News

Members of Argyll and Bute Council’s Community Services have agreed to carry out a consultation to consider the possibility of widening the catchment area of St Columba’s Primary School in Oban.   The consultation comes as a result of a formal request from St Columba’s Parent Council. St Columba’s is the only denominational school within 80 miles of Oban, and the catchment area currently only covers the Oban and Dunbeg area. The consultation will consider rezoning this to the same as the mainland catchment area for Oban High School.  

‘Parents have a key role as prime educators and carers of their children. By working in partnership, schools and parents can develop children’s attitudes to learning and ensure they achieve their full potential.’   These were the words of Argyll and Bute Council’s Policy Lead for Education, Councillor Yvonne McNeilly, following approval of a revised Parental Engagement Strategy for 2019-2021 at today’s Community Services Committee.  

Luddon Construction Ltd has been appointed to progress the re-development of the Jackson’s Quarry Roads Depot, Oban, so that all essential operational services for Oban, Lorn and the Isles can be delivered from a single main site. This will free up the Mill Park site for development, as well as making significant savings in operating costs.  

Roads infrastructure on Mull will receive a £963,000 cash boost in 2019/20, and footways will benefit from a further £38,250 of investment. This was agreed at last week’s meeting of Argyll and Bute Council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee as part of the council’s Roads Capital Reconstruction Programme. Road that will benefit are: A849, Glenmore – Craignure A849, Pennyghael – Bunessan B8073, Toloisk – Gruline C46, Glenbellart C54, Lochbuie

A Modern Apprentice from Dunoon working in the field of aquaculture has won a hat-trick of awards. Janis Brivkalns works for the Scottish Salmon Company (SSC) as a Modern Apprentice, and the 34-year-old was crowned Aquaculture Learner of the Year, Modern Apprentice of the Year and Overall Learner of the Year at the Lantra Awards last week, which was Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2019. Congratulations to Janis on a fantastic achievement.

 Argyll and Bute Council will join forces with neighbouring local authorities in Inverclyde and West Dunbartonshire to issue a tender to procure residual waste disposal services to cover the Helensburgh and Lomond area.  This will help secure the best possible price for services and ensure that we comply with the 2021 ban on Biodegradable Municipal Waste (BMW) going to landfill.

Argyll and Bute Council will soon begin consultation on a new waste strategy it is developing to meet a new government ban on Biodegradable Municipal Waste (BMW) going to landfill which comes into operation in 2021. Biodegradable waste is any waste capable of undergoing anaerobic or aerobic decomposition, such as food, garden waste, and paper and cardboard.

Efforts to help accelerate the growth of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Argyll and Bute are to be boosted by additional funding of almost £500,000. Phase Two of the Business Gateway Local Growth Accelerator Programme (LGAP) will see a £483k business support programme delivered by the Business Gateway team. It was approved today (March 7) by the council’s Environmental, Development and Infrastructure Committee. It follows Phase One of the programme, which closed in December last year.

Councillors have approved a draft Economic Development Strategy for Argyll and Bute that focusses on infrastructure, attracting new residents and supporting key sectors such as tourism and marine industry.

  Argyll and Bute Council is undertaking a flood study in Oban based on mitigating flooding up to a one in 200 year return period flood event.   Two consultation events have now been held in Oban. The most recent, on 30 January, enabled local residents and businesses to share their experiences. Other key stakeholders involved in the study include SEPA, Scottish Water, Community Councils and local interest groups.