Four ambitious coastal community projects across Argyll and Bute are in line to benefit from new Scottish Crown Estate funding.
Following confirmation that the council has been allocated £1,818,714 from the Scottish Government’s Crown Estate Fund for 2024/25, a range of community initiatives were given the go-ahead at a meeting of the council’s Policy and Resources Committee.
Funding has been approved for:
- Kintyre Seasports – funding will support demolishing the existing pavilion building and creating temporary accommodation for the community charity project in advance of Rural Growth Deal approvals. This project promotes health and wellbeing and attracts adventure tourists to Kintyre.
- Port Ellen Playing Fields – completion of a new Community Hub and motorhome site.
- Argyll Kayak Trail – ongoing operation and maintenance of the popular 150km sea kayak trail which runs between Ganavan and Helensburgh.
- Tarbert Heritage and Place Programme – additional support for a bid to Historic Environment Scotland for investment in the scheme to regenerate Tarbert.
The council previously agreed to allocate £780,000 from this year’s Crown Estate funding to mitigate weather-related costs, £500,000 to balance the 2024-25 budget, and a further £107,000 to fund posts within Economic Development, leaving a remaining budget of £431,714 for 2024/25.
The Crown Estate Fund is targeted at the sustainability of coastal communities across several categories including environment, community, climate change, and economic development.
Councillor Jim Lynch, the council’s Policy Lead for Economic Development, Islands and Rural Communities, Housing said: “This new Crown Estate funding is extremely welcome, and will deliver vital investment for many key projects in Argyll and Bute that support our coastal communities.”
