The Kintyre Forum

Been meaning to post these for a couple of weeks now and will follow up with a more detailed report when I have time. It is taking time but there is a noticeable difference in a number of the shop fronts in Campbeltown as part of the Campbeltown Area Regeneration Scheme - a project which started in 2007 and will run to March 2012. A total funding of £685,000 was made available as part of the CARS Scheme (Historic Scotland £385,000, Argyll & Bute Council £200,000 and HIe £100,000)

The CARS scheme is is conservation based regeneration scheme funded by Historic Scotland with Council matchfunding. Campbeltown is one of the first and there are now 30 similar schemes in Scotland.

The exciting part is additional funding will soon be made available under the Townscape Heritage Initiative which will see more than a £1 million pound invested in the town centre. Both projects will target many of the same buildings and will joint fund their refurbishment/works etc.

The overall project comes under the name of the Campbeltown Town Centre Regeneration Steering Group, which is charied by local man James Lafferty and was set up April 2007 to service CARS (and shortly the THI).

Numero Dix in Union Street held an official opening last week and the transformation is stunning. Will follow this article up with some internal photos. Here are a couple of photos and a link to the http://www.visitkintyre.info site showing you the rest. Well done all involved.





To view more images please click on the following link (hold Ctrl and click to open in a new window)

http://www.visitkintyre.info/news/local ... /index.htm

Very impressive. You don't notice how much work has been done until you see all the before and after shots!

Are there any plans to have that horrendous nickle n dime sign changed for something more tasteful? The building adjacent to Taylors and the wee Cafe is also an eyesore. The infamous Scotbet sign? The paper shop beside Scotbet?

The town hall is one of the main focal points in Campbeltown and yet it looks cheap and nasty. Too many coats of paint and the recent colour of paint is horrible. It would look far better if all the layers of paint could be sand blasted off and it be painted properly.

Good to see the town centre improving, look forward to seeing it once all the buildings have had a wee face lift!

The Hitman wrote:The town hall is one of the main focal points in Campbeltown and yet it looks cheap and nasty. Too many coats of paint and the recent colour of paint is horrible. It would look far better if all the layers of paint could be sand blasted off and it be painted properly.

If all the many layers of paint over the years could be sand blasted off, would it be feasible to leave the building in the natural stone? I've always wondered why the Town Hall needed to be painted in the first place. Anybody know the history of this?

Thanks for posting these photos. The before and after photos are great and make you realise the difference it makes! My mother n law was at the opening of Numero Dix and said it is beautiful inside.

Lets hope all the good work continues.

I have updated the story above and on the vk site to add some more detail. The work completed to date is under the CARS scheme with THI funding to start soon. The Kintyre Forum will post more photos and a further update on these projects shortly. If there are any questions we can ask to the people involved in these projects then please PM or post so we can get an answer.

Been meaning to post these for a couple of weeks now and will follow up with a more detailed report when I have time. It is taking time but there is a noticeable difference in a number of the shop fronts in Campbeltown as part of the Campbeltown Area Regeneration Scheme - a project which started in 2007 and will run to March 2012. A total funding of £685,000 was made available as part of the CARS Scheme (Historic Scotland £385,000, Argyll & Bute Council £200,000 and HIe £100,000)

The CARS scheme is is conservation based regeneration scheme funded by Historic Scotland with Council matchfunding. Campbeltown is one of the first and there are now 30 similar schemes in Scotland.

The exciting part is additional funding will soon be made available under the Townscape Heritage Initiative which will see more than a £1 million pound invested in the town centre. Both projects will target many of the same buildings and will joint fund their refurbishment/works etc.

The overall project comes under the name of the Campbeltown Town Centre Regeneration Steering Group, which is charied by local man James Lafferty and was set up April 2007 to service CARS (and shortly the THI).

Numero Dix in Union Street held an official opening last week and the transformation is stunning. Will follow this article up with some internal photos. Here are a couple of photos and a link to the http://www.visitkintyre.info site showing you the rest. Well done all involved.

EMDEE wrote:

The Hitman wrote:The town hall is one of the main focal points in Campbeltown and yet it looks cheap and nasty. Too many coats of paint and the recent colour of paint is horrible. It would look far better if all the layers of paint could be sand blasted off and it be painted properly.

If all the many layers of paint over the years could be sand blasted off, would it be feasible to leave the building in the natural stone? I've always wondered why the Town Hall needed to be painted in the first place. Anybody know the history of this?

I also wondered this at the time. Perhaps it will be part of the overall work of the current and future project.

The Kintyre Civic Society are hosting an exhibition of newly taken photographs in the Town Hall's Council Chambers today (19th September) and tomorrow (20th September 2009) from 14:00 - 17:00

There will alos be a small exhibition containing some of the work carried out as part of the Campbeltown Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS).

Sorry for the late notice but only noticed it today and picked up a leaflet I saw in one of the shops in town.

FURTHER BOOST FOR CAMPBELTOWN TOWN CENTRE REGENERATION PROJECT

A multi-million pound project aimed at regenerating Campbeltown’s historic town centre is about to be boosted by the official launch of one of its major strands.

The Campbeltown Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), for which the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) earmarked £700,000, aims to rejuvenate run down historic buildings, making them more appealing places in which to invest, live, work and visit.

An official launch has been arranged for later this month, at which residents and other interested parties will be able to find out more about the project.

The event, at Campbeltown Town Hall on Thursday, January 21 from 5-8pm, will include exhibition boards containing information on work done to date, grant funding available, parallel projects, community engagement with local groups (including schools), target buildings and shop fronts.

The THI is one of the two main strands of the Campbeltown Town Centre Regeneration Project. The other is the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), which has been active since 2007 and which received £385,000 from Historic Scotland.

To date, the project has received over 200 enquiries and has approved 42 grants.

Nearly 30 different contractors have worked on the scheme, the vast majority of whom are local. Work carried out to date has included shop front refurbishments, sash and case window repairs, replacement close doors, high level tenement works and options appraisals for key buildings.

Among the more high profile projects have been the refurbishment of two target shopfronts – 12 Longrow and McKellar’s Licensed Grocers – on which work began last month and to which the finishing touches are now being made.

Both the THI and CARS are now administered by Argyll and Bute Council under the banner of Campbeltown Town Centre Regeneration Project. The grant-eligible areas have recently been amended to concentrate efforts on Main Street, Longrow and several others streets in particular need of refurbishment.

A map highlighting the priority areas is available on the Council’s website, and there will also be copies available at the launch event.

James Lafferty, Project Officer for the scheme, said he hoped local people would drop into the launch event to find out the latest on what’s happening in the town.

“I have been delighted by the level of interest shown in the project, from members of the public of all ages and from local businesses, including contractors and other craftspeople,” he added.

“The launch will give everyone a chance to come and see where we are with the work, and what our aims are for the future.

“We will have several exhibition boards on completed projects, with before and after photographs and a description of what has been achieved.

“I will obviously be there, and will be delighted to answer any questions or discuss any issues which people wish to raise.”

Councillor John Semple, Chair of the Campbeltown CHORD Project Board, said it is a very exciting time for the town.

“We have an opportunity here not just to improve the bricks and mortar but – in doing so – to generate substantial social and economic benefits for Campbeltown and the surrounding area,” he added.

"These projects come at the same time as other significant investment in the area, both in terms of private enterprise and in terms of the Council’s flagship CHORD project, which will contribute to regenerating the town’s heritage and conservation sites as well as the marina and Kinloch Road area.

“Campbeltown and the surrounding area are set to be transformed over the next few years, and I look forward to continuing to work with the local community and partner organisations – including, of course, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland - in ensuring that we can all be proud of the results.”

Colin McLean, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said:

"Looking after our heritage is an incredibly effective way of injecting new life into a community. This THI can really help turn Campbeltown’s economy around, not only by improving how its historic centre looks and feels, but also by prompting business start-ups, providing good housing and improving community facilities such as the Town Hall.

“It is timely that the launch of the THI takes place as other exciting initiatives are beginning to happen in the area. As a result of organisations working together, Campbeltown’s future has never looked brighter.”

The THI’s official launch on Thursday, January 21 from 5-8pm in Campbeltown Town Hall is open to anyone who is interested.

Refreshments and childcare facilities will be available.

The launch is scheduled to coincide with a piece on BBC Alba the same evening, which will feature interviews with both Councillor Semple and James Lafferty.

It will be on the evening news 'An La' on the Gaelic channel at 8pm. The piece will be able to be viewed online until the same time the following evening.

BBC Alba is currently available on Digital Satellite, on Sky 168, Freesat 110 and live on BBC iPlayer. Ten hours of content per week is also available to view on demand via the BBC PC iPlayer and the BBC iPlayer on Cable. For further information go to www.bbcalba.co.uk

The total funding package for the Campbeltown Town Centre Regeneration Project currently stands at £1.945 million.

The funding partners are Argyll and Bute Council (£600,000), Historic Scotland (CARS - £385,000), Heritage Lottery Fund (THI – £700,000), LEADER (£140,000), Highlands and Islands Enterprise (£105,000) and Other Funders (£15,000).

Poster for the THI Launch

Does anyone have any views on which shops etc need this re-generation work done the most?

Kintyre Forum News wrote:Does anyone have any views on which shops etc need this re-generation work done the most?

Surely that honour goes to Wallys?

I agree! Fortunately Paul has an architect on board and is having the drawings done as we speak.

Kintyre Forum News wrote:Poster for the THI Launch

Just a reminder about tomorrow's launch event.

A very good turn out last night at the offical launch of the Campbeltown Town Centre Regeneration Programme. Well done everyone.

Here are three examples of work recently carried out

32-34 Longrow.
Before After


32 and 34 Longrow Campbeltown

The ever present threats of age, weathering and well intentioned but misguided repairs had affected these two shop frontages resulting in loss of the original design appearance and general quality of the finishes.

The refurbishment scheme carried out under the current CARS project has set about reversing this process with the following action.

• Existing modern plywood applied facia sign and projection signs were removed
• A structurally cracked stone lintel has been replaced not only enhancing appearance but securing the structural integrity of the building over.
• Stonework has been carefully cleaned and redundant fittings like signage and canopy fixings removed and stonework repaired.
• Existing windows had been poorly repaired with loss of detail and this has been rectified by complete repairs using carefully matched moulded timber.
• Existing doors were a mix of original doors badly rotted and doors flushed with plywood coverings in an attempt to rectify defects. Doors have been completely replaced or repaired again using timber mouldings taken from existing profiles. Matching brass ironmongery now replaces the ill matched collection which been fitted over the years.
• New and existing timber has been stripped of old paint and re primed, undercoated and finished with a top colour from an appropriate heritage colour range.

The completed restoration carried out by local tradesmen enhances the streetscape and should secure the property for economic business use for many years to come.

12 Longrow South
Before - After


12 Longrow South
Reinstatement of shopfront, works included:

· Removal of existing timber boards, window signage and alarm box
· Repair original window reinstating original detail, including new cill
· Install new laminated glass in main window and replace Georgian wired glass on door with laminated clear glass
· Refurbish existing door and install new furniture
· Various other timber repairs where required
· Repair damaged stonework
· Carefully prepare existing surfaces and repaint entire shopfront

Phase 1 – removed the dereliction.
Phase 2 – possible internal works to allow shop to be brought back into use.

McKellars Licensed Grocers, 27-31 Main Street



McKellars Licensed Grocers, 27-31 Main Street

Reinstatement of shopfront, works included:
Ø Remove signage, alarm box, electric fans and tidy up all loose cables
Ø Remove perspex window (right hand-side) and reinstate original glazing
Ø Install plywood board 6” behind glass line, paint and apply signage
Ø Replacement oak doors with traditional furniture, manufactured locally
Ø Reinstate hardwood base with mouldings to match existing
Ø Carefully prepare surfaces and re-paint entire shopfront
Ø Replacement signage in traditional font

Well with the few shops that have been done, it's a start I suppose.... A long way to go though...

Just a pity about the time and cost involved, but they will get there in the end....

maxmix