credence to Lamlash diver, Howard Wood’s recent research that Arran’s marine infrastructure lags behind other Scottish islands by 20 years. In his recent research paper, previously printed in the Banner, a study conducted by EKOS consultants found significantly increased economic opportunities and social benefits of well-developed marine infrastructure, especially on islands when investment was put into all year round facilities, such as transit marinas.

It also found that Arran’s under-developed marine infrastructure means it is unable to fully capitalise on the booming marine tourism sector, which plays a vital role in the sustainability of many Scottish islands.

If you wish to support this project the fundraising page for establishing new visitor moorings at Lamlash Bay can be found at www.gofundme.com/f/provide-visitors-moorings-in-lamlash-bay.