CAMPBELTOWN could be one of the first of the towns in Argyll and Bute to get its ambitious plans for the waterfront up and running in 2009.
Following the historic decision by Argyll and Bute Council to increase the level of funding available for town centre and waterfront projects, Councillor John Semple, chairman of Campbeltown’s Project Board said:
‘It is important, in times of recession that local authorities do what they can to support the local economy by investing in infrastructure.
‘Increasing the level of investment from £10 million to £30 million over the next five years is a measure of this council’s intent in this regard’.
Improve
He said that the Campbeltown Board carefully identified projects, which would also improve the economic wellbeing of the town for future generations as well as improving the image of Campbeltown.
‘There is potentially a difficulty in taking forward five projects in that scheduling time spent developing full business cases and progressing with works will be more complex. However, a high level management board has been formed to oversee the development of full business cases.’
Councillor Semple said: ‘Over the next year or so each Project Board will put together the detail required for their projects to make progress; this will include engineering plans, planning permissions, negotiation and consultations to the point where tenders can be prepared to carry out works.
‘I am fairly confident that much of our project can be brought to full business case fairly quickly; the Townscape Heritage Initiative element is already well worked up and could easily be the first element across the five projects.
Engineering
‘The Marina element is fairly straightforward but will require a fair bit of engineering design work to be carried out, as will the realignment of Kinloch Road.
‘The developments on Kinloch Road are the most complex element of our project as there is land in multiple ownership and a great deal of detailed backroom work to be done. Compared to many of the other projects across the five towns it is by no means the most difficult or complex.
‘I am sure we will be one of the first Project Boards to see our plans move forward to works in 2009-10.’
