Stornoway Port Authority has been advised that Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has secured funding “for the infill of the Bayhead Estuary”.

To date no formal or detailed application has been received but the Port Authority anticipates receiving an application for consideration to its next scheduled Board Meeting on 15 January 2010.

The Bayhead Estuary falls within the Statutory Limits of Stornoway Harbour and any developer will require the consent of the Stornoway Port Authority before proceeding.

The Port Authority further understands that a formal Planning Application will come before Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar for determination and in addition the developer will require the consent of the Stornoway Trust as owners of the foreshore and the Crown Estate who claim ownership of the River bed in the Estuary.

Before arriving at any decision the Port Authority wishes to consult with and obtain the views of its Stakeholders in connection with the proposal to infill (or partially infill) the Bayhead Estuary. The Port Authority has already made it clear that the berth and steps at the North End of Cromwell Street Quay which are used by a number of fishing boats and other vessels must not be compromised in any way by the proposal.

Presently in severe South Westerly storm conditions significant wave energy dissipates up the Bayhead Estuary and the Port Authority would need to be certain that the infilling of the estuary would not create any adverse effects elsewhere in the Harbour.

Therefore on receipt of a detailed application it is the Port Authority’s intention, among other things, to independently commission consultants to carry out a detailed hydraulic model and survey of the area to establish what effects if any the proposal to infill the Bayhead Estuary might have on other areas of the harbour and to the existing facilities such as the pontoons.

In the meantime the Port Authority wishes to make all Stakeholders aware of the proposal and invites comments or views from all Harbour Users and indeed any member of the wider community

The Authority is seeking comments in writing or by E-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by 11th January 2010.