A multi-million pound project aimed at regenerating Campbeltown's historic town centre is about to be boosted by the official launch of one of its major strands.

The Campbeltown Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), for which the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) earmarked £700,000, aims to rejuvenate run down historic buildings, making them more appealing places in which to invest, live, work and visit.

An official launch has been arranged for later this month, at which residents and other interested parties will be able to find out more about the project.

The event, at Campbeltown Town Hall on Thursday, January 21 from 5-8pm, will include exhibition boards containing information on work done to date, grant funding available, parallel projects, community engagement with local groups (including schools), target buildings and shop fronts.

The THI is one of the two main strands of the Campbeltown Town Centre Regeneration Project. The other is the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), which has been active since 2007 and which received £385,000 from Historic Scotland.

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To date, the project has received over 200 enquiries and has approved 42 grants.

Nearly 30 different contractors have worked on the scheme, the vast majority of whom are local. Work carried out to date has included shop front refurbishments, sash and case window repairs, replacement close doors, high level tenement works and options appraisals for key buildings.

Among the more high profile projects have been the refurbishment of two target shopfronts – 12 Longrow and McKellar’s Licensed Grocers – on which work began last month and to which the finishing touches are now being made.

Both the THI and CARS are now administered by Argyll and Bute Council under the banner of Campbeltown Town Centre Regeneration Project. The grant-eligible areas have recently been amended to concentrate efforts on Main Street, Longrow and several others streets in particular need of refurbishment.

James Lafferty, Project Officer for the scheme, said he hoped local people would drop into the launch event to find out the latest on what’s happening in the town.

"I have been delighted by the level of interest shown in the project, from members of the public of all ages and from local businesses, including contractors and other craftspeople," he added.

"The launch will give everyone a chance to come and see where we are with the work, and what our aims are for the future."

Councillor John Semple, Chair of the Campbeltown CHORD Project Board, said it is a very exciting time for the town.

"We have an opportunity here not just to improve the bricks and mortar but – in doing so – to generate substantial social and economic benefits for Campbeltown and the surrounding area," he added.

(GK/BMcC)