Argyll and Bute Transportation Strategy

1
Argyll and ButeTransportation Strategy

• Economy Workshop

2
Cross Sectoral Themes (1)

• There were a number of overriding themes across
  all sectors
• Is the economy the number one priority?
• Business is disadvantaged by peripherality
• Transport is the key to redressing this imbalance
• Scottish policies are Central Belt focussed
• There is an east-west imbalance in investment (A9
  vs A82)
• Businesses in Argyll should speak out with one
  voice
• Strategic planning horizon must be 20years and
  must be bold
• Historic lack of investment must be tackled

3
Cross Sectoral Themes (2)

• Three key areas identified for action, all
  contributing to improved operation of businesses
• 1- Investment in Infrastructure
• 2 - Integration and co-ordination
• 3 - Levels of subsidy

4
Roads Issues

• All business sectors are almost totally reliant
  upon road transport, therefore this is a major
  issue.
• Poor condition at all levels, particularly
• A82, A83, A85, A816, A848
• Improvements carried out are piecemeal
• Weight restrictions have huge cost implications
• Congestion (lorries and tourists) increases
  journey times
• High cost of fuel
• Congestion especially in Oban

5
Roads Solutions

• Efficient businesses need reduced journey times
  to minimise additional on costs
• A programmed approach to improvements on a larger
  more planned scale, tackling pinch points on
  strategic routes (A82 north of Tarbet, A83
  Ardrishaig, south Muasdale, Inveraray, railway
  bridge at Tarbet, A816)
• Integrated roads for heavy users (wind farms,
  timber, agriculture, fish farms etc) extended
  type of timber transport route network
• Traffic management on main roads should be
  improved with greater provision of lay-bys for
  tourists/lorries to pull over and clear signage
  re overtaking (information video on ferries?)
• Oban relief road and associated traffic
  management will improve all businesses in area

6
Sea Crossing Issues

• Island Businesses face additional on-costs of
  ferries for materials, customers and staff
• High/prohibitive fares
• Unclear and imbalanced pricing structure
• Infrequent and limited sailings severely limit
  business activity
• Boats tied up at mainland rather than island port
• Continued use of traditional routes
• Reduction of service in winter, when all
  non-tourist businesses have the same year-round
  transport needs
• Freight ships are effective, but only with
  economies of scale (eg timber). Yard facilities
  at Campbeltown
• Container facilities?

7
Sea Crossing Solutions

• Measure impact of fare levels on economy (HIE
  Skye study on bridge toll removal
• Undertake study for ABC area on economic impact
• Lobby for RET/increased subsidies/reduced fares
• Improve frequency, exploring shorter crossing
  with smaller, faster vessels
• Review focus of service for islanders or for
  tourists?!
• Reconsider traditional routes and seek
  alternative, direct or inter island crossings
• Make services responsive to demand
• New routes, e.g. Ireland/Ayrshire may improve
  business opportunities
• Freight shipping requires additional
  ports/harbours close to source materials
• Compare vessels with fixed infrastructure whole
  life costs
• More people would use informal water taxis if
  they were aware of them

8
Air transport

• New opportunities for business specialists can
  visit for the day
• Attractive to mobile inward investment
• High cost, but effective if high quality
• Opportunities for freight use restricted by MOD
  control of Macrihanish
• Ryanair model desirable, but unlikely to achieve
  critical mass
• More relevant to public sector

9
Rail/Cycle

• Rail
• Very limited freight opportunities
• Tourism affected by lack of integration at hubs
• Commuting
• Cycleways
• Currently dangerous
• Network of integrated long distance/local routes
  would create new tourist market
• Commuting routes
• Green transport opportunities

10
Primary Sector IssuesAgriculture, aquaculture,
fisheries, forestry

• Dominated by large loads on roads (eg 24x44t
  lorries per week from one farm)
• Routes from remote areas to central belt for
  processing no option for relocation as in
  manufacturing sector
• Little local processing, so raw loads larger
• Quality of roads impacts severely on journey
  times
• Weight restrictions impact on efficiency

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Primary Sector SolutionsAgriculture,
aquaculture, fisheries, forestry

• Use alternative methods where possible eg well
  boats (only limited possibilities)
• Increase local processing in all primary sectors,
  so value of goods transported is higher and total
  load therefore less
• Build on Rural Business Ring to achieve economies
  of scale and other models of good practice (eg
  Islay fertiliser)
• Build on timber transport model

12
Manufacturing Sector Issues

• Main concerns for the sector are
• Customer
• Central Belt and markets
• Materials
• Labour
• Dominated by
• Large loads on roads (eg Vestas) currently
  restricted by road width
• Quality of roads impacts severely on journey
  times
• Weight restrictions impact on efficiency
• Fixed (distilleries) vs mobile (Vestas)
• Fuel costs affect margins
• Empty vehicles returning

13
Service Sector Solutions

• Improvements to roads
• Clear signage for visitors identifying single
  track roads
• Lines of sight are extremely important to
  tourists keep verges cut!
• Invest in series of strategic lay-bys with T n
  P and photo opportunity improves visitor
  experience and reduces congestion
• Improved, trunk road strategic signage on use of
  lay-bys
• Include practical information (leaflets/film on
  ferries) on overtaking, passing places and
  reversing
• Create cycle route network
• Ensure joined up transport including public
  transport co-ordination at high quality
  interchanges/hubs