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The re-development of the council’s Jackson’s Quarry Depot, Oban, is close to completion. As the council moves into the new fleet workshop and office, completed by Luddon Construction Ltd, Oban building firm, Gregor Morawski, has secured the contract to refurbish the existing building to provide new staff welfare, storage and a horticultural workshop. This is the final stage that will bring all essential operational services for Oban and into one single, main site, reducing from three depots to one. The site comprises:

With COVID restrictions easing, it is possible for events to take place across PվɫÇéƬ and Bute providing they meet criteria set out by the Scottish Government. Careful planning is required and must include:

PվɫÇéƬ’s Early Years Team have continued to take part in a range of professional learning and development opportunities throughout lockdown as part of the roll out of 1140 hours Early Learning and Childcare (ELC). Teachers and education staff have undertaken a wide range of hugely popular online training courses, including health and wellbeing coaching led by psychologist Sarah Philp. They have also been working closely with partner providers and childminders, offering support and advice.

PվɫÇéƬ has appointed Hawthorn Heights Ltd to start work on 31 May.   Improvement works include:   A new play parkA new public square where community events can take placeDrainage and landscaping to help ease the impact of floodingAdditional seating areasNew walking and cycling facilities  Councillor Alastair Redman, Policy Lead, Business Regeneration and Commercial Development:

The Helensburgh Waterfront Development celebrated a major construction milestone with a traditional topping out ceremony, marking the completion of the building’s structure and roof. The multi-million pound investment includes a new leisure centre and swimming pool, improved flood defences for the town, new outdoor public meeting spaces, new landscaping and car and coach parking.

Supporting local businesses is more important than ever as PվɫÇéƬ and Bute starts to recover from the impact of the pandemic.   PվɫÇéƬ is encouraging people to support towns and high streets by shopping local. To help local businesses, the council is delivering a number of initiatives designed to enhance both the online and physical presence of town centre businesses. They include:  

A series of live online Facebook events will be held this summer to promote the Gaelic language in PվɫÇéƬ and Bute and provide opportunities for communities to come together. The events will take place on the PվɫÇéƬ and Bute Gaelic Forum’s Facebook page and each one will feature a well-known, popular musician or songwriter. The first event will be held at 8pm on Thursday 27 May and will star Ian Smith from Trail West.

Getting tested is a key step in keeping each other safe and stopping the spread of covid-19, whether or not you have symptoms. I don’t have any symptoms – do I need a test?People can be infectious and spread the infection to others without realising. Identifying and supporting infectious people before they develop symptoms will help reduce the spread of coronavirus.

PվɫÇéƬ has taken an innovative approach to ensure that young people feel safe, secure and resilient as they settle back into school-life after lockdown. With pupils having spent a lot of time away from friends in recent months, and many no doubt feeling anxious, the council teamed up with Scout Adventures Lochgoilhead and Ardroy and Benmore Outdoor Education Centres, to develop an itinerary of outdoor learning activities for children and young people across PվɫÇéƬ and Bute, focussing on positive health and wellbeing.

The pandemic has required every aspect of our working lives to adapt to more challenging circumstances and regional improvement collaboratives set up to support education and children’s services teams across Scotland are no exception.