An independent report has given Rothesay the top score of the five Argyll and Bute towns bidding for a share of the windfall.

The five towns - Rothesay, Dunoon, Campbeltown, Oban and Helensburgh - have been waiting nervously to see how their claims to the cash, in the form of 'outline business cases', or OBCs, would be scored by independent consultants.

And the results, published on Thursday, have given Rothesay's top priority, with Campbeltown in second place, Oban in third, Helensburgh fourth and Dunoon last.

The findings will provoke a good deal of controversy - not least because when each town had an initial business case, or IBC, prepared last year, the Dunoon scheme was given top priority, with Rothesay's plans ranked as the least important.

The consultants' report does not mark the end of the matter - the final decision will be made by all 36 members of Argyll and Bute Council when they meet in Kirn next Thursday, November 27.

But it would be a brave councillor who voted to reject the report after previously agreeing to hire the consultants to ensure an impartial outcome.

Island councillor Len Scoullar, who chaired the project board which drew up the Rothesay OBC, told us: "I would hope, on the basis of the results recommended by the consultants, that the Rothesay project could be looked upon favourably by the council when it meets next week.

"The Pavilion is the most important modern architectural building that the council owns, and there is an inherent duty on the council to maintain it to a proper standard.

"Our report stressed the social need for the Pavilion to continue to be operated. We don't have any other halls which could fulfil the same needs that the Pavilion does; other places do.

"The economy of the island depends upon it, and the social fabric of the community depends upon it. Run properly I believe the Pavilion could create more jobs for our community. I'm very hopeful of a favourable result for Rothesay."

The Pavilion was opened on July 1, 1938 to a design by Ayr architects J. & J.A. Carrick after a competition which attracted 24 entries.

Used for dances, plays, parties, concerts, conferences, meetings, exhibitions, festivals and by more than 20 island organisations, the building was given Category A listed status by Historic Scotland in 2005.

See also:

D-day nears for Pavilion future - The Buteman, Nov 12, 2008
Campaign to save Rothesay Pavilion - The Buteman, April 2, 2008
Initial business cases - papers from the Argyll and Bute Council meeting at which each town's IBC was explained and assessed (scroll down the page to item 4 on the agenda)
Rothesay Pavilion at the Bute Gateway website - includes a brief description of the building's history, and an extensive photo gallery

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