TWENTY YEARS AGO Friday March 19, 2004

New homes to rent planned for Inveraray

Twelve social housing units could be built in Inveraray as part of Argyll Community Housing Association’s (ACHA) plan to tackle the county’s housing crisis.

The social housing landlord has submitted a planning application to Argyll and Bute Council for four one-bedroom flats, four two-bedroom flats and four three-bedroom houses.

If the scheme, which will cost £1.4 million, is given the go-ahead, it will be built on land adjacent to Barn Park and Argyll Court within the next year. The proposal is part of ACHA’S £13 million plan to build 102 homes in Argyll within the next year.

Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, said: “ACHA goes from strength to strength. I strongly support both the ambition it shows to provide more and more housing in Argyll and the realisation of that ambition on the ground in every part of Argyll.”

The application comes after councillors recently approved a development for eight social houses in Tarbert, while other developments are planned for Oban, Bowmore, Helensburgh and Bonawe.

To fund the programme, ACHA received financial support from the Scottish Government and Argyll and Bute Council. 2014: Ella MacKay from Tayvallich Primary School took first place in the verse speaking solo competition for P4/5 pupils at the 35th annual Mid Argyll Music Festival.

Mr Russell added: “These houses will provide much-needed attractive homes for local people and as they are being built they will provide jobs for local people too – that is a win/win, which we should all applaud.”

The entire project is expected to provide 162 construction jobs.

David Scott, secretary of Inveraray Community Council, said the proposal would be discussed at its next meeting on April 1, when it will make a formal comment on the Royal Burgh development.

Town in line for new school

Communities throughout Argyll are being asked to choose between having brand-new schools, many on new campuses shared with other schools, or keeping existing schools where they are and facing an ever-increasing backlog of repairs.

Councillor Dick Walsh, Argyll and Bute Council’s education spokesman, said: “There are decisions the community will have to face. We will listen to people – we don’t have a monopoly in wisdom – but this is not a pick and mix. By and large it has to be looked at in the round.”

The radical plans, billed by Argyll and Bute Council as “innovative” and “a once in a lifetime 2004: Lochgilphead Golf Club’s winter league finally came to a close. The conclusion of this popular seasonal contest was marked with a buffet and presentation night in the clubhouse. opportunity” would see Roman Catholic and non-denominational primary schools, primary and secondary schools or a combination of all three co-exist on 17 purpose-built campuses and share facilities including assembly, sports halls and cafeterias on a timetable.

Under these proposals, Lochgilphead High and Primary School would share a campus located on what is currently open land between the houses at Ross Crescent and the proposed sports complex at Kilmory.

Land and buildings left behind after the new schools are built could be used for other council purposes, demolished or sold off as surplus.

The council was adamant the land would not be transferred into the hands of its private partners.

The plans, unveiled by the council and its preferred private bidder, Precept Consortium,