Residents are being invited to submit their views over future developments at Stornoway Harbour.

A number of public exhibitions are being held as part of a continuing consultation process on ambitious proposals that will bring significant benefits to the town, such as the development of a deep water port and new marina as part of the 20-year 'Masterplan'.

Features include

• A new deep water berth with a 400m long quay, with associated storage and working areas

• A berth and linkspan for a freight ferry

• Development land for a range of uses, including industrial, storage and decommissioning activities

• A new link road along the foreshore to Arnish fabrication yard

The facility will also provide additional capacity for a freight ferry, resilience to the current ferry service, create berthing for larger cargo ships, reducing transport costs and supporting future renewable energy projects. Additional phases of deep water quays, hard standings and development areas, will be built over a 20-year period as the commercial environment dictates.

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Plans for Newton Marina include;

• A new marina with pontoons for leisure craft, a marina services building, public slipway and a boat lift structure

• Hardstanding for boat storage

• A new marine engineering workshop to allow boat building and repairs under cover

• Creation of land for future development, including business/industrial, leisure and food and drink.

Alex Macleod, the Authority's Chief Executive, said: "These meetings are important parts of the whole process. They will give us the chance to present the proposals and get responses from the community.

"The planned developments will provide huge economic benefits for the whole island, and we want to move forward with the community fully informed about our plans, explaining why the developments are necessary and how they will bring new economic opportunities.

"The exhibitions and public meeting will update stakeholders on the progress of these proposals, but they are also a chance for us to listen so that we get this right."

Details of the exhibitions are as follows;

• Tuesday, 24 April 10am-6pm - Stornoway Town Hall - An exhibition will set out the proposals and the methods being used by the Port Authority to assess the environmental impact of the projects

• Monday, 04 June 10am-6pm - Stornoway Town Hall - At a second exhibition the Authority will explain how the proposals have evolved since the first consultation event and provide information about the environmental impact assessments

• Wednesday, 23 May - 7pm - An Lanntair, Kenneth Street, Stornoway - There will be a presentation about the Newton Marina and deep water port projects, and an opportunity to make comments, at the Port Authority's annual public meeting.

(LM/MH)