Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) inherited a lot of lock-up garages when it became the owner of the Council’s housing stock in 2006.

Alastair MacGregor, ACHA’s Chief Executive now wants to clear them away to make room for additional housing or parking. He says that many of the old council-owned lock-ups are in poor condition and that some of them were built using asbestos materials, principally in roofing.

All of the lock-ups to be demolished will be surveyed first to determine what types of asbestos might have been involved in thier constructions. All asbestos materials will be removed and disposed of as current regulations require.

Residents have already removed cars and belongings after being served with notices of the demolitions.

There are 289 lock-up garages to be demolished. They are at locations all over Argyll and the islands – Lochgilphead, Ardrishaig, Inveraray, Tarbert, Southend, Port Ellen, Bowmore, Rothesay, Kirn, Sandband, Strone, Rosneath, Garelochhead, Rhu, Helensburgh and Cardross.

ACHA estoimate that the demolition and disposal work involved will cost around £220,000. It is confident that this will be paid for by Scottish Government grant funding secured when ownership of Argyll & Bute Council’s housing stock was transferred to ACHA.