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Ambitious plans for multi-million pound investment in improving and maintaining Pվɫ��Ƭ and Bute’s roads, bridges and marine infrastructure and supporting day-to-day services for residents have been outlined to councillors.

At its meeting today (Thursday 2 June) the Environment, Development and Infrastructure (EDI) Committee considered progress on a wide-ranging programme of initiatives, funded by the council and partners.

Included in a range of roads and infrastructure developments for 2022/23 are:

• £5.4 million in improvements to bridges providing essential links between Pվɫ��Ƭ and Bute communities
• £155,000 to carry out upgrading on dozens of playparks across the region
• A £15.2 million scheme to provide flood protection to Campbeltown, supporting local businesses and protecting the investments in the town
• £900,000 to deliver an upgraded pontoon facility at Rothesay harbour, as part of plans to unlock the potential of the marine tourism sector

These projects follow on from a number of major infrastructure schemes already completed including:

• The £500,000  Lochgilphead public realm improvement scheme
• Introduction of a new £500,000 Lismore ferry to replace the old vessel
• £170,000 investment in a new fleet of low emission council vehicles
• £325,000 improvements to Tobermory’s sea wall and coastal protection measures

In addition, an extensive package of council-funded developments is also planned for the coming year including an £8 million programme of improvements to the road network, more than £10 million investment in various marine projects, a £1 million scheme to repair storm damage to Bute’s sea wall and the final phase of the plan to replace all streetlights across the region with energy efficient LEDs.

A report to the committee touched on the scale of demand for investment in Pվɫ��Ƭ and Bute’s infrastructure and so the need to attract external funding to the area. Demands on the council’s Roads and Infrastructure Service alone include maintaining a 2,300km road network, and 10,500km of public footway, running 39 piers and harbours, four lifeline ferry services, nearly 15,000 streetlights, transporting 3,000 pupils to school, and uplifting 3 million bins per year.

Policy Lead for Roads and Transport, Councillor Andrew Kain said:

“Pվɫ��Ƭ and Bute covers a huge geographic area – the second largest council area in Scotland and the highest number of inhabited islands. The sheer scale of operations that council teams manage is therefore considerable. This progress report is a reminder of that, and of the importance of additional, external funding for the area.

“Our Roads and Infrastructure team is responsible for a vast range of assets and services, crucial to the smooth running of our local communities and to the area’s economic wellbeing.

“Despite the challenges of the last two years, a great deal has been delivered already in terms of managing, maintaining and improving our key infrastructure. I look forward to seeing progress in these additional projects which will deliver further benefits for residents and visitors to Pվɫ��Ƭ and Bute.”