PLANS for a children’s play area to be situated at an Oban museum have been given the go-ahead by council officers.

The MacDougall of Dunollie Preservation Trust submitted the plans to Argyll and Bute Council for the facility at the 1745 House on Ganavan Road.

The authority only received one representation, from Oban Disability Access Panel, who welcomed the message that the playpark will include sensory musical equipment and a tactile education bench.

A council officer said in a handling report: “The play area has been designed as a replica of the rest of the Dunollie House site; with the play tower mimicking the castle and surrounding equipment forming the grounds.

“Most of the equipment is wooden to fit in with the site’s existing aesthetic with the only exception being two musical flowers which will add some brightness to match the nearby flower bed.

“Grass guard tiles will be installed at wear points for the slide and climbing frames. Wood clad rubbish and recycling bins will be placed inside the play area perimeter.

“The proposals will be positioned within an area known as The World of Trees which is a relatively flat piece of grassed land that sits in the valley of focal points forming part of the grounds of Dunollie House and is known for its broad range of trees. The area is currently utilised for visitor recreation and includes a café and seating area.”

The officer added: “The proposals are considered to be of an appropriate scale and finish, with appropriate finishing materials.

“The majority of playpark equipment will be wood in keeping with the aesthetic on the site and the exterior of the composting toilet in black which will be aesthetically in keeping with the existing cladding used on the Kettle café building and designed to align with the limited colour palette of white paint, black drainage, and dark slates and paving of Dunollie House and the Laigh Biggin.

“[The plans] are sensitively sited within the grounds of Dunollie House and Castle within an area known as The World of Trees which is currently utilised for visitor recreation and includes a café and seating area; ensuring that they will not appear as significantly dominant features within the site or wider landscape without any significant adverse visual impact arising.”