Over £700,000 is to be invested to improve facilities at Tarbert Harbour in Argyll.

Members of the local authority's Policy and Resources committee gave the go-ahead for the improvements on Thursday, 24 May.

Work will include installing new toilet, shower and laundry facilities as well as converting an existing building into a new harbour office, reception and chandlery.

In addition, a new waste disposal area will be developed and Jakes Quay will be converted to a fuelling and pump out berth, improving on the facilities currently available at the Fish Quay on the opposite side of the harbour.

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Work is already on stage one of the work, which will see the new toilet, shower and laundry facilities completed this year. Stage two, which includes the harbour office, reception and chandlery, is due to be ready in the first part of next year, while the waste disposal area is planned for completion by summer 2019. a timetable for the fourth and final stage, the work at Jakes Quay, will be confirmed in due course.

The council will contribute £125,000 to the project as part of the Tarbert and Lochgilphead Regeneration Fund, with the Coastal Communities Fund contributing £300,000 and a further £267,000 coming from the Tarbert Harbour Authority, who will continue to operate the harbour.

Cllr Robin Currie said: "Tarbert Harbour contributes a significant amount financially to the local community, in the region of £850,000 a year.

"By improving on the facilities there and making the harbour an even more attractive place for vessels to stop, we hope to see even more people visiting the area and also enjoying the town centre and providing a further boost to the economy. I look forward to seeing the work progress."

(LM/MH)