The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race will arrive in Oban this weekend and, as part of bringing the event and its benefits to Oban, Argyll and Bute Council has put some traffic management arrangements in place and is encouraging people to use public transport where possible.
The council is a Host Port Partner alongside BID4Oban and the Scottish Towns Partnership, who have part-funded the host port costs. This is the first time this prestigious global sporting event has come to Scotland and provides a unique opportunity for the town and wider Argyll and Bute.
The event will take place from 12-21 July alongside a wider Festival of the Sea to celebrate the area’s outstanding maritime history, Gaelic tradition, music, songs, and literature. These events will help to stimulate investment across key sectors of food and drink, events and festivals, hospitality, and retail. You can find out what is on, and download a map of local amenities at www.oban.org.uk/clipper-race/
During this time, all council car parks in the town will remain open except the North Pier as outlined below. The council has also provided additional, alternative parking arrangements at Oban High School and Oban Primary, and is urging people to leave extra time for their journey if travelling to the town.
Please note:
- As the main event hub, the North Pier Car Park will close to vehicles from 7-22 July. Businesses on the pier will remain open and we will maintain pedestrian access throughout. During this time, parking will also be unavailable on a 200-metre stretch of the A85 Corran Esplanade from its junction to the North Pier. The service bus stop will temporarily relocate to the end of this stretch.
- We have issued a notice to close Station Square to traffic from 9am to 4pm on 21 July as it will be used as a muster area for area for a street procession. The closure period allows sufficient time to accommodate delays but we do not expect to close the square for the full period.
If you own a parking permit and want to know more about its use during this time, please visit the council website.