News

Scale models of The Kelpies, the world’s largest pair of equine sculptures, have arrived in Ardrishaig in time for Easter. The 1/10th scale maquettes will be stabled in Ardrishaig Harbour on their first venture to ‘Britain’s most beautiful shortcut’. The three-metre-tall Kelpies, which have toured the world helping to promote Scotland and the Falkirk area as a visitor destination, have previously appeared at major events including New York’s Scotland Week, the Grand National and the Ryder Cup.

A team of hard-working staff from Argyll and Bute Council and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority are taking part in a two-day litter pick along the A82 today and tomorrow (Thursday 28 and Friday 29 March). Starting at Duck Bay this morning, the team will make their way up towards Tarbet, collecting discarded rubbish along the major tourist route.

A talented young artist from Dunoon Grammar School has won a national award for a piece of artwork she created to make a stand against racism.   S1 pupil Khiara Dominick fought off stiff competition from thousands of entries across Scotland to win the S1-3 category in Show Racism the Red Card’s annual creative competition.   Joined by her family, Khiara attended a prestigious award ceremony at Hampden Park to collect her prize.  

This week we're celebrating the work our social work teams do on a daily basis in order to protect vulnerable people in our communities. Take 79-year-old Anne for example….   Anne lives alone in a small island community and liked to keep her money in her handbag, instead of putting it into a bank.  

Community groups wanting to build affordable homes in Argyll and Bute will now be able to benefit from the council’s Strategic Housing Fund.   At a recent meeting of Argyll and Bute Council, members agreed to extend the funding criteria to include community groups, as well as registered social landlords, providing they secure a Rural Housing Fund and/or Islands Housing Fund grant from the Scottish Government.  

Today is World Social Work Day so, to celebrate the wide range of services that our social work teams provide, we’re dedicating this whole week to them.   We caught up with Ann Martin who is a Through Care After Care Social Worker in Argyll and Bute, working with young care experienced people and key partner agencies to make life better for our young people.  

A total of 37 empty homes were brought back into use in Argyll and Bute from April through to December last year – exceeding Argyll and Bute Council’s annual target of 25.   At a meeting of the council’s Community Services Committee today (Thursday) members also heard how there have been 62 affordable houses completed during the third quarter of the year.   Twenty of these homes are in Bowmore, Islay; 16 are in Lochgilphead; and 26 are in Succoth. A further 41 homes are due to be completed by the end of next month.  

Young people in Argyll and Bute are achieving well in literacy and numeracy according to figures published by the Scottish Government.   The Scottish Government collects data every year which details pupils’ achievements in reading, writing, listening and talking and numeracy. These are known as ‘Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Levels’ and focus specifically on pupils in P1, P4, P7 and S3.  

Argyll and Bute Council’s Special Projects and Estates teams are continuing to investigate the commercial potential of three Oban car parks after a number of developers declared an interest in them.   Albany Street, Tweeddale Street and the Esplanade car parks were marketed by the council last year, inviting interested parties to come forward and explore commercial opportunities, while maintaining or improving parking provision within the town.  

Argyll and Bute Council is making positive progress in preparing for the implementation of the fully funded 1140 hours of free Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) in Argyll and Bute by 2020.   At a meeting of the council’s Community Services Committee today (Thursday), members heard how 27 ELC services in Argyll and Bute are already providing parents and carers with the option to access the additional hours, which are funded by the Scottish Government.