Speak up on front green
Appeal to get involved and see community’s plans coming to life
Improvements to Lochgilphead front green have been talked about for years.
Now, before plans are finalised, your ideas are wanted.
Argyll and Bute Council is inviting the public to attend an event on Saturday March 9 which will lay out initial design proposals. The £1.4 million scheme is one part of a wider jigsaw of gradual improvements from Lochgilphead to Ardrishaig. Just about visible across Loch Gilp is the Scottish Canalsled Egg Shed project to create a new heritage and interpretation centre in Ardrishaig, due to open this summer.
And the council is bidding for funding worth more than £1 million through Historic Environment Scotland’s CARS scheme to refurbish some of Lochgilphead’s town centre buildings.
Add to that planned improvements to public halls and the KGV pitch in Ardrishaig; planned upgrades at Mid Argyll Community Pool; a major project by Mid Argyll Youth Development Services; and more, it is clear things are happening in Mid Argyll. If you want to give your thoughts on what should feature on the front green, there will be a drop-in event between 11am and 4pm at the corner of Colchester Square and Poltalloch Street where you can meet council staff and members of the design team, ask about the plans and give your views.
An Argyll and Bute Council spokesperson said: ‘We want to work with the community on the plans for delivering improvements to the front green and Colchester Square, so please come along for a chat and a cuppa.’ A second event will be held on Saturday April 13, when people will be able to see how the plans have developed based on comments gathered this weekend.
Design team member Nick Wright said: ‘This is a great opportunity for folk to come and share ideas about how to make the front green into a space that the community is really proud of. We’ll have some ideas to start people thinking, but we want to hear what people’s ambitions are for the space. That could be anything: stopping flooding, more events, a nice place to sit, more exciting play areas or something to make tourists stop and spend time in the town. Come along and tell us. You are the experts on what your town needs.’
Your ideas are wanted on the future design and purpose of the front green in Lochgilphead, as you will read on this week’s front page.
Mid Argyll’s three councillors are behind the project and are encouraging residents and visitors to go along to the open day on Saturday March 9.
Councillor Donnie MacMillan said: ‘I would recommend that people go along and air their suggestions. Progress has been slow, with a lot of loose ends to tie up, but things are coming to fruition. The front green is an excellent opportunity to involve residents and visitors to come and see the plans and offer suggestions that might be included in the scheme.’
‘This is an exciting time for the regeneration of Ardrishaig and Lochgilphead,’ said Councillor Dougie Philand, ‘and it is great our communities are being consulted on what they wish to see.
‘I hope as many of our community as possible come along to give their views to help develop proposals further. This is a positive time for our area, with major investment in infrastructure.’
Councillor Sandy Taylor sees the promotion of Mid Argyll as a key part of the work of council members. He added: ‘We are keen to make Lochgilphead and Ardrishaig a ‘sticky place’, a place where people, who would otherwise pass through, are encouraged to stop and take a look, to spend some time in our communities.
‘The council, Scottish Canals and the Scottish Government are all contributing to the changes which we hope will make Mid Argyll just that; a place to stop and spend a little time, support local business and in the long term support further investment, further improvements and change for the better.’
Scottish Canals is also carrying out improvements in Ardrishaig.
Head of regeneration and development at Scottish Canals, Christopher Breslin said: ‘The Egg Shed project continues to move forward and will bring a stunning new addition to Ardrishaig’s waterfront buildings. The public realm works outside the building have begun and the design of the interior is currently being developed with the local community. This new heritage and interpretation centre will be opening this summer and will transform the area around Pier Square.
‘Between the developments at Ardrishaig Harbour and Argyll and Bute Council’s plans to improve Lochgilphead front green – which include potentially linking Lochgilphead to the Crinan Canal via a new cycle path – it is a very exciting time for the local area.
‘These projects were discussed at the Crinan Canal charrette we held in 2016 and it’s fantastic to see the local community’s ideas coming to life.’