PLANS for a regeneration scheme in Tarbert are dependent on council officers being able to identify match funding, it has been warned.
A report gave ward councillors an update on the progress of the project, which is set to be similar to the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) projects operating in Helensburgh and Lochgilphead.
But large funding applications will need to be made to Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), as well as Argyll and Bute Council providing its own match funding.
And a council official has said that the authority would not be able to deliver the programme if no funding can be secured.
The discussion took place at a meeting of the council’s Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands area committee on Wednesday, December 4.
In a report in advance of the meeting, executive director Kirsty Flanagan said: “In order to be able to deliver a meaningful project, it is anticipated that an application to HES would seek funding in the region of £850k, and an associated application of circa £1m be made to NLHF.
“In line with previous CARS programmes, it is anticipated that Tarbert HRS (Heritage Regeneration Scheme) would require between £300,000-£500,000 of council match funding to satisfy the requirements of funders. The funding landscape is however extremely challenging at present.
“Should funding applications to HES, and NLHF prove successful, it is
considered that a project could commence in spring 2026.”
Councillor Anne Horn (SNP, Kintyre and the Islands) asked during the meeting: “I appreciate that a lot of services need funding, but what are the consequences if there is no council funding to match the Government and external sources?”
Senior economic regeneration officer Lorna Pearce responded: “We are required to have identified funding to support our bid, but that does not mean it needs to be secured.
“However, we do need a concrete outline of how we are going to fund it. The programme will be delivered over a five-year period, so we would be drawing down however much over each year.
“We do not need to have all our funding in place, but we must be able to say we are going to draw down funding.
“If we are unable to identify any funding then we would not be able to take forward a Tarbert Regeneration Scheme.
“But we are looking at everything, and would not be able to put something in if we did not have the match funding support there.”
