51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp

124 bags of litter were cleared from one of Scotland’s most scenic tourist routes last week during a two day spring clean. Staff from Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority joined forced with a team from 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp & Bute Council to tackle roadside litter head on and carry out a litter pick on the A82. Armed with litter pickers and safety gear, the group covered the busy stretch of road between Duck Bay and Luss.  Just some of the items that were cleared from the area included furry dice, underwear and, unfortunately bottles and bags filled with human waste.

Cardross Crematorium has reopened following five weeks of major refurbishment work. In what is the first major renovation work at the crematorium since it was built in the 1960s, access has been improved both externally and inside the chapel area. The route from the carpark to the chapel has been levelled to make wheelchair access easier, with no steps to navigate. Also, access for funeral directors and their staff has been improved inside the chapel area. Flooring inside the chapel has also been restored, and improved toilet facilities installed.

Scale models of The Kelpies, the world’s largest pair of equine sculptures, have arrived in Ardrishaig in time for Easter. The 1/10th scale maquettes will be stabled in Ardrishaig Harbour on their first venture to ‘Britain’s most beautiful shortcut’. The three-metre-tall Kelpies, which have toured the world helping to promote Scotland and the Falkirk area as a visitor destination, have previously appeared at major events including New York’s Scotland Week, the Grand National and the Ryder Cup.

A team of hard-working staff from 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp and Bute Council and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority are taking part in a two-day litter pick along the A82 today and tomorrow (Thursday 28 and Friday 29 March). Starting at Duck Bay this morning, the team will make their way up towards Tarbet, collecting discarded rubbish along the major tourist route.

A talented young artist from Dunoon Grammar School has won a national award for a piece of artwork she created to make a stand against racism.   S1 pupil Khiara Dominick fought off stiff competition from thousands of entries across Scotland to win the S1-3 category in Show Racism the Red Card’s annual creative competition.   Joined by her family, Khiara attended a prestigious award ceremony at Hampden Park to collect her prize.  

This week we're celebrating the work our social work teams do on a daily basis in order to protect vulnerable people in our communities. Take 79-year-old Anne for example….   Anne lives alone in a small island community and liked to keep her money in her handbag, instead of putting it into a bank.  

Community groups wanting to build affordable homes in 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp and Bute will now be able to benefit from the council’s Strategic Housing Fund.   At a recent meeting of 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp and Bute Council, members agreed to extend the funding criteria to include community groups, as well as registered social landlords, providing they secure a Rural Housing Fund and/or Islands Housing Fund grant from the Scottish Government.  

Today is World Social Work Day so, to celebrate the wide range of services that our social work teams provide, we’re dedicating this whole week to them.   We caught up with Ann Martin who is a Through Care After Care Social Worker in 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp and Bute, working with young care experienced people and key partner agencies to make life better for our young people.  

A total of 37 empty homes were brought back into use in 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp and Bute from April through to December last year – exceeding 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp and Bute Council’s annual target of 25.   At a meeting of the council’s Community Services Committee today (Thursday) members also heard how there have been 62 affordable houses completed during the third quarter of the year.   Twenty of these homes are in Bowmore, Islay; 16 are in Lochgilphead; and 26 are in Succoth. A further 41 homes are due to be completed by the end of next month.  

Young people in 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp and Bute are achieving well in literacy and numeracy according to figures published by the Scottish Government.   The Scottish Government collects data every year which details pupils’ achievements in reading, writing, listening and talking and numeracy. These are known as ‘Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Levels’ and focus specifically on pupils in P1, P4, P7 and S3.