Argyll and Bute Council’s £600,000 public realm improvement project in Oban’s Stafford Street is now complete, with the new space being opened to members of the public last week (Wednesday 8th July).

Oban-based Councillor Roddy McCuish, chair of the council’s Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee, welcomed this news, saying: ‘’This is a great boost for the town as we head into the summer. We are over the moon to see the project completed and the high quality of the work. It was great to see 50 some people out enjoying the area and taking advantage of the 90 metres of public seating in the new terraced design.

‘’There’s still a tiny bit of snagging work to be completed but nothing major; we would expect the workmen to be off site by the end of this week.

‘’We really appreciate the patience shown by the public and businesses as this work has gone on and are hopeful that they will start to see the benefits of increased footfall and money through the till very soon. We would encourage them to take advantage of the new space and apply to the council for pavement café licences so that they can provide outside seating for their customers.

‘’It’s encouraging that some have done so or are in the process of doing so already.

‘’This is just the start of major regeneration work for Oban, with a further phase of public realm improvements planned along George Street later this year and into next year. It’s important that we push on now.’’

An official opening is currently being arranged for Wednesday 26th August.  

The improvements to Stafford Street provide the people of Oban with a fabulous terraced space to sit, relax and view the bay; a flexible open area (with power and Wi-Fi infrastructure) for small scale events and a shelter with inlaid artwork and ornamental colour changing LED lighting. 

Phase two, from Stafford Street to George Street, Queen’s Park Place and Station Square, is expected to begin later this year, with a view to completion by summer 2016.

The design for Station Square provides a shared surface, flexible space for occasional events; a widened seaside footway; an improved shelter for bus passengers; flexible seating; ornamental planting; LED lighting similar to Stafford Street; like-for-like provision for taxis and a new plinth for the clock tower.

George Street and Queen’s Park Place will see bespoke seating areas, including planting and decorative lighting; an improved footway on the seafront; refurbished railings and replacement lighting along the sea wall.