News

Following a change in legislation, couples of mixed (opposite) sex can now enter a civil partnership.   Couples are invited to submit a notice of intention and following a notice period of 28 days, the first Argyll and Bute mixed sex civil partnership can take place from 30 June 2021.   The council has a dedicated team of registrars who can help couples choose how they wish to register their partnership. The team can provide help and advice on both the location and personalising the ceremony.  

A £60 million regeneration programme has transformed Campbeltown town centre into a more vibrant, attractive place to live, work and visit. As part of the programme, Argyll and Bute Council has completed a £10 million heritage led programme of works. Regeneration projects include:

The re-development of the council’s Jackson’s Quarry Depot, Oban, is close to completion. As the council moves into the new fleet workshop and office, completed by Luddon Construction Ltd, Oban building firm, Gregor Morawski, has secured the contract to refurbish the existing building to provide new staff welfare, storage and a horticultural workshop. This is the final stage that will bring all essential operational services for Oban and into one single, main site, reducing from three depots to one. The site comprises:

With COVID restrictions easing, it is possible for events to take place across Argyll and Bute providing they meet criteria set out by the Scottish Government. Careful planning is required and must include:

The Helensburgh Waterfront Development celebrated a major construction milestone with a traditional topping out ceremony, marking the completion of the building’s structure and roof. The multi-million pound investment includes a new leisure centre and swimming pool, improved flood defences for the town, new outdoor public meeting spaces, new landscaping and car and coach parking.

Argyll and Bute Council has appointed Hawthorn Heights Ltd to start work on 31 May.   Improvement works include:   A new play parkA new public square where community events can take placeDrainage and landscaping to help ease the impact of floodingAdditional seating areasNew walking and cycling facilities  Councillor Alastair Redman, Policy Lead, Business Regeneration and Commercial Development:

Argyll and Bute Council’s Early Years Team have continued to take part in a range of professional learning and development opportunities throughout lockdown as part of the roll out of 1140 hours Early Learning and Childcare (ELC). Teachers and education staff have undertaken a wide range of hugely popular online training courses, including health and wellbeing coaching led by psychologist Sarah Philp. They have also been working closely with partner providers and childminders, offering support and advice.

A series of live online Facebook events will be held this summer to promote the Gaelic language in Argyll and Bute and provide opportunities for communities to come together. The events will take place on the Argyll and Bute Gaelic Forum’s Facebook page and each one will feature a well-known, popular musician or songwriter. The first event will be held at 8pm on Thursday 27 May and will star Ian Smith from Trail West.

Supporting local businesses is more important than ever as Argyll and Bute starts to recover from the impact of the pandemic.   Argyll and Bute Council is encouraging people to support towns and high streets by shopping local. To help local businesses, the council is delivering a number of initiatives designed to enhance both the online and physical presence of town centre businesses. They include:  

Getting tested is a key step in keeping each other safe and stopping the spread of covid-19, whether or not you have symptoms. I don’t have any symptoms – do I need a test?People can be infectious and spread the infection to others without realising. Identifying and supporting infectious people before they develop symptoms will help reduce the spread of coronavirus.