Argyll and Bute Council yesterday admitted that its bill to upgrade the airfield and two satellite strips had now hit £8.5m.

The cost of Oban's new airport has now almost doubled as doubts grow over its viability.

Argyll and Bute Council yesterday admitted that its bill to upgrade the airfield and two satellite strips had now hit £8.5m.

The council, which has championed the project, is still struggling to get licences for the new aerodromes at Connel, near Oban, and on Coll and Colonsay and does not expect much-vaunted scheduled flights to begin until January.

It had planned to carry out the project for little more than £4.5m. It initially estimated the cost of revamping Oban alone at £3.25m.

A senior Scottish aviation figure yesterday called on the council to drop plans to license the airfields altogether, claiming the entire exercise was a waste of taxpayers' money.

George Cormack, of Hebri-dean Air Services, said: "It seems that at the moment, the tail is wagging the dog. Why not try to get an agreed way forward to let an operator start the services before this turns out to be a major fiasco."

The Herald has learned that the council was told by its own consultants as far back as 2000 that it would be "unlikely" to get the licence it is now seeking for Oban.

Argyll and Bute yesterday said it remained confident it would get the licence it wanted for Oban - and lesser certificates for Coll and Colonsay. It has previously blamed delays on its fire engine supplier. However, officials admitted there were also other issues.