COUNCIL bosses are “missing a trick” when it comes to increasing the population of Argyll and Bute, a councillor has claimed.

An economic strategy action plan for the area, aimed at boosting the region financially, was put before councillors at a meeting.

But Councillor Andrew Kain (Independent, Oban South and the Isles) remarked that nothing looked to have been taken into account regarding the population decline.

One of the authority’s senior officers responded that work was ongoing with the Scottish Government to try to attract more young people to live in the area.

The discussion took place at a meeting of the council’s environment, development and infrastructure committee on Thursday, September 12.

Councillor Kain said: “They are missing a trick, covering a range of issues. We are talking mainly about economic issues.

“I have seen the population referenced in pretty much every report. The population of the UK when I was born was 56.1million.

“The population of the UK now is 69.1million, but in that time the population of Argyll and Bute, particularly on islands, has been in decline.

“A vast amount of people have come to the UK to settle and make homes, but none, apart from retirees, are coming to Argyll and Bute.

“This is something the UK Government identified in 1973, but nothing seems to have been done to take that into account when we are making plans.”

Fergus Murray, the council’s head of economic growth, responded: “I totally accept the councillor’s point of view. If you look at the work we are doing on the analysis of the population, in common with many rural areas across the UK, the population is drifting towards urban centres.

“There are many reasons for that. When you look at Argyll and Bute, there have been some substantial drops related to the MoD function, like Machrihanish and the Holy Loch.

“Attracting younger people is a critical issue and a lot of work is going on with the Scottish Government to see what we can do there.”