The community of Campbeltown is reaping the awards from a range of local initiatives as a result of the town’s new Flood Protection Scheme.
Argyll and Bute Council is committed to delivering wider benefits for its communities and when it awards a contract, it works closely with the suppliers/companies involved to deliver additional social, economic, and environmental value to local communities through its Community Benefit Scheme.
The scheme, which has been running since September 2020, allows community groups to request help in achieving their goals. This can include things like sponsoring a local sports team, donations of labour or materials, work experience, or apprenticeships.
The council assigned Dawson WAM as the contractor for the works associated with the flood scheme and, since the company started working on the project, it has delivered several local benefits. For example:
- The company has re-laid the paving slabs outside the Meadows changing facility and has cleaned all the block paving on Harvey’s Lane.
- It donated waterproofs and wellies to children and young people from Dalintober Primary School and provided pupils at Drumlemble Primary with Lego education sets.
- The company donated topsoil to Kintyre Climate Action for its community garden and donated musical instruments to Live Argyll for youth projects.
- It also donated money to Kintyre Sea Sports and the local foodbank
- The company repainted the goalpost at the Meadows Park and replaced the junior goalpost on Kinloch Park.
The council's Policy Lead for Community Planning and Corporate Services, Councillor Mark Irvine, said: “The council’s Community Benefit Scheme is a great way for businesses that have been awarded council contracts to really contribute to the local community.
“Dawson WAM has done a tremendous job at embedding itself in Campbeltown and I would like to thank the company on behalf of the local community for going above and beyond to give something back. I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage local groups and organisations across Argyll and Bute to register their requests for the community benefit wish list on the council website.”
Gerard McColgan, Contracts Director from Dawson WAM, said: “On behalf of all the Dawson WAM delivery team we would like to extend our appreciation to the community and stakeholders of Campbeltown on their collaboration and cooperation throughout the delivery of this complex scheme. We would also like to thank the local supply chain including McFadyen Contractors and all the people of Campbeltown who worked on the scheme and helped in its successful delivery.”