Work is about to start on the £1.2 million plans to regenerate the historic centres of two Argyll and Bute towns.

Contractors have now been appointed for the Town Centre Regeneration Projects (TCRP) in Bowmore and Dunoon, and work is due to start within the next two weeks.

TAL Civil Engineering Ltd of Lisburn will carry out the works in Bowmore on Islay.

These will be centred around Morrison Square, and involve improvements to the public toilets, internal upgrading of the Town Hall to permit wheelchair access, works to the harbour pontoons to attract more boat-based visitors and substantial streetscape works to Morrison Square along with improved traffic management.

Argyll and Bute’s spokesperson for the Islands and European Affairs, Councillor Len Scoullar, said the project would make real and lasting improvements to Bowmore town centre.

“Our town centres are a key element of the economic and social fabric of Argyll and Bute, and these plans will make Bowmore a more attractive place in which to live, work and visit,” he added.

“I know how much the people of Islay have been looking forward to seeing the work start, and I very much look forward to visiting Bowmore to see the improvements for myself once they are completed in late summer.”

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The total cost of the Bowmore project is just under £620,000. The Scottish Government’s Town Centre Regeneration Fund made a contribution of £300,000, just under £262,000 came from the LEADER Project (the rural development initiative being delivered under the Scotland Rural Development Programme), and the remainder from Argyll and Bute Council and local community groups.

The Dunoon work will be carried out by MacKenzie Construction Ltd of Glasgow.

It will include improved crossing points, handrails, street lighting, a new seating area, increased streetscape provision and new public information boards in the Argyll Street area, works to the Castle Gardens including improved footpaths and planting and improvements to the exterior of the Queen’s Hall.

These works have been developed in partnership with Forward Dunoon & Cowal Sub Group, in conjunction with Dunoon & Cowal Business Association.

Dunoon CHORD Project Board Chair, Councillor Bruce Marshall, welcomed the contractor’s appointment.

“This work will significantly progress our ambitious plans for the town’s economic development and regeneration,” he said.

“I am sure that people will be very understanding of any disruption, which will be kept to a minimum. The prize at the end of it will be improvements which will have a significant and lasting impact for Dunoon’s residents and visitors.”

The total cost of the Dunoon work is just over £575,000. The Scottish Government’s TCRF awarded £300,000, just over £245,000 came from LEADER and £30,000 from Argyll and Bute Council.

In Dunoon, as much of the work focuses on the Argyll Street area, there will be phased closures of that route over the summer months.

The contractor will be consulting with the local business community over the next week regarding how best to keep any disruption to a minimum.

Pedestrian access to local businesses will be maintained throughout the work, and MacKenzie Construction has pledged to do everything it can to ensure that vehicular deliveries can be made at times to suit the traders.

(GK)