The exemplary Tobermory Harbour Association [THA], whose initiative, enterprise, resourcefulness and calibre of management is one of the beacons in Argyll for what is possible, is developing plans for the expansion of the harbour.
The headline aim is to achieve Statutory Harbour Authority status for Tobermory – alongside supporting plans to improve and expand Mull’s marine tourism facilities, following an agreement between the THA and the Crown Estate.
The public event – on 11th September from 7.30pm-9.30pm at Aros Hall in Tobermory – will provide those attending with information on proposed plans for the harbour including a new Local Management Agreement between the Crown Estate and Tobermory Harbour Association [THA].
This is a significant step towards THA securing a long-term lease for the seabed. The lease, together with their proposed Harbour Empowerment Order, would give THA full management control of Tobermory Bay.
At next week’s event, residents will also be able to learn more about the Association’s work to achieve Statutory Harbour Authority status, ahead of a formal consultation on this proposal by THA later this year.
This is inspirational forward planning that envisages serious authority vested in THA for the local community.
£320,000 has already been invested by the Crown Estate in new pontoons at Tobermory Harbour, benefiting locals and attracting visitors and delivering knock-on benefits for the local economy.
The Crown Estate introduced Local Managemnt Agreement’s [LMAs] in 2012, to help local organisations to manage areas of seabed and foreshore directly, by developing projects that provide economic, social or environmental benefits for the community. LMAs offer packages of support such as project management and legal advice, help in securing funding and, when appropriate, direct investment on a commercial basis.
Brian Swinbanks of Tobermory Harbour Association says: ‘We are working hard to secure our statutory harbour authority status and this agreement with the Crown Estate is a real milestone, taking us a big step towards ensuring that our local community can benefit from marine tourism for years to come.’
Alan Laidlaw, the Crown Estate’s Rural & Coastal Manager in Scotland, says: ‘We’re incredibly pleased to be working with Tobermory Harbour Association to help them grow and manage their marine tourism facilities which will in turn have knock-on benefits for local businesses. This Local Management Agreement builds on our long-standing partnership with the harbour and our commitment to working collaboratively with coastal communities.’
Other Crown Estate LMAs include a Portree harbour project to expand capacity for cruise ships there; and the Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust’s plans for a walkway, pontoons and more moorings at Ardminish Bay. The Gigha project has a £271,000 grant from the Coastal Communities Fund, a UK Government initiative that supports economic development projects.
The Coastal Communities Fund acquires its income from 50% of the Crown Estate’s revenues from the seabed and coast each year. It allows communities to share equally in the returns.
At Lochmaddy, where the UK’s first LMA project was developed, berthing and visitor facilities were opened officially on 2nd September by HRH the Princess Royal and have already attracted over 300 yachts from the UK and Europe in the first two months of operation.
The income generated will be used for further pontoons and other facilities, as well as community events.
About the Crown Estate
What is called ‘the Crown Estate’ is a portfolio of rights and assets managed by public servants in the interests and to the benefit of the state. All of its profits go to the United Kingdom Treasury.
The state funding of the Royal family is currently done from 15% of the profits of this publicly owned portfolio.
It is a highly diverse £9.9 billion property portfolio spread across the United Kingdom, with the clear majority of its revenues coming from built property in London.
The portfolio of rights and assets known as the ‘Crown Estate’ was established by an Act of Parliament and the public servants who adminster it manage land and property across the UK, including the seabed and about half of the foreshore. Assets are sid to be sustainably worked, developed and enjoyed to deliver long-term value.
Revenue profits – paid to the United Kingdom Government to support public services and finances – totalled £267 Million in 2013-14.
The management has offices in London, Edinburgh, Glenlivet and Lockerbie and works with Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament, local authorities, communities and businesses in sectors such as offshore renewables, tourism and aquaculture.
In Scotland.
The management structure comprises:
- an Energy and Infrastructure portfolio, including management of the seabed out to the 12 nautical miles and the rights to renewable energy on the UK continental shelf;
- a Rural and Coastal portfolio;
- approximately half the foreshore, managing around 850 aquaculture sites and licensing 5,000 moorings;
- 42,000 hectares including the Glenlivet, Fochabers, Applegirth and Whitehill estates, with agricultural tenancies, residential properties and forestry;
- an urban estate which includes retail property in Edinburgh and, as above, has its major assets in London.
