News

Argyll and Bute Council is asking people in Kintyre for their views on the future of Burnside Square in Campbeltown. A new water storage tank is being installed under the Square in the coming months as part of the Council’s £15 million Campbeltown Flood Protection Scheme. This provides an opportunity to find out how local residents and businesses would like to see the area used afterwards.

A science teacher from Oban High School has been selected to represent Scotland at this year’s Commonwealth Powerlifting Federation Championships in New Zealand.

A science teacher from Oban High School has been selected to represent Scotland at this year’s Commonwealth Powerlifting Federation Championships in New Zealand. Jodie Hoey started powerlifting during lockdown and only took part in her first ever competition in January this year when she competed in the West of Scotland Championships. The 26-year-old went on to qualify for the Scottish Championships in June, before the Scottish Power Lifting Federation selected her to compete in the Commonwealth Championships in November this year in Auckland.

Council registrars are to provide support for funeral services in the Kintyre area as part of a new initiative to help local communities.   Councillors have approved the six-month pilot following an approach from undertakers in Kintyre about a lack of available Church of Scotland Ministers and Celebrants to conduct funerals.   The move will allow registrars based in Campbeltown, who can already officiate at marriage ceremonies and register deaths, to assist local undertakers with funeral arrangements including conducting services.  

Council registrars are to provide support for funeral services in the Kintyre area as part of a new initiative to help local communities.

Nursing home services will continue to be available in West Argyll and Bute, following an exceptional step by health and social care services, supported by the council. The HSCP (Health and Social Care Partnership) will fund the purchase of Kintyre Care Centre, currently for sale, and take over its running from HC-One. The Kintyre Care Centre is a 40 room residential nursing home, providing the only nursing care provision in Campbeltown or indeed in the west of Argyll and Bute.

Oban could benefit from over £842,000 following a council decision to approve business proposals from the Business Improvement District (BID) in Oban for another five years. A postal ballot to approve a third term for BID4Oban will take place from 27 October to 8 December 2022.   The principle aim of the BID is to encourage businesses to invest and work together to help improve the local trading environment and boost customer and visitor numbers.  BIDs can only exist if there is support from a clear majority of local businesses in a vote.  

Plans to deliver almost one thousand new affordable homes for Argyll and Bute over the next five years received full support at a council meeting today.   The decision to approve the plan means there is potential to deliver 247 affordable homes this year and more than 750 units in the coming years.   The proposals are set out in the latest update to the Council’s Strategic Housing Investment plan (SHIP) which outlines housing development priorities for the region for 2023/24 - 2027/28.  

Improving safety standards for short-term lets, creating positive visitor experiences and tackling antisocial behaviour for local residents – the aims of a new short-term licensing scheme that comes into force in Argyll and Bute from 1 October. New short term let business owners need to apply for the license from the 1st of October, with existing businesses invited to apply between January and 1 April 2023.

Plans for a new school campus on Mull took a step forward today when members of Argyll and Bute Council agreed to submit a business case and funding application to the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP). This decision follows a series of public engagement sessions on Mull over the last few weeks, to gather people’s views on what type of campus would work for the island. The sessions were well attended and overwhelming support was expressed.