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Visitor Levy Consultation is open for 12 weeks

from the council ….

At a time when funding for public services is shrinking, a visitor levy is an option for raising investment to sustain local services used by visitors, as well as residents, and to keep the area as a top visitor attraction.

Support for individual tourism businesses, or for extending the tourism season are examples of how levy income could be used. Services used by the visitor economy, and so could benefit from levy funding, include for example, waste, roads, transport and leisure services.

We are running a 12-week consultation and invite you to take the time to find out more about what a levy could mean for Argyll and Bute, and then give your view.

What services would people want income from a levy to be spent on, if one was introduced? What support would tourism businesses like with managing a levy? For anyone against a visitor levy, how else would they see the visitor economy being funded in future?

These are some of the questions we are inviting views on.

You can find more information on our website, and over the next 12 weeks we will be providing updates:

We are also organising a series of information events over the next 12 weeks. We will announce further information about these soon.

Please do take time over the next 12 weeks to find out more and get involved with assessing a visitor levy for Argyll and Bute.

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RIVERWOODS: An Untold Story

In partnership with ABCAN and as part of the development of our Local Place Plan, the Community Council and the Development Trust present an evening focussed on the River Ruel and the work of the River Improvement Association, centred around the feature film Riverwoods

Three years in the making, the featurelength Riverwoods film, produced by Riverwoods partner Scotland: The Big Picture and narrated by Peter Capaldi, shines a light on the perilous state of Scotland’s salmon, and tells the compelling story of a fish that once lived in the forest. And in the soil that feeds the forest. And in the predators, scavengers and even herbivores of the forest. Scotland’s Atlantic salmon – the King of Fish – is not only the ultimate angler’s prize, but a key building block in a complex forest ecosystem.

Riverwoods Film Screening eventDownload

Doors open 17:45hrs, January 17th, Colintraive Village Hall

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A83 Rest & Be Thankful Exhibition in January

A83 Rest and Be Thankful 

Public exhibitions are being held from 15 to 21 January 2025 for the A83 Rest and Be Thankful scheme. 

These public exhibitions will provide local communities and road users the opportunity to view and comment on the draft Orders, Compulsory Purchase Orders and Environmental Impact Assessments for both the Medium and Long-Term Solutions. Please note these are two standalone schemes and should be considered separately when providing comment or representations.

Improving the resilience of the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful remains a key transport priority for the Scottish Government.

Transport Scotland staff and their technical advisers AtkinsRéalis WSP Joint Venture (AWJV) will be available to answer any questions on the proposals for both the Medium and Long-Term Solutions. 

Details of the public exhibitions are as follows:

Wednesday 15 January 2025 (1pm to 7pm)

Victoria Hall, Kinloch Road, Campbeltown, PA28 6EG (1pm to 7pm)

Thursday 16 January 2025 (1pm to 7pm)

Lochgilphead Bowling Club, Bank Park, Lochgilphead, PA31 8LN (1pm to 7pm)

Friday 17 January 2025 (1pm to 6pm)

Lochgoilhead Village Hall, 8 Hall Road, Lochgoilhead, PA24 8AQ

Monday 20 January 2025 (1pm to 7pm)

Queen’s Hall, 9 Argyll Street, Dunoon, PA23 7HH

Tuesday 21 January 2025 (1pm to 7pm)

Three Villages Hall, Shore Road, Arrochar, G83 7AB

The exhibition material for both schemes is available now to view at pinpointcloud.co.uk/A83restandbethankful 

Please submit any representations to Transport Scotland by 7 February 2025 by post:

Director of Major Projects, A83 Rest and Be Thankful Scheme, Transport Scotland, George House, 2nd Floor, 36 North Hanover Street, Glasgow, G1 2AD

Or by email: A83DraftOrders@transport.gov.scot

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Local Plan Planning Short Survey

The community council would like to invite everyone in the community to give us your views on our place and how it can be improved to contribute to our Local Place Plan through this very Short SURVEY.

A Local Place Plan (LPP) is a community-led plan that outlines a community’s vision for the development and use of land in their area: 

  • Purpose LPPs are a way for communities to share their ideas and aspirations for the places they live, work, and spend time in. They can help communities develop and deliver their own projects, and their proposed solutions can influence local planning policy. 
  • Who can prepare them LPPs must be prepared by a Community Council or a “community-controlled body”. 
  • What they include LPPs should set out priorities for future development, and may identify land and buildings that the community considers to be of particular significance. 
  • How they are prepared LPPs should take into account the local development plan and the Scottish Government’s Strategic National Planning Framework. They may also require a specialized design element from an architect or urban designer. 
  • How they are registered LPPs must meet a particular set of criteria to be considered valid by a planning authority.
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Secretary Role Advertised for Cruach Mhor Windfarm Trust

The CC is pleased to let the community know that the Windfarm Trust is recruiting for a part-time secretary. The details are as follows:

CRUACH MHOR WINDFARM TRUST

SECRETARY

Freelance Contract for the position of Secretary of the Trust

£20 per hour / 70-100 hours per annum estimated

The Cruach Mhor Windfarm Trust is seeking a secretary to work freelance on a flexible contract with between 70 and 100 hours per annum. With attention to detail, an understanding of the third sector and a passion for helping community organisations survive and thrive, this person will work with the trustees to deliver funding into the beautiful rural community of Colintraive & Glendaruel.

Duties will include: minute-taking at Trust meetings, the receipt and distribution of Grant Applications, Correspondence with Grant Applicants, Trustees and external stakeholders as well as the update of important policy, governance and public-facing documents.

The Cruach Mhor Windfarm Trust is responsible for the receipt and disbursement of Community Benefit funds from the Cruach Mhor Windfarm to the community of Colintraive and Glendaruel.

The Trust regards its duties as both a privilege and a serious responsibility and has therefore determined to employ a secretary to help execute those duties.

Please send CV and Covering email by Friday, 10th January 2025 to charles.dixonspain@gmail.com

All applications will be treated confidentially, and interviews will be undertaken in the Colintraive Village Hall between 13th-24th January 2025.

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Visitor Levy Explainer From A&B Council

Argyll and Bute Council have published an updated explainer on the Visitor Levy. The plain English helps explain what the council are thinking of doing, why they think this is a good idea and the process that they will need to follow to implement the changes.

There is a meeting before Christmas at the council to consider a draft scheme which if approved will go out to consultation in the New Year for three months.

https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/my-council/argyll-and-bute-visitor-levy-faqs

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Argyll Rally Residents Survey

As the promoters of the Argyll Rally, Mull Car Club and Dunoon Presents have been asked by Argyll and Bute Council to carry out a survey where views on the rally are sought across the Dunoon and full rally area (i.e. where each stage is taking place and affects households and businesses). Following this request a survey has been created to capture the views of both residents and businesses.

The link to the survey is detailed below but it can also be found via argyllrally.co.uk/residents

https://forms.gle/2hbvFLyxrU1hNpmS8

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New Episode from Across the Loch

Across the Loch Episode 8 with Kirsty McLuckie & Mike Russell just published.

Kirsty and Michael introduce  the eighth edition  of the local podcast for Colintraive and Glendaruel in Argyll , Scotland which has been running now for a full year. This episode  includes an interview with local resident and community activist Rosalyn McKenna who is  working , in her day job, on improving access to the Argyll Collection, a unique cultural resource intended for the young people of  the area which owes it existence to two visionaries, the remarkable wrier Naomi Mitchison and  Argyll art adviser Jim Tyre . In a new history feature Michael  explores the national contribution  of the distinguished and influential Maclaurin family  which had Glendaruel roots  whistle the two presenters muse on Christmas food, the prospects of a cold winter and the possibility of a tourist tax for Argyll & Bute whilst also giving a rundown of the various events and celebrations in ColGlen this December. 

Email Kirsty & Michael at acrosstheloch@gmail.com with comments and suggestion for this local ColGlen Podcast

SPOTIFY

APPLE

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Next CC Meeting Colintraive, 9th December

7.30pm on Monday, 9th December 2025 at the Colintraive Village Hall

The agenda will follow the usual format:

  • Apologies
  • Declarations of Interest
  • Minutes of Last Meeting
  • Matters Arising
  • Police Update
  • Councillor’s Report
  • Planning Matters
  • Community Council Admin
  • Development Trust Update
  • Rally Update
  • Calmac Update
  • AOCB
  • DONM

Minutes are, as always, available on the relevant page here

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Phone Switch Over to Digital in January 2027

The UK’s telephone network is changing.

Between now and January 2027 most telephone providers will be moving their customers from old analogue landlines over to new upgraded landline services using digital technology. This means services that rely on the old landline system such as home phones, telecare and health devices will need to be compatible.

Here is a good summary page from Argyll and Bute Council

Below are two documents which should provide all the information you need, but if you have problems accessing it, or have concerns do let the community council know.

ALL IP Digital Switchover Leaflet Template FINALDownload
241114_PSTN Update PresDownload