Seasports still seeks £20k council support

A BID for £20,000 of CHORD money towards the Kintyre Seasports project will float again at Argyll and Bute Council.

The area planning committee’s recommendation of support for the scheme’s initial business case, to build a £1.8m stateof-the-art facility, will be on the policy and resources agenda on June 29.

Seasports spokesman Campbell Fox said: ‘Subject to any conditions that may apply, the proposed award would raise our existing pipeline to approximately £31,000.

Match-funding

‘It would establish a strong match-funding case to take to LEADER and other potential short-term sources.

‘The council’s position is important in terms of perceptions as well as cash.

‘If they don’t back the project, it will be hard to explain why to Sportscotland and the other institutional funders, such as the Big Lottery, and the Robertson Trust, who seek their opinion on grant applications.

‘Sportscotland has made it clear that raising local participation levels will enhance the attractions of our bid for capital funding.’

Last weekend the Kintyre Youth Cafe, Active Schools and Campbeltown Sailing Club’s paddleboarding project started and in August the Sailing Club’s Awards-for-All dinghy training initiative aims to begin with input from the Canoe Club and the Sea Cadets.

Mr Fox added: ‘Both projects are grounded on training local instructors so that growth is self-sustaining for years to come.

‘This is the heart of what Seasports is about – community organisations working together to create opportunities, improve life chances and attract tourism.

‘In Campbeltown Loch, we already have an outstanding natural resource that could have been designed for the project.

‘With the council’s support, we can build something that will make a real and lasting difference to South Kintyre.’

Last week the Seasports’ SCIO constitution was formally adopted at the inaugural board meeting.

Alastair Cousin, Don Hardman and Campbell Fox were confirmed as the founding trustees, and Margaret Wallace was co-opted as a trustee and elected as treasurer.

Mr Hardman was elected as secretary and Mr Fox as chairman and a bank account was opened.

Mr Fox added: ‘As the overall workload is substantial and only likely to increase, any additional help would be most welcome.’