ISLE OF SKYE TOURIST BOARD - MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE ANNOUNCEMENT

PORTREE FLOATING CAR PARK APPROVED The Isle of Skye Tourist Board is delighted to announce plans for Portree’s first floating multi-storey car park. The new five-deck facility will be moored in Portree Harbour and provide parking for approximately 1,200 cars, 46 motorhomes and one coach whose driver insists it will fit. The project has been designed to ease congestion in Portree without using valuable land, widening any roads or addressing the underlying problem. - ARRIVAL AND ACCESS Drivers will enter the car park using a floating access ramp beside the harbour. As the ramp rises and falls with the tide, visitors are advised to maintain a steady speed and avoid attempting entry during particularly enthusiastic waves. Pedestrians will return to Portree aboard a complimentary shuttle boat operating every fifteen minutes, weather permitting. During low tide, reasonably confident passengers may simply walk. - PARKING ARRANGEMENTS Vehicles will be allocated spaces according to size, weight and likelihood of the driver returning within the hour stated. Blue Badge spaces will be positioned nearest the shore, except during strong easterly winds when they may be nearer Raasay. Electric vehicle charging points will be installed once somebody establishes whether electricity and seawater remain a poor combination. The ticket machine will accept cards only. There will, of course, be no mobile signal. - MOTORHOMES A limited number of motorhome spaces will be available on the upper deck, providing panoramic views across the harbour and improved opportunities for crosswinds. Overnight sleeping will not be permitted. Closing the curtains and referring to the vehicle as “temporarily unoccupied” will not alter this. Motorhome waste must not be discharged into the harbour. The harbour has enough to contend with. - WEATHER PROCEDURES In winds above 45mph, drivers should apply the handbrake firmly and leave the vehicle in gear. In winds above 60mph, the entire car park may be temporarily relocated to Raasay. Owners will be notified when it returns. Any vehicles remaining aboard after an unplanned relocation may incur an additional island-hopping supplement. - CRUISE SHIP DAYS When cruise ships enter the harbour, Levels Four and Five will be lowered temporarily to provide clearance. Drivers parked on those levels will be asked to remain calm and keep their windows closed. The Tourist Board accepts that placing a car park in the same harbour as visiting cruise ships may create certain operational tensions. These will be described as “shared marine use.” - DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION Donnie has located several pontoons, two lengths of chain and what he believes is most of a CalMac loading ramp. Murdo has reviewed the plans and says the car park will float perfectly well provided too many vehicles do not park on the same side. To prevent imbalance, German vehicles will be placed to port and British vehicles to starboard. French vehicles may park wherever they consider appropriate. - OPENING DATE Construction is expected to begin shortly after funding, planning approval, environmental assessment, harbour consent and the return of Donnie’s trailer. The official opening date will therefore be announced in due course. - ISLE OF SKYE TOURIST BOARD "Portree will finally have the parking it needs. It just may not always be in Portree."