The Kintyre Forum

More good news for Kintyre..fantastic!

Great news for the area .................. but .........

I’m a wee bit speechless re the £1.12m. I know it will be jobs for the area and improve the desperately needed accommodation crisis but all that money, our money, invested in one American company. I assume there will be conditions attached. Why is our money going into an overseas private company who bought a going concern, the Royal Hotel, and proceeded to close it?



Aside:

It may bring jobs but to locals?
If I remember correctly it was Eastern European ‘tradesmen’ who were ‘used’ to transform the hotel into its present state before it closed.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s great they’ll be done up but it’s the level of funding.

Is it not a bit unfair to the existing proprietors of the other hotels e.g. Argyll, White Hart, etc.

We really should change the sign on the way into the town to read....

Campbeltown BUT....

Great news. If the current developments at Machrihanish are anything to go by then we can look forward to high standards both at The Royal and the Ugadale which must be important in attracting people to the town who will leave impressed.

Funding of £1.12 million towards the project has been approved by the HIE with a further £744,000 committed from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for a TOTAL project that is going to cost £7.4 million. I think if any of the other hotels were going to invest over £5 million pounds in their buildings then no-one would think any funding that is available shouldn't be awarded.

WTC, Southworth were definitely not in charge of the project at the time you are referring to.

WTC wrote:Is it not a bit unfair to the existing proprietors of the other hotels e.g. Argyll, White Hart, etc.

Have any of them asked for funding or made any attempt to raise standards in their premises. No hotels at the moment that I am aware of can take bus parties.

Considering the amount that is to spent on this project it should be a real asset to the town.

Yes sorry.
I have now closed my eyes and squeezed really hard. I can see the new improved ‘Royal Spa Hotel’ funded by the public, just like the banks, catering for bus parties.

Quote from the past:

Just noticed on the AIE site that the developers already had £70000 in 2004 for redoing the Royal!
http://www.hie.co.uk/openness-april-2004.pdf[/quote]

That was probably spent making up those No Trespassing signs that in the windows!

WTC wrote:Yes sorry.
I have now closed my eyes and squeezed really hard. I can see the new improved ‘Royal Spa Hotel’ funded by the public, just like the banks, catering for bus parties.

Like your original post I think you have missed the point. History's point was there is not one Hotel in Campbeltown or in Kintyre that can cater for large numbers. So if there is a bus of 40 Americans coming to play Machrihanish where to we put them? Scattered between the White Hart, Argyll etc and with all due respect doesn't leave the best impression does it?

This is wonderful news for our area which again has put Kintyre in the national news. Who cares about the grant money? It was there to be won and well done to Southwest for applying for it and getting it.

Move on WTC because Kintyre certainly is and silly comments like yours will leave us in the dark ages.

mrn wrote:This is wonderful news for our area which again has put Kintyre in the national news. Who cares about the grant money? It was there to be won and well done to Southwest for applying for it and getting it.

Move on WTC because Kintyre certainly is and silly comments like yours will leave us in the dark ages.

Is there an infinite amount of grant money out there ?
If that's the case, then fine ... good news. History did make some valid points.

If not ... then is it really good news ? Do the "mere mortals" actually benefit from any of this ?
It's a fair point to suggest that the gazillions invested in white elephants, non-starters & other dubious ventures over recent years might have been better spent, This has possibly been to the detriment of more practical & beneficial projects.

40 American golfers may be happy from time to time ... but if you want to talk about living in the Dark Ages .. speak to local foorballers who could use an all weather pitch ... or secondary school pupils who's school is falling down around them.

So overall, it probably is beneficial ... but what are the hidden costs ?

£3.73 wrote:If not ... then is it really good news ? Do the "mere mortals" actually benefit from any of this ?
It's a fair point to suggest that the gazillions invested in white elephants, non-starters & other dubious ventures over recent years might have been better spent, This has possibly been to the detriment of more practical & beneficial projects.

I think the biggest benefit alone for Campbeltown is having the Royal Hotel open again. So while many of won't get any personal benefit from it the fact that the hotel is opened is of benefit to the community. Really excited about these two hotels - if they are anything like the cottages etc then they are going to be superb.

In our Clydebank Office the last two days and at least half a dozen people mentioned it to me and asking about the new course and they are thinking of visiting etc

Plus once the bar opens it will be the nearest place I can go for a pint! (but I might be spotted on the webcam! )

Think this is brilliant news for the area

Ship called Dignity wrote:
Plus once the bar opens it will be the nearest place I can go for a pint!

I would have thought The Gluepot(Kinloch) is closer ...and a better class clientele

bill wrote:

Ship called Dignity wrote:
Plus once the bar opens it will be the nearest place I can go for a pint!

I would have thought The Gluepot(Kinloch) is closer ...and a better class clientele

Bill ..............how two minds think alike .

Does anyone know if anything is happening with this? Now April and no signs of development....