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Pupils from Lochnell Primary in Oban didn't let Covid-19 get in the way of their school trip when they went on a virtual train journey to London on the Caledonian Sleeper! On the day, learners met in their usual virtual classroom before being given their code to 'board' the train and explore it on the Caledonian Sleeper website. After some fun games along the way, the youngsters ‘arrived’ at Euston Station where they were split into two groups and a register was taken to make sure no one had been left behind!

We welcome the re-opening of some non-essential retail services and hairdressers/barbers on 5 April. To help businesses do this safely, our Environmental Health team has five top tips to share. Top Tip 1- Employees and Risk Assessment Talk with your staff and review your risk assessments together:

Argyll and Bute Council will introduce some new administration charges in its planning process from 1 April 2021 as agreed at the February’s council budget meeting.

Plans for how to use the additional £2.61m added to the roads reconstruction programme at last month’s budget have now been completed. The total value of works planned for 2021/22 is £10m, as reported to the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee earlier this month. Members will review the full, updated, programme at the committee’s next meeting in June.

Argyll and Bute Council and Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) have secured £1.23m from the UK Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Demonstrator (SHDFD) project. ACHA will manage and deliver the project with support from SSE Energy Solutions, owned by OVO.

Argyll and Bute Council has increased its electric vehicle charging network to 28 points across the area as part of its commitment to reduce the impact of climate change. Its new policy of recovering costs for the electricity drawn to charge private vehicles comes into effect on 9 April 2021. This will bring Argyll and Bute in line with many other Scottish local authorities. Read more information on locations of the EV charging points and fees.   

Beating covid together -  answers to questions you may have about asymptomatic tests Free tests are now available in Helensburgh for people without covid-19 symptoms. Here are answers to questions you may have.   Question Answer Why should I get tested if I have no symptoms?  

Rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) testing is available now in Helensburgh for people without symptoms.  The community testing initiative aims to drive down local COVID-19 rates and transmission by identifying positive cases more quickly, as people can spread the virus to others before symptoms appear. Residents who don’t have any of the three COVID symptoms (a new continuous cough, temperature, loss or change in sense of taste or smell) are encouraged to get tested.

We’ve heard concerns that Ardencraig Gardens, on Bute, will close. Ardencraig Gardens themselves will remain open, the only difference will be that the flowers will be sourced externally. The tearoom has been commercially leased and has been vacant for some time. If anyone is interested in taking on the lease, we would like to hear from them. The aviary and display glasshouses are being retained as these are integral parts of the gardens.

Argyll and Bute Council can advise that following discussion with CalMac Ferries, re-surfacing works planned for last year at Port Askaig will now take place from Monday 19 to Wednesday 28 April. This  means there will be changes to the CalMac ferry timetable, to and from Islay.The work, which will be carried out in-house by Argyll and Bute Council, was postponed last year because of COVID-19 restrictions. The areas being resurfaced include the marshalling area, through lanes and exit lane.