Macintyre speaking sense on Oban's future

[NickB]

.
Fantastic proposals in the Oban Times today to give Oban the facelift it has been needing for so long. The essential details seem to be:

~ Make the Esplanade two-way traffic
~ Roof/pedestrianise Stafford Street and part of George Street
~ Build breakwaters and a 'proper' sheltered harbour/marina North of the North Pier

Will it happen in our lifetime?

[Seventhseil]

Um that sounds a bit like Fort William.......

[NickB]

Um that sounds a bit like Fort William.......

I know what you mean, and any repeat of that hideousness would be unforgiveable. But it would not be the same . . . or at least it needn't be. For a start, in the Fort the buildings all back onto the seafront, presenting a hideous conglomeration of fire escapes, car parks and general dereliction. Secondly, the installation of so much car parking has led to a swathe of concrete hundreds of yards wide along the seafront. And thirdly, the waterside aspect is pretty grim as well . . .

All that is needed in Oban is to widen the esplanade to make it two-way traffic and smarten up the existing frontage - the buildings all face the sea, and the road only needs to be maybe ten metres wider than it is already (perhaps 15 for a nice pedestrian esplanade as well) - no need to fill the bay in any further than that.

[DonnieC]

Can't wait to see the over/underpass at the potential bottleneck around the Oban Inn/Columba Hotel corner

[NickB]

Can't wait to see the over/underpass at the potential bottleneck around the Oban Inn/Columba Hotel corner

Yes. that got a bit overlooked . . . one of them would have to go I guess. Time for a poll?