Wee Toon’s continuing regeneration

THE LATEST phase in the £2.2 million regeneration of Campbeltown’s town centre is gathering momentum.

Building work due to be completed in April 2018, to repair and conserve McLean Place West at 10 to 14 Main Street, has started.

Essential work to the property will see structural repairs, enhancement to roof timbers, rot works, slate roof works, leadwork, stonework and repairs to chimneys and rainwater goods.

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Similar repairs have been carried out on the tenement at 9-15 Longrow South. That work is due to be completed this month, safeguarding two businesses, two homes and 16 jobs.

Both projects are being delivered as part of the Argyll and Bute Council and Historic Environment Scotland funded Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) initiative.

With assistance from the CARS small grant scheme, urgent roof repairs are also in progress at the Argyll Arms Hotel.

Tenders have been issued for work on the two priority buildings at 22 to 28 Main Street and 2 to 8 Longrow South, and a proposed amenity deck repair at the rear of 1 to 21 Longrow South, which involves almost 30 separate owners. Both contracts are scheduled to start on site in spring 2018.

Councillor Aileen Morton, leader of Argyll and Bute Council, said: ‘We have been working with our partners for 10 years on the heritage-led regeneration of Campbeltown’s town centre, which is looking fantastic.

‘The investment has made a real difference and has made the town so much more attractive and appealing as well as creating opportunities for businesses.

‘The scheme is an extension of the first Campbeltown CARS and the Campbeltown Townscape Heritage Initiative, which has seen repairs to key buildings including the Town Hall, Backpackers’ hostel and several prominent traditional tenements including 50-52 Main Street and 2 Cross Street. The CARS traditional skills training programme offers specialist courses for local contractors and building professionals. The CARS education programme delivers events to encourage the community to participate in the management of their heritage.

For more information see https://www. argyll-bute.gov.uk / campbeltown-regeneration

On the scaffolding, high above Bolgam Street, McKinven and Colville site manager Fraser McNair discusses plans for the building’s dormer windows with conservation accredited architect Nick Blair. 25_c52CARS01

Piles of removed roof slates below the dormer windows. 25_c52CARS02

The top of McLean Place West’s chimney stack which has a sandstone base will be reconstructed. 25_c52CARS03

The stripped back interior of one of the McLean Place West flats. 25_c52CARS04

Looking down on the extensive roof works. 25_c52CARS05