The far-reaching plan to transform five Argyll and Bute towns through landmark regeneration projects has taken a huge step forward.

The multi-million pound CHORD (Campbeltown, Helensburgh, Oban, Rothesay and Dunoon) initiative will see major improvements to the town centres and waterfronts of all five towns.

Argyll and Bute Councillors have now agreed the next steps for the projects after considering their Project Initiation Documents (PIDs) at a meeting of the Executive Committee.

The PIDs are the baseline upon which the future development of each project is managed and monitored.

Their agreement means that Project Boards in each area now have an agreed blueprint in terms of activities and actions required, as well as the timescales of various key milestones.

In November last year, the Council unanimously agreed to allocate more than £30m to the project, since named 'CHORD'.

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Campbeltown will see improvements to its heritage and conservation sites through a Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), the re-development of the existing marina and the regeneration of the Kinloch Road area (£6.5m).

A more sustainable traffic management system will be developed in Helensburgh's town centre and the West Bay Esplanade between Colquhoun Square and William Street will be redeveloped (£6.66m).

A pontoon facility for yachts within Oban Bay will be provided added to the construction of an Oban Development Road to provide new routes around the town centre and unlock development opportunities (£6.9m).

There will be a THI for the Rothesay Town Centre Conservation area a programme to renovate and improve Rothesay Pavilion (£2.4m).

Dunoon will be redeveloped and a vibrant and attractive waterfront will be created (£8.3m).

The PIDs for all projects have now been agreed, with the exception of the Oban Bay proposal which will be revised by the local Project Board before being submitted to the CHORD Programme Management Board for consideration later in the summer.

Argyll and Bute Council Leader, Councillor Dick Walsh, said agreeing the PIDs was a very important milestone to have reached.

"This is a major step in terms of seeing these ambitious and forward-looking projects come to fruition

"We appreciate how enthusiastic the local communities in these towns and their surrounding areas are about these regeneration projects. This decision demonstrates that we are taking big strides in terms of progressing the initiatives towards implementation," he added.

(GK/JM)