51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp and Bute Council is inviting residents and businesses in Campbeltown to take part in a public consultation and drop-in event to give their views on what final additions they would like to see in the town’s newly refurbished Burnside Square.
The square has undergone a transformation over the last 18 months following the installation of a flood attenuation tank as part of the town’s £15 million Flood Protection Scheme.
The council carried out a consultation before the works started to ask people how they would like to see the area used. Forty-eight percent of respondents said they would like the square to be a flexible public events space and, when not being used for events, a public car park. The council has made several improvements and is now moving to the next stage of work, which is to seek feedback from the public about the finer details.
For example, one of the things people have said they would like in the square is outdoor electrical points for events, so ducting has been installed. Now, anyone with experience of hosting events in the area is being invited to formally provide feedback on how they would use these electrical points to ensure they meet the technical requirements as far as possible. This follows on from informal engagement over the course of 2023.
The council has also been in discussions with local businesses in the immediate vicinity to give them the opportunity to use designated areas of the square to create further outdoor seating and pavement cafés. The consultation will enable interested parties to come forward formally so that these plans can progress.
Contractors have reinstated the previous heritage-style lighting columns in the square and the council has placed some planters in the area ahead of final decisions on the layout. These have still to be filled, however, so there is an opportunity for community groups and/or businesses to sponsor these and/or volunteer to maintain them.
The council’s Depute Policy Lead for Roads and Transport, Councillor Peter Wallace, said: “The installation of the tank underneath Burnside Square was a necessary part of the flood protection scheme but it has given us the chance to look at ways of maximising opportunities for the local community to use the square. This consultation is a chance for people to come forward and tell us what they would like to see happening in the final stage of works.â€
The consultation be be live on the council website from Friday 2 February until Monday 4 March. This will be available here.
A public drop-in event is also taking place on Monday 19 February in The Town Hall, Campbeltown, from 3pm until 8pm. Council officers involved with the project will be able to answer any questions during this time.