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The next in the series of public consultation drop-in events is being held at the Rockfield Centre, Oban, on Thursday 28 November as part of ����ֱ��’s Local Flood Risk Management Plan. Representatives from ����ֱ�� and flood defence experts will be at the Rockfield Centre to answer questions. The event comprises “drop-in” sessions from 12.30-3.00pm and 6.00-8.00pm. There will be presentations, followed by question and answer sessions, at 1.00pm and 6.30pm.

����ֱ�� is urging people only to buy salmon from a reputable source. Twenty tonnes of salmon has gone missing following an accident on the A82 near the Bridge of Orchy where a lorry overturned. This salmon may have entered the food supply chain. It is potentially unsafe to eat and should not be consumed. At the time of the accident the salmon was head on and gutted and of various sizes. It had not undergone processing. There is a possibility it is has been contaminated and may not have been subject to the required chilled conditions.

����ֱ��’s annual Early Years Conference in Dunoon has been hailed a roaring success. ‘We Are Connected, Curious and Creative!’ was the theme of this year’s event, and delegates travelled from throughout Scotland to attend.

People across ����ֱ�� and Bute are being urged to make sure they register to vote in next month’s UK Parliamentary Election, before the 26 November deadline. Voters in ����ֱ�� and Bute will join others from across the country on Thursday 12December to elect one Member of Parliament (MP) to represent the ����ֱ�� and Bute UK Parliamentary Constituency at Westminster. 

A £200,000 renovation of Inveraray’s Category A-listed Avenue Screen has been completed. Scaffolding, which was first erected at the site in January, has been removed and the finishing touches have been made to the work, which saw the Avenue Screen’s cement render removed and replaced with traditional lime render. Work was also carried out on the famous archway’s gates.

As we all prepare for the cold weather, the council has taken delivery of 17 new vehicles to join its fleet of winter maintenance vehicles that will treat 52% of our road network when dangerous conditions are forecast. To mark the arrival of the new vehicles, primary school children throughout ����ֱ�� and Bute have been invited to think up a name for one gritter in each of the four local administrative areas. The winners will see their chosen name on a plate on the side of the vehicle. The competition closed on 5 November.

A traditional shopfront in Rothesay will be brought back to its former glory thanks to a grant of more than £50,000. Councillors on the Bute and Cowal Area committee recently approved the release of £51,680 from the Rothesay Townscape Heritage fund to support the full-scale repair of the shopfront at 19a, 19b and 20b Argyle Street in the town. Additionally, committee members were updated on the award of £78,066 for shopfront work to be carried out on 69-71 Montague Street in Rothesay.

Councillors have approved a potential total grant of £847,507 for repairs to three tenement buildings in Dunoon’s town centre Conservation Area. Bute and Cowal Area Committee recently approved grants for repairs to properties on ����ֱ�� Street as part of the Dunoon Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS). The grants will help fund the comprehensive repair of the three large buildings, which are in significant need of repair. The work will safeguard these three prominent, historic properties and enhance the look and feel of Dunoon’s main shopping street.

����ֱ�� is asking members of the public about their priorities for council services, as it prepares to bridge an estimated £9.2m funding gap in 2020/21. Councillor Aileen Morton, Leader of the Council explained: “Unfortunately, it has become the norm to speak every year about how much of a funding gap the council has.

Imagine working as a teacher and being able to do physical education classes on an unspoilt beach instead of a school gym? Well, for Jonathan Pye, the principal teacher at Small Isles Primary on Jura, this is a reality. Jonathan started out his teaching career in Burnley, before moving to Jura in April this year to take up the principal teacher post. “I love Scotland.” He said, “I’m not Scottish but, growing up, whenever I reached the border I always felt I was coming home.