Press Release

27 NOVEMBER 2006

 

HARBOUR PLANS FOR FUTURE

 

Stornoway Port Authority at a recent Meeting approved of a Strategic Planning document incorporating a list of "Key Tasks" for 2007 and prioritising a number of other major projects for 2007 and onwards.

 

At their 22 nd November 2006 meeting the Board was informed of the completion of a 10 Years Maintenance and Investment Plan around the Harbour at a cost of over £3.5 Million Pounds.  Board Members had before them a paper detailing the expenditure much of which had been incurred on vital repairs and maintenance on aging Pier Structures. For example over half a million pounds had been spent on the town's Cromwell Street Quay alone to address the problem of accelerated low water corrosion on the steel  quay wall foundations.  Installation of anti corrosion devices (anodes) on the relatively new Pier Number 3 cost £165,000 whilst repairs to the Number 1 Pier Linkspan and installation of anodes this year cost some £170,000.

 

Close on £1 million pounds had been spent upgrading the Goat Island Slipway in two different projects in 1999 and 2005.

 

Other completed projects included demolition of redundant buildings, restoration of grade "B" listed Amity House, and improvements to other Harbour Properties. Resurfacing of the whole of Cromwell Street Quay, North Beach Quay and the Causeway Leading to Goat Island accounted for a further £50,000 of expenditure.

 

Looking to the future the Board has prioritised the rebuilding of Number 1 Pier and Linkspan and has made preliminary enquiries of the Scottish Executive with regard to funding. This process will require a Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance ["STAG"] study to evaluate the feasibility and necessity for the development. The Chief Executive has been asked to report back to the January 2007 meeting of the Board with details of costs etc. for such a study.

 

The Board was also awaiting the outcome of the feasibility study concerning the possible relocation of bulk cargo operations including oil and gas to the Glumaig area of the Harbour.

 

Other projects given the green light for completion in 2007 onwards include

 

• Replacement of timber fendering on the West Side of Number 2 Pier
• Provision of Pontoon Access and Gangway for use of Cruise Liner Tenders
• Provision of new sector navigational light North of Creed River
• Additional CCTV coverage at Cromwell Street
• New Pontoons for Leisure & Fishing Craft - Inner Harbour
• Replace Safety Rails around all steps in Harbour Area

 

Commenting Chief Executive John Maclennan said "The Board acknowledges financial support from European, National and Local Bodies, and is also grateful to The Scottish Executive, Western Isles Enterprise, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, and the Stornoway Amenity Trust for partnership working and support towards delivery of these projects.

 

Strategically the Board considers the rebuilding of Number 1 Pier and Linkspan as being vital to enable the Authority to continue the delivery of services to Port Users and the Island Community. Subject to accessing funding the Port Authority will be in a position to consider this major works from 2008 onwards."

Costs 1995 - 2006