Argyll and Bute Council has appointed Hawthorn Heights Ltd to start work on 31 May.
Improvement works include:
- A new play park
- A new public square where community events can take place
- Drainage and landscaping to help ease the impact of flooding
- Additional seating areas
- New walking and cycling facilities
Councillor Alastair Redman, Policy Lead, Business Regeneration and Commercial Development:
“The Front Green is a fantastic green space and it has been a long term community aspiration to see it used more for community events and recreation. We have listened to public feedback and are pleased that work can now start to create new facilities, for generations of people to enjoy.
We are committed to improving our town centres across Argyll and Bute with the aim of making places more attractive to live, work and visit. We are already seeing the benefits of town centre regeneration including the recent works to improve access in Lochgilphead. ”
Work to improve the Front Green involves substantial engineering that includes removing soil from a large part of the site, installing the new seating wall and new drainage, which will help to make the site more usable.
Due to the scale and nature of the works, it is necessary to close the Front Green until works complete in January 2022. This is the only safe way to deliver the works while protecting our contractors and the public.
During construction works, the bus shelter will remain unaffected and services will operate as normal. The public toilets will remain open.
Alternative play facilities can be found at High Bank Park, Meadows Crescent, Burns Brae and Ross Crescent in Lochgilphead.
The start of works on site will be the final stage in delivering a project which has received substantial input from the local community through public consultation events held during 2019.
The work to the Front Green follows more than £500,000 of investment to Colchester Square and Argyll Street to help support local businesses. The completed works include widening of footpaths, improved pavement surfaces for wheelchair users and prams, and new road crossings.
The council will issue regular progress reports on the works and a community engagement event with Hawthorn Heights will be held in June.
More information including a plan of the Front Green, a programme of works and regular updates can be found on the council website.
If you would like to receive a regular email update or take part in the community engagement event, please contact:
Anna Watkiss
Senior Planning Development Officer
anna.watkiss@argyll-bute.gov.uk
The project is funded by Argyll and Bute Council’s Tarbert and Lochgilphead Regeneration Fund, The Scottish Government’s Cycling, Walking and Safer Routes (CWSR) and Town Centre Funds, HITRANS, Lochgilphead Phoenix Project and the Co-operative Local Community Fund.