Former vice-chair calls for consultation on ownership of new infrastructure at Lochboisdale
Iain Stephen Morrison
Community members should be consulted on the ownership of the ferry terminal to be established at Lochboisdale, according to one of the original architects of the buyout of South Uist Estate.
Lochboisdale Development Limited, a subsidiary company of the community landowner, has been working with Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) to develop new infrastructure on Gasay, with the existing pier and linkspan at Lochboisdale due to be replaced before 2025.
Father Michael MacDonald, who served as the first vice-chair of Sealladh na Beinne Mòire, has raised concerns about the arrangement under which the proposed development will be delivered on Gasay.
He spoke with Am Pàipear about his understanding that Lochboisdale Development Limited is in the process of agreeing a 99-year lease for part Gasay with CMAL for an annual fee of £50,000.
Am Pàipear has established that a lease is being negotiated, but for a term of 50 years and an annual sum greater than the reported £50,000.
Father Michael questions if the the community landowner should itself be constructing the new terminal as, in his view, CMAL will only establish a ferry terminal and not a facility that would enable Lochboisdale Development Limited to take advantage of the significant depth off the south side of Gasay. Establishing a deep-water harbour at Gasay was one of the initial aspirations of Sealladh na Beinne Mòire and the reason a harbour empowerment order was granted to Lochboisdale Development Limited in 2016.
Father Michael is concerned that CMAL will collect all income from the terminal, representing lost revenue to the community, and has called for consultation, across the estate area, on whether a community-owned harbour should be pursued or a facility belonging to CMAL.
“I believe very strongly that the community should own all infrastructure improvements carried out at Lochboisdale. I am worried that, in leasing off a significant part to CMAL, then that whole revenue stream could leave the community and go to the Scottish Government,” said Father Michael.
“I have not found any evidence that this question has been discussed in principle within Lochboisdale Development Limited, it does not appear in the minutes of Sealladh na Beinne Mòire, there does not appear to be any reference to discussion on the principle of this matter of leasing and, consequently, the policy which existed within Sealladh na Beinne Mòire, up until 2016, when the harbour empowerment order was granted, seems to have been overturned without any community consultation.
“I think that, while you cannot predict the future, you can establish a framework to allow you to take full advantage of anything that may come along in the future. If you are establishing a ferry terminal then you are only interested in the coming and going of the ferry and not in any other developments, because you, as the operator, are only supplying infrastructure for that ferry to operate.
“I believe this particular matter is so serious, that at the very least there has to be full community consultation, throughout the estate area, not just confined to Lochboisdale, because this is extremely important for the development of the economy of South Uist and the adjoining islands as well.”
Darren Taylor, chief executive of Sealladh na Beinne Mòire, explained that the board of Lochboisdale Development Limited passed a resolution to “close the option to be the owners of the…works” and the board of Sealladh na Beinne Mòire subsequently approved, a decision recorded in the published minutes, in December 2019.
“It is correct that there was, at one stage, an aspiration for Lochboisdale Development Limited to own the new terminal and to be project manager for its construction. However, in the autumn of 2019 it had become apparent that CMAL had shifted position on this and were adamant that they should be, in essence, in sole charge of the project and this was also the view of Transport for Scotland.
“Lochboisdale Development Limited and Sealladh na Beinne Mòire were at the same time looking closely at the cost and the risk implications of a project of this magnitude. It was decided, after careful consideration, to close the option to be the owners of the second phase of Lochboisdale Development Limited works and further agree to work with CMAL to do everything in our power to ensure a new terminal at Gasay happens,” commented Mr Taylor.
He elaborated on some of the detail of the proposed lease and said that leasing land for CMAL to develop would not prohibit the development of additional infrastructure on Gasay.
“We are planning a lease of 50 years not 99 years,” continued Mr Taylor.
“I will not comment on a specific annual fee that is still to be finalised, but can confirm it is significantly ahead of the £50,000 that has been suggested, which will result in a total income of several millions of pounds to the organisation over the 50 year period.”
Mr Taylor also said he did not consider that CMAL constructing the new ferry terminal would rule out Lochboisdale Development Limited developing further deep water facilities either concurrently or at some stage in the future.
“We do not believe that we will miss out on significant income from the terminal given the significant, and guaranteed rental income we will receive and do not see this as overturning policy. We still anticipate additional community-owned infrastructure at Gasay being constructed in the future.”
