On the crest of a wave

Sharon Thompson • Published 14 Jan 2010 14:36 0 Comments

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VILLAGE of the Year winners Arrochar and Tarbet will be able to share their success with many more tourists as plans get under way for a marine development designed to bring passenger ships back up the Loch.

This week brought the plans a step closer to reality, as the group charged with leading the venture was awarded more than half a million pounds for their efforts.

The Scottish Rural Development Project granted an Arrochar and Tarbet Community Development Trust £641,000 to create a pontoon and visitor centre in the lochside village, with a further half a million expected to follow shortly from Strathclyde Passenger Transport which will allow the work to get the work under way.

Arrochar was crowned the 'Village of the Year 2009' along with Tarbet, and the plans would mean that vessels such as the Waverley could bring tourists up Loch Long literally by the boat-load by the end of this year.

The Trust have been working on the proposals for around a year and showcased them to judges of the Calor competition for Village of the Year last summer.

The plans include the pontoon, a visitor centre - based at the former Pit-Stop Diner - with toilets, shower and launderette facilities.

As well as commercial tourist vessels, opening up the marine access will also enable private vessels such as yachts and even kayaks to berth.

Retta Deerin finds that being a director, treasurer and acting secretary of the Trust can be a time-consuming process, but she is delighted about the news.

"Jobs will be created on the pontoon itself, which we understand will be operational this year, and in the village."

She said the ball started rolling originally as a proposal for marine access to the sea lochs - a concept the National Park was keen to see developed. But the project needed a group to take the lead.

"We set up a committee to look at the aspects of it, a former member of the Trust - Jim Proctor - drew up the initial plans and our final plans were submitted by our architect, Mr Neil, from Oban."

She said it would herald a new tourist boom for the town since the closure of their public toilets several years ago.

"Business went downhill after their closure so even these facilities being provided will be a bonus to the village, it will encourage people to stop rather than just drive through."

And while they are stopping for a toilet break, Retta hopes they will be lured by the many other attractions.

"We hope to have a heritage room in the centre, which will be run by award-winning heritage group and we will also provide information on other businesses such as eating places and shops for them to visit.

The centre will also include vital amenities to visitors to the area. Facilities for the already established hill walker visitors attracted to the area by the quality of walks and stunning scenery, including the 100,000 walkers each year who climb the famous Cobbler peak.

The SRDP announced a whopping £1.6 billion programme of funding with the aim of developing rural Scotland over the coming six-year period.

Funding for the initiative came from the Scottish Government, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and voluntary modulation.

Plans were submitted by the Development Trust - who are working in partnership with Argyll and Bute council, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, SPT and Community Links Scotland - as part of the application for the cash.

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