COUNCILLORS are set to decide whether £500,000 should be set aside for a conservation project in Helensburgh.

Argyll and Bute Council has applied to Historic Environment Scotland (HES) for a £1.5m grant as part of its Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) programme.

As part of the proposed project, a further half a million pounds would be required from the council’s own coffers.

The matter was considered at last week's meeting of the policy and resources committee, and subject to agreement, a decision will be made by the full council.

In order to meet the funding criteria set by HES, a conservation area would be required to be identified within Helensburgh town centre. Should the application be successful, it is proposed that work takes place between April 2020 and March 2025.

CARS projects in Argyll and Bute have already been undertaken in Dunoon, Inveraray and Campbeltown.