ÓûÂþɬ

ÓûÂþɬ Council’s canteen at Kilmory Castle in Lochgilphead has been awarded Healthy Living Plus status for the first time. Healthy Living Plus is the highest level of Healthy Living awards available, and rewards catering establishments that demonstrate a greater commitment to supporting healthier eating through their menus; food and drink preparation; marketing and promotional activities; food presentation; and point of sale.

ÓûÂþɬ’s Council Leader raised the challenges facing the area with Scotland’s Minister for Public Finance and Digital Economy, at a positive meeting on Friday (17 January). Councillor Aileen Morton, along with council Chief Executive Pippa Milne, met with Kate Forbes to discuss the geographic, population and financial challenges that set ÓûÂþɬ apart from other areas. Councillor Morton said:

Two schools in ÓûÂþɬ have been awarded the prestigious Silver Rights Respecting School Award by Unicef UK. Lochdonhead and Ulva Primary Schools, both on the Isle of Mull, were presented with the award for their work in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into practice within the school and beyond. This much sought after award sees schools work alongside Unicef to create safe and inspiring places to learn, where children are respected, their talents are nurtured and they are able to thrive.

ÓûÂþɬ Council is appealing to residents on Coll to save the island’s air service by filling airport-safety jobs. The council advertised four posts each on Coll and Colonsay. These roles will enable flights to land and leave from the islands by ensuring that their airports meet CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) regulations.  The council received a good level of response from Colonsay. More roles however need to be filled on Coll if the island’s air service is to continue.

Energetic young people from across Bute are diving in to raise funds for school sport by taking part in a 24-hour swimathon in the newly-refurbished Rothesay swimming pool.  Forty six pupils from Rothesay Joint Campus, North Bute Primary and St Andrew’s Primary, have signed up to take part in the mammoth challenge, which will begin at noon on Thursday 6 February and continue through the night until noon on Friday 7 February. Pupils will battle through fatigue and tiredness to swim 15 minute slots each every hour, for 24 hours.

It was a special day at Dunoon Primary this morning when the doors to the school’s newly-built east wing were opened to staff and pupils for the first time. Extensive work has been carried out to the school as part of a £10.7 million investment by ÓûÂþɬ Council, including £5.08 million funding from the Scottish Government, to transform it into a school fit for the 21st Century, whilst maintaining its listed building status.

Islay residents, businesses and visitors are being asked for their view on their current and potential use of school and public transport on the island. The current contract for the provision of School and Public Transport on Islay (Service No. 450 & 451) is due to end in October 2020.  Before re-tendering for this contract, ÓûÂþɬ Council is asking people living and working on, as well as visiting, Islay and Jura how they use the service and how they would like to see it used in the future.

Work has begun to improve access at bus stops and replace some bus shelters in the Helensburgh and Lomond area. Work will be carried out by ÓûÂþɬ Council supported by £100,000 funding from Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT). The main focus of the work is improving access to bus stops, within the Rosneath Peninsula, from Coulport to Garelochhead. This involves making sure that there is hard-standing and dropped kerbs at both sides of the road to make sure that all the stops are fully compliant.

New council Chief Executive, Pippa Milne, discusses the journey that brought her to ÓûÂþɬ, her love for the area and her ambitions for its future, in a question and answer session. Q: Where were you brought up, and where did you go to school and further education?

Children who turn five between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2021 should be registered for primary school during the week beginning Monday 13 January 2020. Parents should take their children to their local primary school to register during that week, between 10am and 3pm. Further information, including how to make a placing request and how to request early entry to primary school, can be found on the council website: