A business case for the first ever public road on a small island in Oban Bay is to be completed by December.
Six-mile long Kerrera, with a population of 33, lacks a road linking the north and south ends of island. Transport Scotland has said that a new road is the key to providing a ferry service that meets the needs of the whole island.
At present there is a vehicle service from Gallanach in Oban to the south end of Kerrera and a passenger service operated by Oban Marina on the north end.
Transport Scotland is now providing a subsidy to the privately-run service from Gallanach for the first time, allowing it to operate an increased timetable.
It is providing £144,000 over two years and has produced a study to look at the longer term infrastructure needs of the island.
The study has said that a road is a must in the future and Argyll and Bute Council is looking into building one.
Sandy Mactaggart, executive director of development and infrastructure services, told members of the Oban Lorn and the Isles area committee yesterday that Jonathon Welch, transport planner, will be undertaking the business case for the potential provision of a north-south link road, to be completed by mid December.
Committee chairman Councillor Roddy McCuish said: “I think this is going to revitalise Kerrera.”
Mr Mactaggart said: “There is the opportunity to get the right solution for Kerrera and I am very clear that rests with a really open dialogue, and good communication links have been established with Transport Scotland ferries division and the local community who have been extremely proactive on the island.”
Councillor McCuish added: “I am delighted that the community is going to be involved in the business case because there is no point whatsoever in building something that they don’t want.”
Mr Mactaggart said that because the business case will be completed by December, it will allow the council to form a view come budget time in February.