2008 End of Season Review
The season is almost over; the very last visiting boats cling to the pontoon and our local boats are slipping ashore for the winter - time to review the year that was the 25th anniversary of the founding of the THA.
Round the Clock
Since 2000, the Millennium, the THA has helped to organise the towns New Year celebrations and fireworks. 2008 was spectacular and once again thanks go out to our sponsors from hotels and businesses to individuals. 2008 was Brian Swinbanks' final year organising the fireworks. Please contact the THA if anyone is interested in taking on this annual event.
Taigh Solais
Building time was lost in the winter months and the opening scheduled for early May slipped to June and eventually the official opening day on the 3rd July became the completion date for the building , nothing like a Royal visit to focus everyone efforts. The day was brilliant, the sun shone and the crowds gathered for a great day culminating in a spectacular free concert. Thanks again to all who helped.
The building is now working well. The toilets and showers open and yes there are minor problems with the external lighting, the floor levels in the showers and the turnstile but these will be resolved before next season. The demand for washing machines and tumble dryers has surprised us all and we are already considering up grading our domestic machines to commercial units speed up the cycle. All our tenants are in and there are only two small offices left to let, please contact Alison at the THA for details. Tel: 01688302939 e-mail: alison.rimell@tobermoryharbour.co.uk - or visit our website at www.tobermoryharbour.co.uk
Every-one loves the architecture of our new building. The form is both traditional and modern. The tower finishes the Southside of the bay and the panoramic views from the Board Room at the top of the tower are spectacular. This room is available for hire to groups, businesses and individuals at very competitive rates and will soon be fitted with a large display screen for conferencing and presentations.
Sponsors
A final word of thanks must go to our main sponsors and funders, the Big Lottery, Argyll and the Isle Enterprise , the Crown estates, HI Community Energy Company, A & B Council, the Dunfermline Building Society. Without their support this project would not have been possible.
The Staff
Morag Brown has now left the THA to take up a new position with Argyll and Bute Council we all wish her well. In her final year Morag was working for both the THA as project Manager and for Oban Bay Marine on a new project to fund and install pontoons in Oban Bay. A new development in Oban would help us all. Oban is a major marine hub and a stepping stone to Tobermory. Though grant funding has dried up and Morag has retired from the project it is to be hoped that a new development in Oban can be in place by 2009 funded by the Crown Estate, Argyll and Bute and others.
Allison Rimell who joined the THA from MICT is our new administrator. Alison can be contacted at the THA Office in Taigh Solais from 09.00 to 14.00 on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Jim Traynor and Barbara Weir our moorings/relief officers have had a great season managing our assets afloat. The new pontoon has increased our berthing numbers in fact year on year numbers were up in all departments. The totals for Visitor moorings are 1,993 - Boats alongside the pontoon 3,321 - Boats Anchoring 938 - Cruise Liners 18.
Our staff team is completed with 2 cleaners Gordon Taylor and Grant Bellows - who have contributed enormously towards maintaining the high quality experience which visitors and tenants have when using the building.
Members and local Moorings
The THA is still struggling to find space within the bay for more local moorings which must be balanced against the need to retain a clear and free anchoring area and a clear and navigable fairway day and night to the fishing pier. We are working with our mooring consultant Tony Ratcliff to address this problem.
The Seaplane
The service to Glasgow is now operational. The position of the seaplane pontoon / landing stage has not affected navigation through the bay. The shuttle boat for passengers run by Sealife Surveys has worked well and the sight of a seaplane landing and taking off within the bay is a tourist talking point.
Sewage
The new system and treatment plant is fully operational. The break in the distillery outfall in the middle of the Bay has been fixed. Small cracks in the old sewage pipe under the main street have now been identified by a remote camera and repairs will follow. The new pumping station in the Ledaig Boat Park is now operational but a problem with sea water entering the system through the overflow pipe has been identified. The THA will continue to pressure Scottish Water Solutions to install a none-return valve in this system.
The Future
The THA Directors have agreed that a two year period of consolidation is required to manage and maximise all our new assets. Behind the scenes the THA are still looking at a new project to provide alongside berthing for boats over 50ft. The THA is a growing company and if you feel that you have the time, the energy and expertise to assist our staff why not stand for election as a Director. The next AGM will be in June 2009.
The proposed closure of the Argyll and Bute Tobermory town toilets creates new problems. The toilets at Taigh Solais were never conceived of or submitted for funding as a replacement for the town toilets. To-wards the end of our fundraising the THA approached the council for help with the project; we were short by £50k. The council offered support, over five years funded from the car parking budget and from future budget savings including a possible closure of the Main Street toilets. The THA still considers that the town needs more public toilets and consequently the THA will now put pressure on CMAL / Calmac to provide public toilets at the north end of the town for waiting ferry passengers.
The recession and the imminent increase in Marine fuel duty could be problem for both local boats and for our visitor numbers in future.
Putting aside all the recent gloom and doom the THA will continue to provide 'facilities for all' and encourage visitors afloat to bring benefit throughout the Island. |
