Majority of more than 3,000 respondents oppose 5% charge in its current form; councils to review findings as Craignure ferry terminal costs almost double
Support for introducing a 5% visitor levy in Argyll and Bute is “limited”, according to a council consultation of more than 3,000 people. A report summarising responses by consultancy Ekos found 57% did not support the charge in its current form. Across respondent groups, opposition was strongest among businesses: 67% of business respondents said “I don’t support a visitor levy being introduced across Argyll and Bute,” alongside 52% of residential respondents and 62% of visitors. “Agree or strongly agree” responses were 6%, 26% and 10% respectively.
The findings will go to a short-life working group led by council leader Jim Lynch, ahead of discussion at the full council on 24 September. The group comprises six councillors from across the authority’s four administrative areas and will first consider the report at its 15 September meeting.
Ekos stated: “Overall, the consultation found limited support for the implementation of a visitor levy scheme in its current form.” It added that “57% of survey respondents… did not support the implementation of a visitor scheme in Argyll and Bute in any shape or form,” while “43%… disagreed with aspects of the national legislation and the council’s proposals or considered the timing not right.”
Operators voiced sharply differing views on the proposal’s timing, use of funds and potential impact on fragile visitor economies:
- Management at Willow Lodge in Dunoon said: “Dunoon and Cowal is not New York, Paris, or even Oban. We’re struggling for tourism – we should be doing everything possible to encourage visitors, not putting up barriers. This is not the right solution for our area, we need support, not added costs and complexity. If this goes ahead, there will be business closures, and some will operate underground and unregulated to avoid a visitor levy – and that helps no one.”
- The owner of Greystones Bed and Breakfast in Oban said: “I agree with the motivation behind a visitor levy and if it was executed the way people broadly talk about it – that is, if the money was used for necessary projects in a local environment – then yes, maybe it’s worth doing. But I’ve got absolutely no faith that any money raised will be usefully used. We’re not even doing a good job of providing visitors with the basic infrastructure they need to do the things they want to do, we can’t even provide ferries to get people to the islands… the replacement ferries are six or seven years late. The council needs to walk before it runs, we can’t even keep the streets clean, there are bins all over the streets with rubbish pouring out onto the pavements and that’s the council’s responsibility.”
- The owners of the Loch Fyne Gallery in Tarbert said: “I can’t see any benefit to such a scheme, it will only increase costs for business and visitors; we should be trying to do things that increase visitors, not make things more expensive. Places have already shut due to the current downturn, visitors in Tarbert struggle to find anywhere that is open to get a drink or something to eat; during the winter months there is basically nothing happening. These are areas that the council should already be investing in, they shouldn’t have to take more money from us to make it happen.”
In a statement, Argyll and Bute Council said: “We welcomed views from across Argyll and Bute, and time has been given to fully considering feedback.”
Related capital pressure: Craignure ferry terminal costs
Alongside the levy debate, councillors will be updated on the Craignure ferry terminal project, where projected costs have risen from £50m (2020) to about £96m, driven by inflation and scope development. Executive director Kirsty Flanagan said: “This next stage will develop more accurate construction costing estimates as the design and methodology become more informed. The initial construction phase projection cost of £50m is now estimated at circa £96m, based on inflationary increases to the original 2020 estimates.” She added that tendering to appoint management consultants is expected to go live by November, with an appointment due January 2026.
On the Passenger Access System, Flanagan said: “The design and build tenders were returned with costs significantly higher than originally estimated and timescales significantly longer than expected. Officers have since discussed options with representatives from CMAL and CalMac and agreed that operationally an inspection and refurbishment of the existing facility should take place to extend the safe working life of the existing PAS until the new pier is completed.”
Next steps: The council’s working group will review the consultation outcomes and options, including potential timing and design changes if a levy is pursued, before recommendations go to the full council later this month. Any scheme would also need to align with national legislation and demonstrate clear, locally ring-fenced benefits to gain buy-in from businesses and residents.
