Funding has been secured from the Argyll and Bute Council's Shopfront Improvement Scheme to carry out improvement works in Campbeltown.

More than 20 shops in the town centre have been awarded grants from the scheme to enable them to make external improvements, with work having recently started at McLean Place in Main Street - one of the first properties to benefit.

As well as helping existing local businesses the scheme has also attracted new ones to the area, with two separate businesses making plans to open a restaurant and a tearoom in the town.

Council Leader, Councillor Aileen Morton, said: "Campbeltown has already seen a huge transformation since the CARS and THI Projects were introduced 13 years ago, not only in appearance but also the number of new businesses that have opened in the town centre. The Campbeltown Shopfront Improvement Scheme will only help to build on the success of these.

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"We want to provide a sustainable economic future for Argyll and Bute. We want to build a future that recognises the value of its built heritage, whilst making it a better place to live, work, and invest.

"Our vision is to attract people to live and work here, and to build a prosperous future for the area. Improvement projects like this are just one of ways are working to attract employers to the area and we will continue to do everything we can to give Argyll and Bute the future it deserves."

The Campbeltown Shopfront Improvement Scheme, through which all funding has now been committed, follows on from the successful Campbeltown CARS and THI projects, which helped a number of property owners to repair historic buildings in the town centre.

The second round of CARS, a £2.7million project that started in April 2015, has just come to an end with the final scaffolding at Mafeking Place being removed. The project was funded by the Council and Historic Environment Scotland. It was a continuation of the previous Campbeltown CARS and Campbeltown Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) that resulted in over £7million being invested on town centre buildings, including Campbeltown Town Hall, significantly improving the appearance of the area.

Campbeltown is a designated conservation area and, as such, there are a number of planning regulations in place. Anyone wishing to make alterations to their property is therefore advised to get in touch with the Council first to check if planning consent is required.

To enquire about whether or not you need planning permission to make any alterations on your property, call 01546 605 518.