IT WILL be business as usual for some of Campbeltown’s bestknown shops as a £0.5 million refurbishment project begins. Work starts on Monday April 30 on 22-30 Main Street and 2-8 Longrow and all six business premises and 13 flats above will benefit, including eight vacant flats to be refurbished. Work, facilitated by Argyll and Bute Council, includes replacing the roof, chimney and lead repairs, extensive stonework repairs and replacing the rear amenity deck which causes damp in some commercial units. This is the fourth and biggest project of the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), which has secured £10 million for the regeneration of Campbeltown. Property owners on this project have contributed more than £100,000, a Private Sector Housing Grant provides more than £140,000, and more than £380,000 comes from CARS funds.
‘This investment is about partnership working with people and businesses to provide the homes and work premises Campbeltown needs’, said Councillor Aileen Morton, policy lead for Economic Development. George McMillan, who owns A Keith (Newsagents) Ltd, and is the chair of the owners association said: ‘Council officers from housing services and CARS have helped develop this project for almost four years. ‘There have been many hurdles and without their continued support we would never have reached this stage.’