Work is underway on a new council roads depot for Oban after the previous one burned down.
The £1.4million re-development of Argyll and Bute Council’s Jackson’s Quarry Roads Depot has begun.
This work will allow all essential operational services for Oban, Lorn and the Isles to be delivered from a single, main site.
Everything is scheduled to be complete by the end of the year.
Luddon Construction Ltd is the main contractor and will be using local subcontractors. Workers will stay in local accommodation in a further boost to the economy. There will also be employment for one local unemployed person during the contract.
Local young people will be shown the opportunities available through a career in construction and engineering, thanks to the offer of a four-week work experience placement for two school pupils. A site visit for a class from a local school will also take place once the project is finished.
The project includes a brand new four-bay fleet workshop to keep the council’s vehicles including bin lorries, roads equipment and gritters on the road.
There will be a modern office and meeting room facility for all Oban-based operational services staff.
The site will be expanded with new hard standing and drainage to create parking for all vehicles.
Pulling together all the council’s operations into one site will not only join up services, but also free up the former Mill Park depot site destroyed for fire for development. The contract value for the new depot development is covered by the council’s insurance.
While work is going on, the Mill Park site will be used for storage and vehicle parking. In the future, the council will explore how best to develop it as a business and industry site.
Councillor Ellen Morton, depute policy lead for roads and amenity services, said: “Bringing all our teams together in one place will help us to deliver our services more efficiently and more effectively.
“It will also create some much-needed development land for Oban which will help local businesses grow and succeed, and bring much needed jobs to Argyll and Bute.”
Jordan Keatings, divisional manager of Luddon Construction Ltd, said: “Throughout the construction period, we will make every effort to minimise or avoid disruption to the local community, while at the same time keeping them up to date with the construction plans and developments.”