Community turns out to support Ardchattan ‘hub’ project
People from all over Ardchattan turned out to a community engagement day on Sunday.
The event saw the launch of a survey asking the community for views and suggestions on people’s priorities and what facilities they would like to see provided locally – including the future use of the primary school at Bonawe, mothballed by the council four years ago.
Ideas for bringing it back into use include a community hall, a cafe, business space to rent, shop and even a bunkhouse. The project put in a successful bid for funding from organisation Firstport, which will now be mentoring the group with its social enterprise.
Benderloch-based architect Shauna Cameron, who designed Luing’s Atlantic Islands Centre and the heritage centre on Lismore, was at the engagement day. ‘This is such a wonderful building and, with the community behind it, it has plenty of potential and life still in it, at least for another 100 years,’ she said.
Breege Smyth, from the Ardchattan Community Centre Group, added: ‘We are so delighted with the turnout.
‘We are beaming from ear to ear. People have come from far afield, all over the parish. The community is the backbone of this project.’
The group was also proud to show off its new banner funded by Oban Rotary Club, whose president Iain MacIntyre was there to hand it over.
To get a survey, email breege@ journalist.com or go along to the next engagement days on November 18 and December 16 at the school.