Argyll and Bute Council has said that it will be "business as usual" for Campbeltown's shops and businesses as a £0.5 million refurbishment project begins.

Scaffolding is going up and work is due to begin on Monday April 30 on 22-30 Main Street and 2-8 Longrow in the centre of town. In all six business premises and 13 flats above will benefit, including 8 vacant flats which will be brought back into use.

Work will be extensive and will include replacing the main roof of the building, chimney and lead repairs, extensive stone repairs and replacing the rear amenity deck that is the cause of damp in some of the commercial units.

This is the fourth and biggest project of the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), which has secured £10 million for the regeneration of Campbeltown.

For this project property owners have contributed over £100,000, a Private Sector Housing Grant provides over £140,000, and over £380,000 comes from CARS funds.


Councillor Aileen Morton, Policy Lead for Economic Development, said: "This investment is all about working in partnership with local people and businesses to provide the homes and work premises Campbeltown needs.

"Work already carried out through the CARS programme and other investment schemes has transformed the town. This new work builds on regeneration that has seen the pontoons and harbour developed as tourism and business resources, the town hall and cinema revitalised as leisure and cultural facilities - these are optimistic times for Campbeltown."

Property owners came together to form an Owners Association and, in line with conditions of CARS funding, will maintain the property following completion of the work.

George McMillan, who owns A Keith (Newsagents) Ltd, and is the Chair of the Owners Association also said: "Council officers from Housing Services and CARS have been helping us to develop this project for almost four years. There have been many hurdles to overcome and without their continued support we would never have reached this stage.

"With projects such as this there is a lot of work in the background including; securing approval and funding from all owners, appointing a Design Team, completing forms, overcoming issues.

"We are all looking forward to having the external fabric of our building fully repaired and contributing to the on-going regeneration of the town."

Work is expected to last six months.

(MH)