News

It was a special day at Dunoon Primary this morning when the doors to the school’s newly-built east wing were opened to staff and pupils for the first time. Extensive work has been carried out to the school as part of a £10.7 million investment by Argyll and Bute Council, including £5.08 million funding from the Scottish Government, to transform it into a school fit for the 21st Century, whilst maintaining its listed building status.

Islay residents, businesses and visitors are being asked for their view on their current and potential use of school and public transport on the island. The current contract for the provision of School and Public Transport on Islay (Service No. 450 & 451) is due to end in October 2020.  Before re-tendering for this contract, Argyll and Bute Council is asking people living and working on, as well as visiting, Islay and Jura how they use the service and how they would like to see it used in the future.

New council Chief Executive, Pippa Milne, discusses the journey that brought her to Argyll and Bute, her love for the area and her ambitions for its future, in a question and answer session. Q: Where were you brought up, and where did you go to school and further education?

Work has begun to improve access at bus stops and replace some bus shelters in the Helensburgh and Lomond area. Work will be carried out by Argyll and Bute Council supported by £100,000 funding from Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT). The main focus of the work is improving access to bus stops, within the Rosneath Peninsula, from Coulport to Garelochhead. This involves making sure that there is hard-standing and dropped kerbs at both sides of the road to make sure that all the stops are fully compliant.

Children who turn five between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2021 should be registered for primary school during the week beginning Monday 13 January 2020. Parents should take their children to their local primary school to register during that week, between 10am and 3pm. Further information, including how to make a placing request and how to request early entry to primary school, can be found on the council website: www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/primary-school-registration-2020

Local coastline initiatives will share £1.158 million funding allocated to Argyll and Bute from the Scottish Government’s Crown Estates Fund. At the Council's Policy and Resources Committee, councillors agreed that the funding should support projects across Argyll and Bute: ·         Tobermory railings and flood prevention scheme - £145,000  ·         Rothesay pontoons improvement - £151,000  ·         Helensburgh flood mitigation - £300,000 ·         Campbeltown flood defences - £270,000

“The festive season is with us once again, that special time of peace, love and celebration. “For many people, this can be a difficult time. My thoughts and wishes are with them. I know that there are many, many people in our communities, throughout Argyll and Bute, who will do all they can to provide comfort and hope amid the festivities. I thank them for all their work, at this time and throughout the year.

More girls than boys in Cowal would like to pursue a career in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) when they leave school, according to a survey carried out during an exciting and innovative event at Dunoon Grammar last week. Primary five pupils from schools across the peninsula went along to Dunoon Grammar for “Mission to Mars” – a STEM event organised by the Digital Learning Team and supported by the school and Science Grrl Glasgow.

Moves to expand Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) and implement 1140 hours of funded ELC in Argyll and Bute by August 2020 are on schedule, Argyll and Bute Council’s Community Services Committee has confirmed. The expansion in childcare, from 600 hours to 1140 hours, is part of a Scottish Government initiative aimed at providing young people with a high quality experience that can make a significant contribution to their development, and help close the poverty related attainment gap.

Argyll and Bute Council has welcomed the success of a £500,000 fund in attracting new residents and jobs to the area. At the meeting this week of the Policy and Resources Committee, councillors reviewed a report on the economic impact of the Rural Resettlement Fund which showed that 193 new residents, including 56 children, relocated to Argyll and Bute thanks to Fund support.  Of that number, 18 people with families relocated to take up a job on one of our islands, resulting in 53 new inhabitants in these communities across Argyll and Bute.