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Energetic young people from across Bute are diving in to raise funds for school sport by taking part in a 24-hour swimathon in the newly-refurbished Rothesay swimming pool.  Forty six pupils from Rothesay Joint Campus, North Bute Primary and St Andrew’s Primary, have signed up to take part in the mammoth challenge, which will begin at noon on Thursday 6 February and continue through the night until noon on Friday 7 February. Pupils will battle through fatigue and tiredness to swim 15 minute slots each every hour, for 24 hours.

It was a special day at Dunoon Primary this morning when the doors to the school’s newly-built east wing were opened to staff and pupils for the first time. Extensive work has been carried out to the school as part of a £10.7 million investment by С��Ƭapp and Bute Council, including £5.08 million funding from the Scottish Government, to transform it into a school fit for the 21st Century, whilst maintaining its listed building status.

Islay residents, businesses and visitors are being asked for their view on their current and potential use of school and public transport on the island. The current contract for the provision of School and Public Transport on Islay (Service No. 450 & 451) is due to end in October 2020.  Before re-tendering for this contract, С��Ƭapp and Bute Council is asking people living and working on, as well as visiting, Islay and Jura how they use the service and how they would like to see it used in the future.

New council Chief Executive, Pippa Milne, discusses the journey that brought her to С��Ƭapp and Bute, her love for the area and her ambitions for its future, in a question and answer session. Q: Where were you brought up, and where did you go to school and further education?

Work has begun to improve access at bus stops and replace some bus shelters in the Helensburgh and Lomond area. Work will be carried out by С��Ƭapp and Bute Council supported by £100,000 funding from Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT). The main focus of the work is improving access to bus stops, within the Rosneath Peninsula, from Coulport to Garelochhead. This involves making sure that there is hard-standing and dropped kerbs at both sides of the road to make sure that all the stops are fully compliant.

Children who turn five between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2021 should be registered for primary school during the week beginning Monday 13 January 2020. Parents should take their children to their local primary school to register during that week, between 10am and 3pm. Further information, including how to make a placing request and how to request early entry to primary school, can be found on the council website:

Local coastline initiatives will share £1.158 million funding allocated to С��Ƭapp and Bute from the Scottish Government’s Crown Estates Fund. At the Council's Policy and Resources Committee, councillors agreed that the funding should support projects across С��Ƭapp and Bute: ·         Tobermory railings and flood prevention scheme - £145,000  ·         Rothesay pontoons improvement - £151,000  ·         Helensburgh flood mitigation - £300,000 ·         Campbeltown flood defences - £270,000

“The festive season is with us once again, that special time of peace, love and celebration. “For many people, this can be a difficult time. My thoughts and wishes are with them. I know that there are many, many people in our communities, throughout С��Ƭapp and Bute, who will do all they can to provide comfort and hope amid the festivities. I thank them for all their work, at this time and throughout the year.

More girls than boys in Cowal would like to pursue a career in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) when they leave school, according to a survey carried out during an exciting and innovative event at Dunoon Grammar last week. Primary five pupils from schools across the peninsula went along to Dunoon Grammar for “Mission to Mars” – a STEM event organised by the Digital Learning Team and supported by the school and Science Grrl Glasgow.

Moves to expand Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) and implement 1140 hours of funded ELC in С��Ƭapp and Bute by August 2020 are on schedule, С��Ƭapp and Bute Council’s С��Ƭapp Services Committee has confirmed. The expansion in childcare, from 600 hours to 1140 hours, is part of a Scottish Government initiative aimed at providing young people with a high quality experience that can make a significant contribution to their development, and help close the poverty related attainment gap.