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A national care service, as proposed by the Scottish Government, is not the solution to social care service challenges, especially for rural communities – this is the view that Argyll and Bute Council will submit to the Scottish Government’s national consultation. The council convened a special full Council meeting today (Thursday 28 October) to consider proposals for creating a national care service for Scotland.

The new passenger ferry for the island of Lismore is nearing completion and preparing for delivery in December. The new 12 metre replacement vessel, Lady of Lismore, designed by Keel Marine, Petersfield, is being built by Mainstay Marine Solutions Ltd, Pembrokeshire. It will be launched on 15 November for sea trials and certification by Maritime and Coastguard Agency surveyors before steaming 302 nautical miles north to delivery at Port Appin on Loch Linnhe.

Attracting more people to the Isle of Bute and extending the tourism season will help with ongoing economic recovery from the impact of the pandemic. A new bespoke sculptural welcome sign is now located in the Winter Gardens with visitors encouraged to photograph and share the Bute welcome to the rest of the world.

Campbeltown residents are invited to the Town Hall on 3 and 4 November to find out more about the proposed local flood protection scheme and the construction works planned for 2022. The Flood Protection Scheme (FPS) for Campbeltown is led by Argyll and Bute Council and comprises of catchment-wide flood mitigation works and property flood measures.

“Cities come in all shapes and sizes.  Bidding for city status is one step in ensuring that Oban, and Argyll and Bute more widely, have as much chance for a successful future as other parts of Scotland.” With work continuing to enter Oban in the national competition for city status, part of the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebration in 2022, Councillor Robin Currie, Leader of Argyll and Bute Council, outlined the potential benefits:

There are just a few days left until Argyll and Bute Council hosts its first ever Education Climate Summit. This online event will take place on Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 October, and will give people the chance to find out some of the innovative ways that schools, businesses and voluntary organisations in the area are tackling climate change. A wide selection of guest speakers have signed up to deliver presentations on a diverse, interesting range of topics. For example:

Argyll and Bute Council’s Early Years Team is gearing up to host its annual Early Years Conference next month.   This year’s conference will take place on a virtual platform, from Tuesday 16 until Friday 19 November, and is an opportunity for early years professionals to come together to hear from national and international speakers, share examples of best practice, and explore ideas.  

Hermitage Park in Helensburgh has again, been recognised as one of the best parks and greenspaces in Scotland. Keep Scotland Beautiful has awarded the Park Green Flag status, for the second consecutive year. The Green Flag Award is the benchmark for excellence in green spaces and recognises the hard work of managers, staff and volunteers who help ensure that outdoor areas provide the public with a safe, clean and inspiring local environment.

Dozens of community groups and projects are to receive support from Argyll and Bute Council to help their recovery from Covid 19 restrictions. Voluntary groups, charities, social enterprises, village halls and other community venues across the region will receive grants of up to £500 from the Covid 19 Micro Grants Fund to help them bounce back from the impact of the pandemic.

Round four of Argyll and Bute Council’s Strategic Events and Festivals Fund opens for applications at midday on 22 October 2021.  The fund is open to events and festivals which will take place between April 2022 and March 2023 and are of strategic importance to the area. The opening of round four of the fund comes as event and festival organisers and other tourism organisations across Argyll and Bute continue the process of recovery from the impact of the pandemic.