Argyll and Bute Council continues to support town centre regeneration by delivering Town Centre Funding from the Scottish Government. The fund worth £1.686 million is helping the local economy recover making it a more attractive places to live, work, visit and invest.

A report to the Environment, Development and Infrastructure (ED&I) committee on Thursday highlighted progress to date with 28 projects in total allocated for funding.

The Town Centre Fund programme is already making a difference with five projects completed so far. They include:

• Dunoon, Illumination and enhanced sound capability Argyll and Castle Gardens - £200,000
• Helensburgh Wooden Pier enhanced pedestrian access and benches - £74,000
• Refurbished community garden glasshouse, new potting shed and mobile staging equipment for Hermitage Park, Helensburgh - £35,000
• Tobermory Harbour wall enhancements - £295,000
• Campbeltown Shopfront Improvement Scheme- 32 shop front improvement grants awarded - £50,000

A number of projects are currently being delivered including:

• Rothesay pontoons - £553k
• Tobermory Harbour Floodgate £20k
• Shopfront Improvement grants to businesses in Tobermory, Tarbert, Helensburgh, Lomond, Lochgilphead, Ardrishaig and Bowmore
• Helensburgh Wooden Pier interpretation board- part of the Clyde Sea Lochs Trail - £11,000

The remaining projects will all complete by the end of August 2021.

Councillor Alastair Redman, Policy Lead for Business, Regeneration and Commercial Development

“The Town Centre Fund is already making a huge difference across Argyll and Bute with businesses, town centres and visitor facilities benefiting from vital investment. In managing the fund, we’re aiming to stimulate economic recovery through support to the construction sector and town centre retailers, following the impact of the pandemic.

The ongoing projects will also serve to help with economic recovery, and make our places more attractive to live, work, visit, when safe to do so and invest. ”

Projects that are currently in development include:

• Bute public art welcome sign £25k
• Rothesay all weather canopy £30k
• Queen’s Hall illumination, and remedial work to bandstand as well as new staging, Dunoon £45,500
• Howie Park (1) new Multi Use Games Area, new items of play equipment and (2) additional car parking £90k
• Bowmore public realm enhancements £85k