Town action plan outlines steps for positive future

Following an extensive survey of Campbeltown residents, a new community action plan has been created which should make it easier for key projects and activities to gain funding.

Created collaboratively by South Kintyre Development Trust (SKDT), Campbeltown Community Council (CCC), Inspiralba, and Architecture and Design Scotland (ADS), the action plan sets out the priorities for the development of the town over the next five years.

Reflecting the needs and wishes of the 879 survey responders – almost 20 per cent of the town’s population – the plan describes what the community hopes to achieve, what actions are required and what the community can do to make it successful.

It focuses on seven main themes: employment, education and training; resilience; roads, transport and infrastructure; tourism; the town centre; sports and recreation; and health and community services.

The community action plan will be launched at a drop-in event at Campbeltown Town Hall between 11am and 1pm on Saturday March 5.

Halfway through the event, Eric Spence, SKDT manager, and Valerie Nimmo, CCC convener, will give a brief talk on behalf of their organisations.

‘The new community action plan (2022-2027) builds on the success of our previous plan (2012-2017) which sparked a major redevelopment of the area leading to Campbeltown being voted Scotland’s Most Improved Place at the SURF Awards in 2020,’ said Mr Spence.

‘We have identified the priorities of the people of this area for the next five years. This evidence will allow us to pursue the funding we need to develop key projects and activities that aim to improve the quality of life in Campbeltown and South Kintyre for locals and visitors.’

Mrs Nimmo added: ‘We had a great response from Campbeltown residents to our survey and it is hoped the community will participate in the implementation of the plan and make Campbeltown an even better place to live.’

Ailsa Clark, development manager at Inspiralba, which supports employment and training opportunities, said she was ‘delighted’ to see the publication of the plan.

‘We were able to employ four local young people over the past eight months who contributed to the research, information gathering, outreach, promotion, survey analysis and production of the community action plan,’ she said.

Ness Wright and Chiara Fingland from ADS added: 'As part of the Scottish Government’s Climate Action Towns pilot project, ADS was delighted to help include consideration of climate change in the plan. Campbeltown has been selected as one of seven Climate Action Towns across Scotland. We look forward to seeing the community take the next steps.’ Core funded by