News

The findings of an independent options appraisal into long-term arrangements for managing Oban Bay will be considered by Argyll and Bute Harbour Board next week. The report by Caledonian Economics outlines the best options available at this time to address safety concerns in the bay and move to a Statutory Harbour Authority (SHA) within the shortest timeframe. It identifies that that either CMAL or the council progresses a Harbour Order to assume responsibility for Oban Bay and its approaches.

Argyll and Bute Council has approved plans to boost the supply of affordable housing on Colonsay. Councillors have agreed that £254,000 from the Strategic Housing Fund should be allocated to build five affordable houses at Port Mor on the west of the island. The project will also involve infrastructure upgrades, including an improved access road to three existing crofts at Port Mor, and will enable Colonsay Community Development Company potential to provide mains water to the crofts.

Argyll and Bute’s Local Housing Strategy (LHS), outlining the council’s vision and investment priorities for the area’s housing sector, has been submitted to the Scottish Government for ministerial approval. The five-year strategy sets out the joint approach the Council and its partners will take to delivering high quality housing and housing-related services across Argyll and Bute.

Former Lord-Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute Patrick Stewart CVO, MBE, is to be awarded the freedom of Argyll and Bute, in recognition of more than three decades of service to the local community. In his role as a solicitor in the Campbeltown family firm of Stewart, Balfour and Sutherland, Mr Stewart developed particular expertise in a number of legal issues significant to Argyll and Bute, including agriculture, forestry, company law and the marine environment.

Argyll and Bute Council fought off stiff competition from across the country to win the hotly contested Early Years and Childcare Development category at last night’s Learning Places Scotland Awards.

If you live in the Lomond North area and want to have your say in next month’s by-election, there are just a few days left to register to vote. The by-election, on Thursday 16 December, is being held to elect one councillor to represent the Lomond North communities on Argyll and Bute Council. Only people who live in the ward, and who are registered to vote, are able to take part.

Argyll and Bute Council has been awarded funding from the Scottish Government to help people who are in rent arrears as a result of Covid 19. The Tenant Grant Fund is aimed at providing assistance to people living in social and private housing who have fallen behind with their rent between 23 March 2020 and 9 August 2021 as a result of financial difficulties during the pandemic.

If you are legally responsible for the repair and maintenance of a private property, there are straightforward steps you can take to protect your building from winter weather. As part of National Maintenance Week (19-26 November) Argyll and Bute Council is urging residents to carry out simple checks on properties of any age that could save money on expensive repairs further down the line.

Essential resurfacing work, to improve the facility, will take place at Westland Amenity Site, on Bute, until 18 November. This is because of poor weather conditions during critical stages of the work. This means the site will only be open to cars. Vans and cars with trailers will not be able to visit. Please plan ahead if you think you may have large items to recycle. The site, which is run by Renewi, will operate a reduced service for the four days so that householders can recycle or dispose of some essential items from the home.

Volunteers are being sought on Bute to take part in a new project which aims to further strengthen links between the local community and New Scots on the island. The project, named Sawa (Syrian Arabic for ‘together’), will enable New Scots to develop language skills previously learned through ESOL, and will give islanders the opportunity to get to know them better by working in partnership and sharing experiences.