Monday, 22 June 2009 14:17

The far-reaching plan to transform five Argyll and Bute towns through landmark regeneration projects has taken a huge step forward.

The multi-million pound CHORD (Campbeltown, Helensburgh, Oban, Rothesay and Dunoon) initiative will see major improvements to the town centres and waterfronts of all five towns.

Argyll and Bute Councillors have now agreed the next steps for the projects after considering their Project Initiation Documents (PIDs) at a meeting of the Executive Committee.

The PIDs are the baseline upon which the future development of each project is managed and monitored.

Their agreement means that Project Boards in each area now have an agreed blueprint in terms of activities and actions required, as well as the timescales of various key milestones.

In November last year, the Council unanimously agreed to allocate more than £30 million to the project, since named ‘CHORD’.

The schemes in each town are:

• Campbeltown – improvements to the town’s heritage and conservation sites through a Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), the re-development of the existing marina and the regeneration of the Kinloch Road area (£6.5million).
• Helensburgh – developing a more sustainable traffic management system in the town centre and redeveloping the West Bay Esplanade between Colquhoun Square and William Street (£6.66million).
• Oban – providing a pontoon facility for yachts within Oban Bay, and constructing an Oban Development Road to provide new routes around the town centre and unlock development opportunities (£6.9million).
• Rothesay – deliver a THI for the Rothesay Town Centre Conservation area, and renovate and improve Rothesay Pavilion (£2.4million).
• Dunoon – redevelop and create a vibrant and attractive waterfront (£8.3million).

The PIDs for all projects have now been agreed, with the exception of the Oban Bay proposal which will be revised by the local Project Board before being submitted to the CHORD Programme Management Board for consideration later in the summer.

Argyll and Bute Council Leader, Councillor Dick Walsh, said agreeing the PIDs was a very important milestone to have reached.

“This is a major step in terms of seeing these ambitious and forward-looking projects come to fruition,” he added.

“We appreciate how enthusiastic the local communities in these towns and their surrounding areas are about these regeneration projects. This decision demonstrates that we are taking big strides in terms of progressing the initiatives towards implementation.

“We are obviously keen to move as swiftly as possible, but must at the same time ensure that the available resources are spent wisely and in accordance with the principles of Best Value for local taxpayers’ money.
Although this week represents major progress, we will of course continue to scrutinise all plans at appropriate intervals to assess their progress.”

EDITORS NOTES

Key agreed target dates for each project:

CAMPBELTOWN

• Townscape Heritage Project – ongoing.
• Marina – Complete Full Feasibility Study by summer 2010.
• Kinloch Road – Determine public realm works required by early 2010, submit Full Business case in Spring 2010.

HELENSBURGH

• Traffic Management and Streetscape Improvements – appoint project manager this summer, Community Consultation in Spring 2010, secure planning approval by early 2011, begin construction Autumn 2012, anticipated completion date late 2013.
• West Bay Esplanade – as above, except begin construction late 2011 and anticipated completion date Spring 2013.

OBAN

• Oban Bay/Harbour – PID currently being revised, expected to be submitted for consideration later in the summer.
• Oban Development Road – planning approval by winter 2011, begin construction late 2014.

ROTHESAY

• Townscape Heritage Initiative – appoint Project Officer Autumn 2009, submit Stage 2 bid to Heritage Lottery Fund by April 2010.
• Rothesay Pavilion – appoint Design Team Autumn 2009, Obtain listed building planning consent by autumn 2010, anticipated completion Spring 2013.

DUNOON

• Appoint consultants autumn 2009, develop Full Business Case for Phase 1 after summer 2010.

ENDS