£2 million to boost Argyll’s rural economy from Islay to Kintyre to Cowal

Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, has just announced funding approvals from Rural Priorities, part of the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP).

These approvals include £1,937,111 for a total of 48 business and community projects in Argyll, 4 of which are substantial:

• a state of the art milking parlour near Campbeltown
• a boat yard and slipway at Lagavulin Bay on Islay
• the development of sports facilities in Strachur.

In making the announcement, Richard Lochhead said: ‘This significant investment in rural Scotland will support many exciting new projects and the expansion of existing businesses, creating new jobs and securing existing employment.

‘The many rural businesses that are looking to the future are playing a key role in aiding Scotland’s economic recovery.

‘Throughout rural Scotland there exists a strong sense of optimism and continuing spirit of innovation and invention.’

The details of the three main Argyll projects funded are:

• Archie Miller of Ballygreggan Farm, Campbeltown has been awarded £46,500 towards the cost of replacing his ageing milking parlour with a state of the art facility. The new parlour will reduce milking time, facilitate an increase in cow numbers and improve animal welfare by reducing the risk of mastitis.
• Surnaig Farm, which fringes Lagavulin Bay on Islay, has been awarded £90,566 to convert a former walled garden into a secure and serviced boat storage facility for approximately 50 vessels complete with a slipway and 18 ton boat hoist for launch and retrieval. Located in one of the most desirable and challenging places to sail in the world, Islay is also one of the stages in the popular annual Classic Malt race. The facility will create three new jobs and training and help promote the area as a visitor destination.
• Strachur and District Community Development Co Ltd have been awarded £153,047 towards the cost of providing sports facilities in Strachur. The project will involve constructing a pavilion with showers and changing rooms adjacent to a newly constructed sports field, comprising full size shinty pitch, football pitches, general community recreation area and sports facility for the local primary school, shinty club and youth club. The facilities will contribute to Argyll’s thriving rural communities through the provision of sports and recreation facilities in remote rural areas. Strachur, on the Southern shore of Loch Fyne, is spread over approximately 12 miles and at its closest point is 18 miles from the nearest facilities at Dunoon. As well as benefit the immediate community the development will enable the community to host national and regional sports fixtures, particularly shinty league matches.

The total amount of the funding approvals announced this morning is £37 million. The area breakdown of funded projects is:

• Argyll – 48 projects totalling £1,937,111
• Ayrshire – 40 projects totalling £2,115,510
• Borders – 58 projects totalling £4,304,073
• Clyde Valley – 13 projects totalling £446,277
• Dumfries & Galloway – 86 projects totalling £6,543,304
• Forth – 52 projects totalling £3,653,806
• Grampian – 74 projects totalling £4,675,034
• Highland – 134 projects totalling £8,648,850
• Northern Isles – 34 projects totalling £1,378,340
• Outer Hebrides – 20 projects totalling £326,437
• Tayside – 81 projects totalling £2,856,142

Daily news and events information on Islay can be found on the Islay Weblog; and information and discussion on Kintyre are at the Kintyre Forum.