1.1 Introduction to Argyll - some key facts

Argyll and Bute:

• has a land area of 690,900 hectares;
• has more than 4,500 km of coastline;
• has a mountainous terrain;
• is characterised by numerous peninsulas separated by deep sea lochs;
• includes 25 inhabited islands;
• is the second largest council area in Scotland; and
• is home to the most diverse range of flora and fauna in the UK.

Its population of 91,306 is spread across bustling urban centres, traditional rural villages and remote islands and in total represents 10% of the land area of Scotland but only 2% of the population. The life experiences in the area are as diverse as the landscape. Everyday life on the isle of Colonsay is vastly different to that in Helensburgh, the largest urban centre. Rural communities’ access to green space and outstanding biodiversity are the envy of many urban dwellers. However, more remote populations may miss the ease of access to facilities that urban residents take for granted. The contrasting experiences of Argyll and Bute’s residents correspond to three geographical areas:

• The Atlantic Isles - these islands (from Islay and Gigha in the south to Coll and Tiree in the north-west) all face transportation, education and access challenges that are significantly different from the rest of Argyll and Bute. The islands of Jura and Coll currently have Initiative at the Edge status and the island of Colonsay is still supported as one of our most remote and fragile communities.
• The Rural Mainland - this is the area from Appin in the north, through Mid Argyll, West Cowal and Kintyre, to Campbeltown in the south. The area is characterised by predominantly rural settlements and it is unusual for people to commute out with this area.
• The Commuter Belt - this area comprises the Helensburgh and Lomond, and Bute and East Cowal areas. The lifestyle here is different because of the proximity to, and regular links with, large urban centres and Scotland’s central belt. The towns of Helensburgh, Rothesay and Dunoon hold most of Argyll and Bute’s urban population and have more in common with adjacent urban areas to the east than the rural mainland.

Population:

• Argyll and Bute is the third most sparsely populated council area in Scotland.
• the population has declined over the past ten years.
• there is a trend towards an ageing population.

Economy:

• is predominantly service-based.
• the level of unemployment is lower than the Scottish average.
• our gross domestic product (at basic prices) is 25% below the Scottish average.

Health:

• life expectancy at birth is higher than the Scottish average.
• access to medical services is below the Scottish average.

Education:

• students exceed the Scottish average in terms of performance and qualifications attained.
• a lack of higher education provision forces students to leave the area.

Environment:

• the area features part of Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, 8 National Nature Reserves, 120 Sites of Special Scientific Interest which encompass almost 10% of the total area.
• air and drinking water quality is characterised as good.

Housing:

• 11% of households in Argyll and Bute are second or holiday homes, this is over 10 times the national average.
• social rented sector accounts for only 23% of the total housing stock, compared with 30% in Scotland.

Crime:

• the crime rate is approximately half the national average.

Community:

• residents have described their area as a “fairly good” or “very good” place to live.
• the two most frequently mentioned descriptions were “safe” and “attractive”.
• there remains pockets of deprivation spread throughout the area.