Front green revamp progressing well despite global challenges
Landscaping of Lochgilphead’s front green is progressing well in the face of global challenges.
Drainage and land-raising work is on schedule, despite multiple difficulties facing the construction industry.
The combination of a global manufacturing slowdown, Brexit and the Covid pandemic has left some businesses struggling to source construction materials, but the contractors working in Lochgilphead, Hawthorn Heights, are managing to buck the trend.
‘Work is progressing well despite all the global challenges we have at the moment,’ said Argyll and Bute Council business, regeneration and commercial development policy lead Councillor Alastair
Redman. Working on the site, labourer Thomas Logue explained: ‘We’re doing not too badly with getting materials, although I know it’s been difficult for some people in the industry.
‘If there are any delays with getting hold of pipes or something we just work on another part of the job, so we’ve not been held back at all.’
Talking this week to the Argyllshire Advertiser, Thomas, from Northern Ireland, said this was his first time in Argyll and his experience of the area has been positive.
He said: ‘I’d never been here before and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it’s actually great. We’re staying in a wee flat here in the town and it’s been brilliant.
‘People are so friendly and keen to talk. There’s always someone stopping at the fence to ask us how we’re getting on.’
The £1.5million redevelopment will see the installation of a new playpark and public events square as well as walking and cycling paths.
The major work, however, is drainage and landscaping to help ease the impact of flooding.
‘Just now we are laying the plastic layer that will protect the tree roots when the stones are spread,’ said Thomas.
‘It’s hot work in this weather, but we’ve been able to batter on because we’ve had no rain or anything else to delay us.’
Councillor Redman added: ‘A key benefit of the project will be an improved place to allow people to spend more time in the town and have community events with raised ground levels and much-improved drainage.
‘It’s an ambitious project to create a much-improved public space in the heart of the town centre.
‘I am looking forward to the Front Green being re-opened to the public early in 2022.’