An Tirisdeach is delighted to report that a full funding package is now in place to enable the go ahead of the redevelopment project at Milton Harbour. Tiree Community Development Trust released the following statement this week, confirming this fantastic news.
“Following the successful application that allowed us to start work at Scarinish harbour last month, we are delighted to confirm that the full funding package is now in place to enable us to go ahead with our urgent repairs and redevelopment at Milton Harbour. We are extremely grateful to Marine Scotland’s Emergency Harbour Scheme and Highlands and Islands Enterprise for their support that has enabled us to maximise the impact of funds generated by Tilley the community wind turbine.”
The £1.2 Million-pound development project will completely regenerate the harbour, which currently houses 6 full time fishing boats. The development works will consist of raising the height of the structure by one metre to prevent waves overtopping, extending the pier to allow for two additional berths, creating a ‘dogleg’ to provide some shelter, constructing a catch sorting and packing shed.
Funding has been sought from Marine Scotland and Highlands and Highlands Enterprise and the remaining £232,455 will come from the Tiree Windfall Fund. To date this will be the highest value project to be delivered on the island since the erection of Tilley. The match funding from The Windfall Fund was paramount in securing the additional funding, therefore it is imperative to emphasise the importance of this community asset.
The advancement of this project will come as a huge relief to our local fishermen who have been working with dangerous and inadequate facilities for many years now. It is hoped that work will start in Spring of 2019 and take around 6 months to complete.
The project will be operated through Tiree Community Maritime Assets Ltd, which has been set up as a subsidiary company of Tiree Community Development Trust.
TCMAL is in the process of taking on ownership of Milton Harbour along with Scarinish Harbour, where development works are continuing. Argyll Estates have been very supportive of the project and are intending to gift both harbours to the community.
