PORTS ENHANCEMENT STRATEGY

Location: Western Isles

Client: Comhairle Nan Eileen Siar

Programme: Completed 2001

Tourism is of substantial importance to the Western Isles economy and the client wished to improve the arrival experience for visitors to the islands. Involvement of the local community in this project was critical.

Meetings were held with the local community organizations to establish the most appropriate method of community involvement. This culminated in a community participation workshop in each area and a presentation of the final proposals. The client was keen that the proposals provided by the study were realistic and achievable.

The Lochboisdale Community requested a questionnaire to be circulated to gather suggestions for physical improvements. Models were constructed of each area and formed the centre-piece of the participation workshops. A voting board process was used to gather the community's views on proposals and this formed part of a comprehensive matrix which listed all proposals, land ownership, potential funding sources, phasing proposals and indicative costs.

Various organisations have applied for funding to carry out specific enhancement proposals and some physical improvements have already been completed.