The upgraded and community-owned Staffin Harbour is starting its first full year of trading, as it prepares to welcome tenants to their newly-built business premises.
Staffin Community Trust - which completed the long-awaited purchase of the harbour last year from The Highland Council and Scottish Ministers – has been busy over the winter carrying out extensive construction works.
Seven new business sheds were built on the harbour’s new onshore area with the remaining groundworks to be completed in the coming weeks. For the first time in its history the harbour now has a live electricity supply, with the water connection imminent.
SCT has been developing its boat lifting and storage service using its Roodberg trailer which was supported by the purchase of a new telehandler.
A new Harbour Facilities Building will also be constructed later this year with toilets, showers and office / retail space.
Ahead of the first year of trading SCT has introduced a competitively priced tariff, which was set after reviewing other west Highland harbour fees.
SCT’s website is now updated with fresh information on the harbour and its services and the user-friendly payment system. Like any small business SCT has to meet significant annual costs in running the community-owned harbour which will support the jobs and businesses that depend on the new and much improved facility.
With further improvements planned in a series of phases in the next two to three years including a new breakwater, slipway and pontoons the support of users will never be taken for granted.
SCT looks forward to the continued support from the local and wider Skye community, and visitors. Staffin Harbour manager Lachie Gillies said it was an exciting time for the community.
“There are many challenges ahead of us in the months and years ahead,” he said. “We have turned what was becoming a run-down and unmaintained slipway into a very usable small harbour offering boat lifting services, storage and units for lease. We’re also working hard on the future phases to provide a new slipway, breakwater, pontoons, showers, and toilets. We hope that local people and our many visitors understand the harbour is a small community-run business and must charge for services to cover our running costs.
“Everybody has seen the benefits to the community up to now and there is a lot more to come.”
Lachie, who is based in the harbour office, would be delighted to show anybody wishing to visit the harbour around.
SCT director Angus Ross said: “Ever since Staffin Community Trust was formed back in 1994; we’ve aspired to develop the harbour into an area that provides modern and safe facilities for both professional and leisure users. It’s been a long time coming but we are delighted with what we have achieved and the continued development of the area will expand and enhance the services and facilities that Staffin Harbour offers.”
All of the capital funding and investment in the harbour to date has been secured by SCT.
SCT is grateful for the support received from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Land Fund, Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, Islands Programme, Maritime Fisheries Fund, Fisheries Harbours Assistance, Highland Council’s Community Regeneration Fund, Organic Sea Harvest, Social Enterprise Scotland and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
