Radical plans to fill in part of Oban Bay and created an underground car park have been revealed.
Ian Dougall, a project designer, of Glenshellach Road, Oban, wants Argyll and Bute Council to consider using his ideas to regenerate the town.
While the council is already committed to a number of regeneration projects in Oban, Mr Dougall, who formerly worked for Keyline builders merchants as UK timber products manager, does not believe they are viable.
The council’s own plans include proposals for a new promenade along the front and building a marine visitor centre as part of its Chord project.
Chord is a £30million scheme to develop the council’s five waterfront towns – Campbeltown, Helensburgh, Oban, Rothesay and Dunoon.
Mr Dougall said the money would be better spent on his ideas. He wants to fill in the bay between the North and Railway Pier and create an underground car parking with 400 spaces. Above the car park would be a recreational area.
He said: “The large scale town centre underground car park will free up existing car parks for further commercial and residential development which will not only contribute to funding but continue to expand the scale and reach of the project. This significant piece of infrastructure will be the key to unlocking the full potential of Oban for the next generation.
“With direct routes to and from the car park and no on-street parking on Dunollie Road and George Street, traffic congestion will be reduced dramatically with foot fall to the retail centre of Oban increased through parking management and recreational activity alongside the benefits of a credible cycle scheme.
“Retail activity will be dramatically stimulated, the wellbeing of the wider community improved considerably with the overall effect being transformational to the town as a whole.”
A council spokesman said: “The council will be giving careful consideration to Mr Dougall’s proposals, as we do with any correspondence from members of the public. We will be responding in due course, once the merits of these proposals have been assessed.”