1. Tarbert Harbour Authority has a bold and strategic ambition to build a Launch and Recovery Sportscraft / Watersports Slipway together with a Community and Watersports Activity Hub.  Whilst the Activity Hub and Slipway are linked as a strategic development; for the purposes of funding, build and project managment, they are being treated as distinct projects with individual costs, individual project timescales and individual benefits and outcome profiles. Phase 1  will see the development of a Watercraft Launch & Recovery Slipway, Kayak Pontoon and Boat Laydown Area - £1.5M   Phase 2 will see the building of a Community Water Sports and Activity Hub - £1.4M.

2. The Project utilises a vacant and semi-derelict harbourside development plot to address: A significant health and social gap in terms of water sports, gym and soft play areas and associated learning and development activities.   An identified need for orgnanised, safe, educational and affordable access to the above facilities together with a learning area, meeting and events space.  Community Facilities are vital for the well-being of rural villages and a community hub/gym combined with a water sports facility can be a game-changer for diverse groups of people.  The integration of these amenities not only promotes physical health but also fosters social interaction together with economic growth.

3. The development of the Community Water Sports Slipway and Activity Hub will provide wide ranging benefits.  Adults and children in Tarbert and Loch Fyne's local communities will have accessible opportunites to improve their health, wellbeing, social confidence, learning and skill sets.  Local families will benefit from access to safe soft play and early years development stimulus.  Young people in education along Loch Fyne will have the opportunity to acquire new experiences, skills and qualifications that will support their social development and provide a platform for demonstrating their capabilities in diverse ways. Visitors to Tarbert and the surrounding area, whether for work or leisure purposes, will be able to relax and participate in safe gym exercise, supervised water-based activities, training and development in sailing and boating to established National Standards.  Additional employment opportunities will be directly and indirectly created by this development.  The development will be a major step forward in realising the next stage in the village's regeneration and development.  Regular exercise is known to reduce stress, anxiety and depression, leading to healthier, more product individuals.  A well equipped gym provides access to fitness resources, encouraging users to adopt a healthy lifestyle.  The gym will cater for a wide range of fitness levels and interests, from beginners to advanced.  The Activity Hub will also be used as a training/meeting place for sports clubs/organisations, community groups, school groups, RYA training, activity leaders, famiies and friends.  

4. It is proposed, once all Phase 1 funding is in place, to commence the development of the Launch/Retrieval Watercraft slipway this financial year with a completion date of mid 2026,  Phase 2 will follow, when funding allows, and when the final funding matrix is clearer.

Partnerships: We plan to collaborate with:

1. Argyll & Bute community Council to align with local interests.

2. Schools and educational institutions to promote learning opportunities.

3. Local businesses, including bike hire providers and tourism boards, to enhance visitor engagement.

1. First and foremost, we want to keep our children safe while they enjoy being outdoors. The A83 runs the entire length of West Kintyre and as all the villages are spurs from this extremely fast and dangerous road, there is just nowhere safe for children to ride their bikes. To address this, we wish to install a pump track at Tayinloan

2. We feel it is needed because the main A83 is getting busier, and is one of the most dangerous roads in Scotland. Children and adults of all ages are now taking up more and more physical exercise and cycling has become very popular indeed.  We wish to offer a safe enclosed area where they can learn and ride in safety.

3. The project could bring many positive benefits.  Pump track riding not only provides a physical workout, but also promotes good mental well-being. It’s not just about the physical challenge – although that’s definitely a big part of the appeal. Spending time outdoors, surrounded by nature, has a way of melting away stress and lifting spirits. Pump track riding can actually help sharpen the mind and improve cognitive function. It is a way to encourage youngsters to leave their screens for a while and enjoy outdoor activities and social interaction.

These are just some of the positive changes for those participating in the sport. However there are many others, such as helping with social isolation which has become a big problem in these post Covid times.

At the pump track, generations come together, no matter their age! From little ones with their parents or grandparents to teenagers and young adults, everyone can enjoy fun and friendship, making it a true community hub. The little ones learn how to ride and gain confidence, while the more experienced riders practice their skills. Parents can have a great time too, as they watch their children gain confidence and make friends

4. Once the planning has been approved (hopefully within 6 months of application) and the funding secured, the pump track can be installed in 6 weeks.

We will work with Velosolutions, who are world leaders in this technology.

We will also liaise with schools and youth clubs.

We will work with Argyll and Bute Councillors

IDI has set aside an initial 25 acres of Cornabus Community Forest to deliver housing, a Community Orchard, Garden and allotments for the community. 

In 2021 we carried out extensive consultation on the proposed development site within the now community owned Cornabus Forest. Formerly a commercial Sitka Spruce plantation, the whole site will eventually be replanted with native broadleaf to replicate the Atlantic Rainforest once prevalent on Islay, delivering significant biodiversity benefits but also on the community wish list from the consultation was housing for young people, allotments, an orchard and forest trails and a garden areas. 

The project will endeavour to add social and environmental value to the site and also create a space for community members and groups to enjoy. In 2020 Islay lost it's well-known community garden at Islay House, due to the property being sold on the open market. This was a much loved and used community space. Although the site at Cornabus is not a walled garden, extensive research on other forest garden initiatives was carried out in 2022 - including visits to Royal Botanical Society managed forests and formal garden spaces, such as Benmore and Puck's Glen. The intention is to take some elements of the old community garden site and duplicate them and the new, with lots of additional features.

The project is highly ambitious, and the first stage of funding has been secured from Inspiring Scotland for development of the tree nursery site where we will grow the replacement trees.  Secondary funding has come from Carbon Neutral Islands, specifically to create some of the infrastructure and assist with a circular economy approach to fuel wood supply on the island at affordable rates. 

This is a lifetime legacy project that will create a destination for outdoor enjoyment but also offer a range of solutions to the socio-economic challenges that the island faces with a strong focus on becoming Carbon Neutral. Islay is in a housing crisis and the addition of 10 affordable houses will help address some of those issues. To ease pressure on the Grid, the project also comes with it’s own district heating system using the remaining Sitka Spruce on site as a fuel source, a wind turbine and solar panels.  

The finished project will deliver a host of positive benefits including but not limited to:

• Employment
• Affordable Housing
• Circular Economy approach/local fuel
• Community garden
• Allotments
• Carbon capture in new tree planting
• Significant destination space for locals and visitors alike.

The project will link into Argyll College, Islay High School, Youth Initiative and employability. Partners and funders will be Scottish Government – Rural and Islands Housing Fund, Argyll and Bute Council and National Lottery. Community group usage will be open to all groups on the island and will link into national networks such as Community Woodlands Association, Scottish Islands Federation and Community Tree Nursery Network.

Inveraray Pier has been in a cycle of neglectful private ownership for over 20 years, and closed to the community, visitors and marine traffic for 10 years. In July 2023 Inspire Inveraray secured funding to purchase the pier on behalf of the community and has since successfully restored and opened the stone part of the pier to the public, however the timber pier remains closed and is in desperate need of restoration. 

The objective of the project is the restoration and opening of the existing timber peir. The heritage of the timber pier is at the heart of the community, and was identified as a priority in a recent community consultation. The timber pier is in extremely poor condition and ,without restoration, the risk of loss of a valuable local asset is inevitable.

Restoration works will commence as soon as funding has been achieved, ideally starting in October 2025.

The community ownership of the pier has given a sense of pride and achievement to local people who are now keen to help and get involved to get the timber part of the pier restored. This is the opportunity for the local community to manage a valuable local asset and to complete the full restoration of the pier including the timber part. Reopening the pier has connected local communities and is building confidence in the achievability and benefits of community asset ownership.

The pier is the gateway to Inveraray and for the past 10 years had been an eye sore in the town. Restoring the timber part of the pier will help increase the number of visitors to the town by boat, creating an opportunity to generate an income that can be reinvested into community projects.

The pier will be a flat and open accessible space encouraging activities such as water sports, community events and gatherings amongst the local community. Fully restoring the timber part will allow more vessels to moor in Inveraray, serving as a safe transfer platform for cargo and passengers.

Once fully restored, Heritage boards will be commissioned for placement on the pier to provide historical background for local people and visitors visiting Inveraray and its treasured pier.

Operating under the governance of the Dunoon Community Development Trust and in partnership with Argyll and Bute Council, the Save the Pier working group has been actively seeking funding and carrying out further research to progress the necessary technical studies needed to inform these types of developments.

The initial goal of the working group is to develop a robust, evidence-based feasibility study, providing a clear case for the pier’s redevelopment and its potential role within the future of the town’s wider marine infrastructure. Longer-term they hope to begin the process of the pier’s renovation.

The wider team —comprising volunteers with expertise in public sector infrastructure, finance, heritage preservation, project development and community engagement —has been engaging with stakeholders in the public and private sector, having discussions with potential funders, and laying the groundwork to ensure any future redevelopment is viable and sustainable.

Our Progress So Far

The project has involved extensive positive collaboration with Argyll and Bute Council, alongside wider stakeholder consultations, a public petition, and collaboration with advisors in major infrastructure, heritage conservation, and funding options.

Community Involvement

Community engagement will be essential to shaping the pier’s future. There has consistently been a lot of interest on social media and in the newspaper with large numbers of people getting behind the idea of Dunoon Pier being regenerated. It is clear that there is good community support for the idea and the working group welcomes the input of local residents, businesses, and local organisations as the project evolves.

At this stage, the focus is on gathering the necessary technical and financial evidence to determine what is achievable.

Next Steps

Funding is currently being secured to complete a feasibility study, which will provide a comprehensive assessment of the pier’s future potential. This study will form the foundation for securing funding to progress any future redevelopment. However, given the scale of the project, careful planning and a phased approach is required. We aim to complete this initial phase and be in a position to share the feasibility study by Summer 2025.

Looking Ahead

Public infrastructure projects of this scale take time, but the dedication of the team working with the support of the local authority and Dunoon Community Development Trust means that there is a good chance that this project will progress positively. The Dunoon Pier working group is committed to communicating on their progress and will provide regular updates via Dunoon Community Development Trust and partners as the project moves forward.

The new sports facility will be suitable for all weather conditions and will enable the playing of various sports on the same surface, including five-a-side football, netball, basketball, and shinty practice.

The Jura Community Development Plan, produced by the Jura Development Trust, highlights the necessity for improved youth and recreational facilities on the Island and concludes that further investigation is required regarding the preferred nature of these facilities.

Developing community-owned and managed assets is strongly supported by national and local policy.

1 What do we want to do?

Tobermory Fisherman's Pier Association intends to renovate and improve Thomas Telford's hisoric pier for the use of fishermen and other commercial users.  We would like to preserve the pier as a place that can be used and enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.  We want to open the pier to other commercial users and provide a solution to the risk of flooding caused by increasingly higher tides.  A structural engineers report has been commissioned and has provided a plan for remedial works.

2 Why is the project needed?

While the pier is a vital economic resource for the fishermen of North Mull, it is also an essential and integral part of Tobermory's built heritage.  Without the pier the fishermen would need to look for alternative space to store and repair gear.  They would have to use moorings or pontoons and they would have to use alternative means to land their catch.  All of these alternatives are costly, inconvenient and not as safe as the platform provided by the pier.

We have the support of the community and are backed by Mull Community Council, Tobermory Harbour Association and Mull and Iona Community Trust.

3  What positive changes will our project bring about?

The proposed improvements to the pier will provide a fit for purpose structure that will enable the fishing community, and other commercial users, to have confidence in the long-term viability of their businesses and provide the oppurtunity to support new entrants to the sector.  Securing the long-term future of the pier will enable it to remain at the heart of the community for centuries to come, bringing economic benefit to the town as a platform for the fishermen and also as part of what draws visitors to Tobermory.  It will continue to be a much loved hub for community celebrations and a valued civic space for locals and visitors to enjoy.

4  How long will our project run for?

The project will start in March 2026 and run for seven months.

Please refer to the attached PDF file for our more comprehensive proposal.

What we want to do - Lorn and Oban Reuse Initiative (LORI) is our long-standing furniture reuse project based in Oban, serving communities for over 15 years. The project, which aims to achieve a Zero Waste society, diverts furniture, household goods and electricals etc. into reuse and before [these] unwanted items enter the waste hierarchy. In the last 12 months, LORI has supported over 11500 customers including businesses, individuals and families. Those in poverty and personal crisis, those displaced by war in Ukraine and communities challenged by the ongoing cost of living crisis. “Such a fantastic way to reduce wasting perfectly good products. Furniture is top quality and the staff I met were friendly, welcoming and incredibly helpful.” CustomerThis is an exciting period for our charity, as we are planning a major expansion of our work to enable us to better support the growing number of people who come to us for help. Our plans are well advanced including planning consent and building warrant for the proposed improvements and renewals to increase available floor space to meet the growing demand for reuse goods. GRAB has set aside reserves to contribute to the cost of these improvements.Under this grant we propose to move forward rapidly with the project. Available match funding already secured will support project management and admin resources and back LORI during any disruption to trade while improvements take place. Under this grant, captal funds will be deployed to prepare groundworks and the foundations to accommodate new modular buildings, the purchase of new buildings to replace derelict and delapidated units and much-needed welfare facilities. And extensive refurbishment to an existing building.    Why the project is needed - In Argyll and Bute, landfill accounts for around half of the Council’s annual production of Carbon Dioxide equivalent emissions (CO2e). (Source: Argyll and Bute Council Decarbonisation Plan 2021). Positive changes will the project bring about - Planet – Tackling the climate emergency, LORI reduces landfill; 45% of greenhouse gases come from products we use and purchase. Saving valuable resources from landfill, LORI reduces the communities’ carbon footprint and cuts emissions.  In Oban and Lorn approx. 858 tonnes of Municipal Solid Waste is produced each year.  Currently just over 10% or 86 tonnes is diverted through reuse by The GRAB Trust.  People – supporting local people and creating jobs, LORI supports communities to utilise existing resources, LORI has steadily increased volumes diverted from landfill each year; diverting over 450 tonnes from landfill in the last 8 years. The initiative sustains 7 jobs and 12 regular volunteers.  Pounds – Strengthening the circular economy we offer low cost, high quality furniture and homewares to everyone as a sustainable, low cost alternative to buying new.  LORI supports the Circular Economy by keeping existing resources in use for longer and our not-for-profit community enterprise now recirculates over £120,000 in our communities annually. Reducing the tax burden, LORI decreases landfill tax, saving local taxpayers over £8,000 annually. Place – engaging and empowering communities LORI is a place where ideas flourish. We support community groups and partners in the third sector. We help businesses like cafes, hotels and Air B&B furnish their premises.  We help communities to share and to learn new skills; reusing and repairing is a creative way to try new things, gain useful skills, appreciate what we already have and find new uses to make the most of it.  GRAB is part of Circular Communities Scotland Share and Repair Network and LORI is a source for tools for makers and craftsmen - keeping traditions alive.Our renewals project at LORI will ensure communities are supported for years to come - increase available floorspace by 80%, introduce welfare facilities for staff and volunteers and extend product lines – the new provision of running water at the site will open up the possibility of testing white goods (washing machines & dishwashers) for example. With increased floorspace LORI will better serve the growing demand for reuse, further reduce landfill and offer increased support to the circular economy in Oban and Lorn.   

Dunoon Community Development Trust wants to work with children and young people to design and develop a new skatepark facility in Dunoon that will better meet their needs and encourage increased outdoor activity and community connection.

Dunoon Skatepark is sited in Ardenslate, one of two areas in the town within the highest decile of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.  The original skatepark was campaigned for and developed by local young almost 20 years ago and its creation was a major achievement for those involved. It was well used for several years, however, the original steel structures and rough surfacing are no longer fit for purpose and levels of use have seriously declined. Some elements of the facility present a significant hazard, especially for learners, so there are very few younger users or family involvement. Local young people and young adults have been actively involved in campaigning for improvements to the skatepark gathering hundreds of signatures on their petition on Change.org  Recent engagement with school pupils has confirmed their interest in improved facilities for skating and wheeling on the site.

By developing this facility to better meet the needs of skateboarders, in-line skaters and BMX bikers of all abilities, we will be able to support and encourage children, young people and young adults to build their skills and enjoy peer-to-peer learning experiences. More time spent outdoors engaging in interesting physical activities will help to address the health and wellbeing challenges faced by young people and young adults and help to reduce social isolation.

This project will run for between 12 and 18 months including consultation, design, planning, permissions and construction.

The skatepark is situated on land owned by Argyll & Bute Council so it will be vital to work in partnership with them. Consultation will also involve local schools, Dunoon Community Council and Live Argyll youth work team.

In 2021 and 2022, IKDT secured funding to construst 1.79KM of brand new road connecting the North and South of the island. This project has been in the pipeline for many decades and has connected up the two different communities and is allowing our island to thrive as one. Just after we have secured the funding for the 2nd stage of the project, the tar topping, war broke out in Ukraine. Apart from the obvious humanitarian crisis, this had an instant impact on the price of all the raw materials required for surfacing. It meant we had to scale stage 2 back and make do with tarring the new built section of the road with a single layer of tar and leave approx 500 metres of road in an unbound, farm track state. Our plan for stage 2 had been to deliver 2 layers of tar over the new road (1.79km) and the 500m of existing road when we could petition the council to adopt the road as it connects up the existing council road to several council tax paying households. As it stands, while the road is in use and is hugely beneficial to life on the island however the maintenance burden on IKDT is not ideal. The council will not consider adoption until the road is brought up to the standard we had planned for stage 2 so we are hoping to complete the job. Adoption is key to the long term future of the road and indeed to whole community as it will allow unfettered access to all including vital services, emergency vehicles and access to the lifeline ferry service. The surfacing could be delivered in one week but the effects would be felt for generations to come. We would hope to continue the excellent working relationship with A&B Roads department to help deliver the best value for money possible.