Press & Publications - Latest News
ACHA Makes Solid Progress In Infrastructure Investment
20 July 2010
Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) over the past year has invested just over £1,809,000 in infrastructure improvements in Argyll and Bute. This has involved re-tarring and improving roads and footpaths in housing estates in Oban and Lorn and Helensburgh and Lomond to the value of £940,000.
The Association has also demolished 358 garages, which were at the end of their useful life, to a value of £539,000. The demolished sites will initially provide more car parking space but some will become available for new housing in the future.
At the time of the housing stock transfer in November 2006, 41 playparks, in a very poor condition were transferred to the Association. The Association has now improved and upgraded 15 of them to the value of £253,000 across communities in Argyll and Bute, including Oban, Dalmally, Ardbeg, Innellan, Cardross, Drumlemble, Lochgilphead and Tarbert.
A number of water supplies were taken over by the Association at the point of transfer and required modernisation. Modernisation is taking place at Achahoish, Glendaruel and on Tiree to the value of £76,000.
Commenting on the work carried out, Alastair MacGregor, ACHA’s Chief Executive stated
“The Association was able to negotiate, at the point of transfer, £11million of funding for infrastructure improvements around our housing stock. I am really pleased that this recent investment of £1.8million is improving roads, amenity spaces, children’s play areas and water supplies.”
He further added "It is also great to see, in these difficult economic times, local companies like Ennstone Thistle, M & K MacLeod of Lochgilphead, Stewart McNee of Dunoon, Kevan Brown of Tiree and MacFadyen Contractors, Campbeltown, carrying out these contracts.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back to Top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ACHA Launches Traineeship Plans
20 July 2010
|
|
The traineeships will cover modern apprenticeships, office posts and graduate trainees. This will complement ACHA's existing traineeship work which involves 7 students with an interest in housing working for the Association during term time breaks. Commenting on the decision, Alastair MacGregor, ACHA's Chief Executive said:
"The association, by making this an annual recruitment exercise, resists the temptation of a one-off initiative which does not allow us to train our own on a regular basis for the future." He further added that, "housing activities can offer very interesting and diverse opportunities from traditional trades-based apprentices and housing management roles right through to opportunities in finance, personnel, para-legal and surveying."
The association also committed itself to working with the Government's Future Jobs fund and Ready to Work schemes to allow placements within the organisation for young people to allow them to develop skills over a designated period of time in a working environment.
Alastair MacGregor concluded by saying:
"Argyll's young people are its future and we as an organisation are delighted to make this long term commitment through 3 specific initiatives."
Pictured: Alastair MacGregor welcomes David Hunter a student trainee from Oban, currently studying at Stirling University to his ACHA placement.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back to Top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ACHA Announces Dates for its Annual General Meeting and Customer Involvement Day
12 July 2010
ACHA have announced dates for its Annual General Meeting & Customer Involvement Day. For the dates in your area please click on the link below;
Cowal and Bute
Lomond
Mid Argyll & Kintyre
Oban Lorn & the Isles
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back to Top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .