Argyll and Bute Council has approved nearly £600,000 investment in projects aimed at revitalising town centres across the area.

Funding comes from the Scottish Government's Place Based Investment (PBI) Programme, and Crown Estates Fund. Projects include:

• Lochgilphead - support for the repair and safeguarding of two more priority buildings and improvements to the area's visual appeal.

• Helensburgh Pier – enhanced landscaping and lighting of Helensburgh Pier to improve the visual appearance of this part of the waterfront

• Tobermory harbour wall and railings (Phase 2) – increase the wall height and introduce new railings to Tobermory Harbour as part of the next phase of harbour improvements. The council has allocated £200,000 funding towards the Phase 2 works with a funding bid to Islands Programme being submitted for the remaining £250,000 – total project cost £450,000.

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• Jura passenger ferry infrastructure –at Feolin pier replace the existing ladder system with a small pontoon and gangway boarding arrangement

At the Policy and Resource Committee, councillors also approved an amendment to a previous allocation of £50,000 Crown Estate funding to Argyll Coast and Countryside Trust (ACT) for providing Bute and Cowal climate change satellite pods. Following consultation between ACT and local organisations, the investment will now provide:

• £10,000 for Bute Community Forest to provide e-bike and mountain bike access to the forest. The funding will pay for a handover station for the transition between e-bikes, which are unsuitable in the forest, to mountain bikes. This would enable the journey from Rothesay to be car free and would also provide a 'carbon free' product

• £40,000 for the council to lead improvements to the Dunoon Bike Bothy project including secure bike storage, a tool library, food share initiative, and support for the development of cycling in the area.

Policy Lead for Economy and Rural Growth, Councillor Robin Currie said: "The use we're making of this funding will deliver benefits for residents and visitors alike. This is another step forward in developing Argyll and Bute as a great place to live, work and visit."