https://islandsrevival.org/isle-of-bute-a-community-with-aspirations/ Stories of island population turnaround in Scotland and beyond Tue, 15 Jun 2021 17:34:17 +0000 hourly 1 https://islandsrevival.org/isle-of-bute-a-community-with-aspirations/#comment-999 Tue, 15 Jun 2021 17:34:17 +0000 https://islandsrevival.org/?p=208#comment-999 I think it be really good for the bute community to do volunteer and do jobs around the island like painting the prom railings and turning gap sites into little gardens

]]> https://islandsrevival.org/isle-of-bute-a-community-with-aspirations/#comment-9 Fri, 12 Jul 2019 19:33:55 +0000 https://islandsrevival.org/?p=208#comment-9 I feel for the first time in about the last 10 years we are finally seeing some constructive change on the island.
I agree that the artist’s initiatives have helped shape this but also feel we often miss out the real stalwarts of island life, those shops who are open all year round, the businesses that provide the backbone of commerce and lifestyle. The butchers, the bakers, the pubs, the carpet and furniture shops, the florists and clothing shops, the tool shops and the bargain stores. Without these no amount of artist endeavours can revive the fortunes of the island.
We still lack prospects for young people on the island and my fear is also that we simply become the next ‘trendy’ place to buy a holiday home. Arran suffers from this and we should take great heed of their lesson
I also think we have missed a trick with the prom, it would make a brilliant and safe cycling path, there is room for walkers too and this is an ideal area for investment. My children learnt to ride a bike on the prom and we should treasure it, maintain it and perhaps expand it.

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