£90m makeover to transform the forgotten towns of Argyll
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| ROTHESAY: To benefit from redevelopment scheme |
They were once thriving tourist destinations for thousands of Glasgow families.
Now Argyll's forgotten seaside towns are be given a multi-million pound makeover in a bid to revive their flagging fortunes.
Dunoon, Helensburgh, Campbeltown, Oban and Rothesay will be redeveloped in a £90m plan to breathe new life into their neglected seafronts
Proposals for pier
developments, marinas, traffic management and public walkways have been drawn up for the towns in Argyll and Bute.
The plans range from a £2m feasibility study for Campbeltown to a £40m plan to transform the promenade and pier area
of Helensburgh.
The hordes of Glaswegian holidaymakers have long forsaken the picturesque seaside resorts on their doorstep for the costas, and even the weekend break trade has suffered with cheap flights opening up the rest of Europe.
Rothesay has long since said goodbye to the guaranteed income of the summer months and you are more likely to see residents of Helensburgh commuting to the city for work than Glaswegians escaping to the sea in the other direction.
Dunoon suffered its biggest blow when the Americans withdrew from their
submarine base at Holy Loch in the 1990's taking their spending power with them.
For years many have wanted to see the towns given major investment.
Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, former Nato Secretary General, and ex-UK defence secretary who lives in Argyll, said: "The town centres and shop fronts are seen first and last by tourists and form a lasting impression of the country for visitors.
"So revitalising these town centres is very much a part of growing Scotland's tourist trade."
A report to councillors, from council officials, states: "Progressing town centre
and waterfront projects is likely to place a significant demand on resources both
in terms of officer time and budget.
"The council has limited resources and it is inevitable that there will be a scarcity of resources to allow all the projects to progress simultaneously. It is therefore essential that the council establish a priority order for the town centre and waterfront regeneration projects."
In Dunoon, a refurbishment of Queen's Hall and the pier, which are council owned, are the main elements, and plans for a marina which is likely to be privately funded are hoped to improve the area's profile and entice more people to the town.
Following a scoring exercise focusing on the impact of the projects balanced by the affordability and the associated risks of taking no action, Dunoon came out as the top priority and plans are expected to be put in place there first.
Helensburgh, Argyll's largest town, will concentrate on traffic management to improve traffic flow through the town.
The £40m estimate is the largest of the five projects and improvements will also be made to the waterfront and area around the pier.
Campbeltown is to have a study into how the town can attract and retain new skilled workers and create jobs, as well as pulling in high-spending visitors.
Oban is seeking to establish itself as the undisputed regional centre of the west Highlands and improve its roads and water infrastructure.
Developments will concentrate on the waterfront area around the railway station and ferry terminal, the esplanade and Oban Bay. Rothesay's A-listed Pavilion, once the favourite haunt
of holidaymakers, will be
at the centre of the regeneration programme.
Plans to bring disused buildings back into use and developing on gap sites aim to put the island town back on the map for retail, leisure and entertainment.
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Posted by: Yok Finney, Ross-shire on 1:40am Wed 26 Sep 07
[quote] £2m feasibility study for Campbeltown ?[/quote]
I am the endangered species once known as a scottish shipbuilder. Next month I shall be paying £1,500 for a feasability study for a 46' vessel from one of the world's leading designers. This will include preliminary lines, arrangement, sail plan, preliminary hydrostatics and weight study, scantlings, net material quantities, rig and basic equipment specification.
I could then take this [italic]design proposal[/italic] to any yard that builds in modern composites and commence construction. As scottish money seems to be non existent for anything modern, useful practical, commercial, Brazil is my first choice. They have done excellent work for Lavranos Marine Design of Auckland, New Zealand.
The big power-cat proposal (ie 2 X 900hp diesel propulsion, 20 kts cruising speed) is still "doable" but after 4 years getting no interest whatsoever from scottish financiers it is on hold.
www.epochmag.net/
contents9/kinlochber
vie.htm
£2m feasibility study for Campbeltown ?
I am the endangered species once known as a scottish shipbuilder. Next month I shall be paying £1,500 for a feasability study for a 46' vessel from one of the world's leading designers. This will include preliminary lines, arrangement, sail plan, preliminary hydrostatics and weight study, scantlings, net material quantities, rig and basic equipment specification.
I could then take this
design proposal to any yard that builds in modern composites and commence construction. As scottish money seems to be non existent for anything modern, useful practical, commercial, Brazil is my first choice. They have done excellent work for Lavranos Marine Design of Auckland, New Zealand.
The big power-cat proposal (ie 2 X 900hp diesel propulsion, 20 kts cruising speed) is still "doable" but after 4 years getting no interest whatsoever from scottish financiers it is on hold.
www.epochmag.net/
contents9/kinlochber
vie.htm
Posted by: Billy on 1:58am Wed 26 Sep 07
I think they need to do something about Helensburgh. The last time I was there I bought a bag of chips and the woman put so much salt on them the chips were uneatable. And at least you could get chips there. I went in to Arrochar and Garelochhead and the only chips were from a really rough looking place with loads of neds hanging about so I didn't stop and went on to Helensburgh. What a disappointment. What they really need to do is make sure there are really good fish and chip shops in all these towns and villages, like in Anstruther. That would bring the crowds back. You have to queue for ages to get fish and chips in Anstruther - people travel there specially for the fish and chips. So the Argyll people need to travel to Anstruther and see how they do it there.
I don't know what to do about Yok Finney who seems to be a boat builder but gets other people in Brazil to build his boats. I think he was really asking for someone to give him money. Don't give him any money - instead, invest it in really good fish and chip shops all over Argyll. I will certainly visit and I am sure other people will. This week, though, I'm going to Anstruther and I will not be alone, and their gain is Argyll's loss.
I think they need to do something about Helensburgh. The last time I was there I bought a bag of chips and the woman put so much salt on them the chips were uneatable. And at least you could get chips there. I went in to Arrochar and Garelochhead and the only chips were from a really rough looking place with loads of neds hanging about so I didn't stop and went on to Helensburgh. What a disappointment. What they really need to do is make sure there are really good fish and chip shops in all these towns and villages, like in Anstruther. That would bring the crowds back. You have to queue for ages to get fish and chips in Anstruther - people travel there specially for the fish and chips. So the Argyll people need to travel to Anstruther and see how they do it there.
I don't know what to do about Yok Finney who seems to be a boat builder but gets other people in Brazil to build his boats. I think he was really asking for someone to give him money. Don't give him any money - instead, invest it in really good fish and chip shops all over Argyll. I will certainly visit and I am sure other people will. This week, though, I'm going to Anstruther and I will not be alone, and their gain is Argyll's loss.
Posted by: Who gives a...., Glasgow on 6:09am Wed 26 Sep 07
In response to Billy, and your fish supper, you sound as though you would have Scotland degenerating into a Nation of Shop Keepers as well?
Where's the fish coming from?
Even if we (Scots) could freely fish our own waters freely, who is going to build the fishing boats to catch the fish?
Where are the skills to build and outfit the boats?
What about the fishermen, those skills are rapidly disappearing the same way.
How do you run the fishing boats, make them Sail powered? Where does the fuel come from? Our offshore worker average age is still creeping up with no sign of that slowing.
What about the fuel refining? lack of investment in new plant, tired old systems at capacity. Buy it in from somewhere..... where the investment flows and they train people and pay for the skills.
Yok, I sympathise with you.
I am placing bids for work, and get knocked back because the rates are too high. The UK is heading for a very large fall, by not looking inward to invest or spend at home.
You pay peanuts, you get....!!!
In response to Billy, and your fish supper, you sound as though you would have Scotland degenerating into a Nation of Shop Keepers as well?
Where's the fish coming from?
Even if we (Scots) could freely fish our own waters freely, who is going to build the fishing boats to catch the fish?
Where are the skills to build and outfit the boats?
What about the fishermen, those skills are rapidly disappearing the same way.
How do you run the fishing boats, make them Sail powered? Where does the fuel come from? Our offshore worker average age is still creeping up with no sign of that slowing.
What about the fuel refining? lack of investment in new plant, tired old systems at capacity. Buy it in from somewhere..... where the investment flows and they train people and pay for the skills.
Yok, I sympathise with you.
I am placing bids for work, and get knocked back because the rates are too high. The UK is heading for a very large fall, by not looking inward to invest or spend at home.
You pay peanuts, you get....!!!
Posted by: donald, glasgow on 7:24am Wed 26 Sep 07
The chips are down in the war against fat bustarts.
The chips are down in the war against fat bustarts.
Posted by: stuart macpherson on 7:47am Wed 26 Sep 07
831-463 Does Yok Finney know there are very good naval architects and boat bulders in South Africa? The currency is weak to clients - mostly from USA at the moment - get a great deal. Quality is top class.
831-463 Does Yok Finney know there are very good naval architects and boat bulders in South Africa? The currency is weak to clients - mostly from USA at the moment - get a great deal. Quality is top class.
Posted by: rothesay was full, when i was there on 8:24am Wed 26 Sep 07
Not sure these places need government money.
With more people staying at home for a variety of reasons i think it's up to the local economy to develop using it's own initative - if they can't do that then they deserve nothing.
Not sure these places need government money.
With more people staying at home for a variety of reasons i think it's up to the local economy to develop using it's own initative - if they can't do that then they deserve nothing.
Posted by: Michael O'Donnell, Repuplic of Ireland on 8:28am Wed 26 Sep 07
It's good to see some money being pumped into these towns....but is it too little too late ? Being born and raised in Rothesay I am well aware of the "changes" that the island has gone through over the last 30 years, not all of them good in my opinion. But I don't think the sea side towns will ever be a popular holiday destination for the masses.
although each of the towns above are interesting places to visit can they really compete with a week in Spain...............
..
It's good to see some money being pumped into these towns....but is it too little too late ? Being born and raised in Rothesay I am well aware of the "changes" that the island has gone through over the last 30 years, not all of them good in my opinion. But I don't think the sea side towns will ever be a popular holiday destination for the masses.
although each of the towns above are interesting places to visit can they really compete with a week in Spain...............
..
Posted by: Albert, Glasgow on 10:30am Wed 26 Sep 07
[quote]Helensburgh, Argyll's largest town ...[/quote]
Last time I looked it was in Dunbartonshire!
[quote]a £2m feasibility study for Campbeltown[/quote]
And what if they conclude that nothing worthwhile is feasible? Still the consultants, presumably not from Argyllshire, will be content with their fat fees.
Helensburgh, Argyll's largest town ...
Last time I looked it was in Dunbartonshire!
a £2m feasibility study for Campbeltown
And what if they conclude that nothing worthwhile is feasible? Still the consultants, presumably not from Argyllshire, will be content with their fat fees.
Posted by: Brad, Glasgow on 10:34am Wed 26 Sep 07
A coupel of good points in the later comments - I'm fine with the idea of investing in these places but to what end? What's the vision, what role can these places secure for themselves, or is this just to paper over the cracks?
A coupel of good points in the later comments - I'm fine with the idea of investing in these places but to what end? What's the vision, what role can these places secure for themselves, or is this just to paper over the cracks?
Posted by: Catherine, Glasgow on 1:40pm Wed 26 Sep 07
I was borna dn brought up in Oban, my father is from Campbeltown, as is my mother-in-law, although she now lives in Helensburgh where my husband was brought up. By the way Helensburgh has been in Argyll since de-regionalisation some 10 years ago.
All of these towns have diminshed in the last few years, however they do little to help themselves. The local community organisations squabble over who runs what.
Helensburgh doesn't even have a decent suzied supermarket, so everyone shops in Dumbarton. Campbeltown has one small Co-op and a small Tesco, but people still travel to Oban for othr shopping as thre are slightly more facilities. The drive to the Mull of Kintyre is treacherous and tortuous.
Campbeltown needs a much larger share of the £90m and Helensburgh needs less but needs a decent planning committee who want the town to have a supermarket. The site of Hermitate Academy would be fine when the replacement school opens, but I doubt it will happen.
However given all of these drawbacks and issues can someone explain to me why the house prices in Oban are on a par with the better off parts of Glasgow, or Bearsden or Newton Mearns as I cannot work it out
I was borna dn brought up in Oban, my father is from Campbeltown, as is my mother-in-law, although she now lives in Helensburgh where my husband was brought up. By the way Helensburgh has been in Argyll since de-regionalisation some 10 years ago.
All of these towns have diminshed in the last few years, however they do little to help themselves. The local community organisations squabble over who runs what.
Helensburgh doesn't even have a decent suzied supermarket, so everyone shops in Dumbarton. Campbeltown has one small Co-op and a small Tesco, but people still travel to Oban for othr shopping as thre are slightly more facilities. The drive to the Mull of Kintyre is treacherous and tortuous.
Campbeltown needs a much larger share of the £90m and Helensburgh needs less but needs a decent planning committee who want the town to have a supermarket. The site of Hermitate Academy would be fine when the replacement school opens, but I doubt it will happen.
However given all of these drawbacks and issues can someone explain to me why the house prices in Oban are on a par with the better off parts of Glasgow, or Bearsden or Newton Mearns as I cannot work it out
Posted by: Paul, Fife on 1:43pm Wed 26 Sep 07
This is welcome news and should be supported - these coastal towns have suffered from chronic underinvestment for years. Local people often do not have the means to change the situation themselves and it is common to see run down premises and shopfronts which have not changed in many years.
These communities require major investment so that they can return to being coastal towns we are proud of and enjoy visiting, which in turn can support local businesses
This is welcome news and should be supported - these coastal towns have suffered from chronic underinvestment for years. Local people often do not have the means to change the situation themselves and it is common to see run down premises and shopfronts which have not changed in many years.
These communities require major investment so that they can return to being coastal towns we are proud of and enjoy visiting, which in turn can support local businesses
Posted by: Linda Battison, Oban on 2:10pm Wed 26 Sep 07
Oban - a forgotten town! The Visitor Information Centre is second busiest in Scotland - only Edinburgh welcomes more visitors! It may not have been quite so busy this summer as previous years but that is largely thanks to the poor weather in the south of England. Oban continue to welcome thousands of Glaswegians and whilst I welcome any plans to improve the waterfront, especially those that involve making Oban an even more attractive destination for yachts, I fail to see how you can call Oban - which is without question a [italic][bold]vibrant tourism destination[/bold] [/italic] - a forgotten seaside town.
Oban - a forgotten town! The Visitor Information Centre is second busiest in Scotland - only Edinburgh welcomes more visitors! It may not have been quite so busy this summer as previous years but that is largely thanks to the poor weather in the south of England. Oban continue to welcome thousands of Glaswegians and whilst I welcome any plans to improve the waterfront, especially those that involve making Oban an even more attractive destination for yachts, I fail to see how you can call Oban - which is without question a
vibrant tourism destination - a forgotten seaside town.
Posted by: Archie, Argyll????? on 2:12pm Wed 26 Sep 07
They cannot even organise re-organisation if you pardon the pun.
Some places in Argyll USED to be classed as Dunbartonshire.
The mail STILL says DUNBARTONSHIRE much more often than it says ARGYLL even after you tell them it has changed.
The conclusion I derive from this debacle is that any money put in to "regenerate" these areas will dissappear RAPIDLY into the pockets of the USUAL SUSPECTS for technical drawings and the likes for things that WILL NOT happen because the money will have run out, spent on EXPENSIVE "feasability studies" and the like.
The whole thing will turn into yet another scam with the usual suspects the beneficiaries as those in the poverty traps are shafted yet again while the multi-millionaire "architects" and their cohorts will end up with even more.
REMEMBER THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT BUILDING.
AND WHO GOT PAID THE MILLIONS FOR THAT?
SCOTTISH ARCHITECTS?
eh NAW.
And despite the excessive cost the function of that building is UNDERMINED constantly by guess who?
THE USUAL SUSPECTS.
Simple STONE jetties and some of all that soil thats not required for the edge of the shoreline (BUT IS GOING THERE ANYWAY) used to fill in the "GOLF COURSE LIKE BUNKERS" ON THE FITBA PARKS that have been there for YEARS would do for me.
BUT NAW, THE SCAMSTERS WILL COME FIRST
AS USUAL eh?
They cannot even organise re-organisation if you pardon the pun.
Some places in Argyll USED to be classed as Dunbartonshire.
The mail STILL says DUNBARTONSHIRE much more often than it says ARGYLL even after you tell them it has changed.
The conclusion I derive from this debacle is that any money put in to "regenerate" these areas will dissappear RAPIDLY into the pockets of the USUAL SUSPECTS for technical drawings and the likes for things that WILL NOT happen because the money will have run out, spent on EXPENSIVE "feasability studies" and the like.
The whole thing will turn into yet another scam with the usual suspects the beneficiaries as those in the poverty traps are shafted yet again while the multi-millionaire "architects" and their cohorts will end up with even more.
REMEMBER THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT BUILDING.
AND WHO GOT PAID THE MILLIONS FOR THAT?
SCOTTISH ARCHITECTS?
eh NAW.
And despite the excessive cost the function of that building is UNDERMINED constantly by guess who?
THE USUAL SUSPECTS.
Simple STONE jetties and some of all that soil thats not required for the edge of the shoreline (BUT IS GOING THERE ANYWAY) used to fill in the "GOLF COURSE LIKE BUNKERS" ON THE FITBA PARKS that have been there for YEARS would do for me.
BUT NAW, THE SCAMSTERS WILL COME FIRST
AS USUAL eh?
Posted by: lynn ross, port ellen islay ARGYLL on 2:29pm Wed 26 Sep 07
It does our hearts good to see at last money to be spent in Argyll, especially Campbeltown. However, the division of funding is not slighty suspect, where a town with a huge proportion of exceedingly wealthy people needs the biggest share of the cherry??? And the en thusiastic comments of Islay's budding photographer, Lord Roberstson of Port Ellen,concerned about the first impressions of tourists fill us with wonder. How kind and generous to think of others and completely ignore Islay. Port Ellen , the place from which he takes his title, has on its seafront a derelict wooden building inhabited by rats and occasionally others. Youths drink and swear and cause huge disturbances till the small hours. Maybe Lord Robertson only drives through when he leaves the ferry to go to Bowmore but we feel Port Ellen is a lovely place needing a little help. Have the powers that be forgotten the Island, I don't think so, not as far as the tax revenue from the distillaries is concerned. We. have thousands of tourist here for a large part of the year and are badly in need of some better facilities and a face lift for the village.. We can only keep our fingers crossed that next time there is a handout we over here are Remembered.
It does our hearts good to see at last money to be spent in Argyll, especially Campbeltown. However, the division of funding is not slighty suspect, where a town with a huge proportion of exceedingly wealthy people needs the biggest share of the cherry??? And the en thusiastic comments of Islay's budding photographer, Lord Roberstson of Port Ellen,concerned about the first impressions of tourists fill us with wonder. How kind and generous to think of others and completely ignore Islay. Port Ellen , the place from which he takes his title, has on its seafront a derelict wooden building inhabited by rats and occasionally others. Youths drink and swear and cause huge disturbances till the small hours. Maybe Lord Robertson only drives through when he leaves the ferry to go to Bowmore but we feel Port Ellen is a lovely place needing a little help. Have the powers that be forgotten the Island, I don't think so, not as far as the tax revenue from the distillaries is concerned. We. have thousands of tourist here for a large part of the year and are badly in need of some better facilities and a face lift for the village.. We can only keep our fingers crossed that next time there is a handout we over here are Remembered.
Posted by: loch lomond, dumbartonshire on 4:42pm Wed 26 Sep 07
Yes! Investment and regeneration is badly needed in all 4 towns, why do councils neglect established sights in favour of new projects and then neglect the new projects, it all leads to a run down appearance, look after those towns and people will come to them, nobody wants to spend a hollidy or a day out in a shabby run down area, those towns have a lot to offer and can be an attraction to people again if properly developed and looked after.
Yes! Investment and regeneration is badly needed in all 4 towns, why do councils neglect established sights in favour of new projects and then neglect the new projects, it all leads to a run down appearance, look after those towns and people will come to them, nobody wants to spend a hollidy or a day out in a shabby run down area, those towns have a lot to offer and can be an attraction to people again if properly developed and looked after.
Posted by: Tumshie, Edinburgh on 6:44pm Wed 26 Sep 07
why isn't there a ferry to Campbelltown from Ayr or Saltcoats or somewhere on that coast, so people can get there without having to drive for 4 hours?
why isn't there a ferry to Campbelltown from Ayr or Saltcoats or somewhere on that coast, so people can get there without having to drive for 4 hours?
Posted by: Archie, Argyll on 7:10pm Wed 26 Sep 07
Too obvious and sensible Tumshie.
Too obvious and sensible Tumshie.
Posted by: Wee Toon, Campbeltown on 9:48pm Wed 26 Sep 07
[quote][bold]Archie[/bold] wrote:
Too obvious and sensible Tumshie.[/quote] Stranger things have happened at sea - watch this space
BTW the herald aritcle here is totally misleading the funds quoted are speculative of what might be levered in, more to do with by elections in Helensburgh than, regeneration. The cooncil only has £3m pa to contribute.
Archie wrote:
Too obvious and sensible Tumshie.
Stranger things have happened at sea - watch this space
BTW the herald aritcle here is totally misleading the funds quoted are speculative of what might be levered in, more to do with by elections in Helensburgh than, regeneration. The cooncil only has £3m pa to contribute.
Posted by: Jeff, London on 10:31pm Wed 26 Sep 07
I sailed into Campbeltown on a charter last year, what a great place it must have been once. What a shame their council has not made the investments or managed to attract new investment, into one on the finest natural ports in UK. Actually at the time I remember thinking it was a disgrace, it was like something out of Eastern Europe. Campbeltown has the highest social worker per head in the UK, a falling population and is a community in crisis. Yet it gets the least investment to redevelop it!!??
If it is only getting £2m invested compared to some rich area like Helensburgh or Oban surely the Scottish Executive MUST ask questions about the council and their VESTED interests. How can such a thing be allowed, The Argyll and Bute council have a track record in shady practice ie Oban International Airport and mis/strange allocation of funds.??? who is monitoring the councils experts??
I sailed into Campbeltown on a charter last year, what a great place it must have been once. What a shame their council has not made the investments or managed to attract new investment, into one on the finest natural ports in UK. Actually at the time I remember thinking it was a disgrace, it was like something out of Eastern Europe. Campbeltown has the highest social worker per head in the UK, a falling population and is a community in crisis. Yet it gets the least investment to redevelop it!!??
If it is only getting £2m invested compared to some rich area like Helensburgh or Oban surely the Scottish Executive MUST ask questions about the council and their VESTED interests. How can such a thing be allowed, The Argyll and Bute council have a track record in shady practice ie Oban International Airport and mis/strange allocation of funds.??? who is monitoring the councils experts??
Posted by: Brian on 6:01pm Thu 27 Sep 07
The Government wants to spend my hard-earned tax payments to boost the income of shopkeepers in Helensburgh? Aye, fech off.
The Government wants to spend my hard-earned tax payments to boost the income of shopkeepers in Helensburgh? Aye, fech off.
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