As published a week ago, For Argyll asked Councillor Roddy McCuish, as Chair of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee, to point us to where we could see the following papers in relation to the council’s planned development of what it calls a ‘Maritime Visitor Facility’ on Oban’s North Pier:
- the Economic Impact Assessment -[carried out by consultants];
- the Business Case;
- the most recent plans.
We had searched the Council website and could find no trace of these papers. This was surprising, since this is a public realm project, using pubic money, with the council itself as the developer, asking itself – as the planning authority, for permission to go ahead; and asking itself for the money to do so.
Councilor McCuish was typically matter of fact in response to a matter of fact inqury. He said he would get us the documents.
A wish to test the robustness of the economic impact assessment and the business plan for an apparently insecure and controbversial proposal is no more than a necessary democratic engagement; and the latest plans are no more than the latest plans.
When we had received neither papers nor links to papers and asked for them again, Councillor McCuish was embarrassed to have to tell us that ‘the officers don’t want you to have them’.
He himself can see no reason why these documents should not be available.
For Argyll has now lodged an informed Freedom of Information request and will pursue the matter.
