Work on a major makeover for Oban’s seafront should be ready to start early in the New Year now that a contractor has been appointed.

Argyll and Bute Council has taken on Raynesway Construction to deliver £600,000 of improvements along Stafford Street from January to May 2015.

The work will involve building a terraced space to sit, relax and view the bay, an open area for small scale events and a shelter with inlaid artwork and ornamental colour changing lighting.

Meetings have been set up for this week to formalise the plans for setting up the site office, arranging start-up meetings for local traders and preparing to issue orders for materials in January.

Chairman of the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area committee, Oban-based Councillor Roddy McCuish, said: “This is another great boost for the project which is really taking shape now. I’m delighted to have a national company of such repute on board to deliver the works and am confident they will do so efficiently, on time and within budget.

“We’re going to be working very hard to keep people informed about what’s happening. We appreciate the fact that, while these improvements are much needed and will give the people of Oban a fabulous new public space to enjoy, there will be some disruption. We’ll be managing that as best we can and I would just urge people to be patient and bear with us while the work is ongoing.

“Raynesway have delivered projects like this before. We’ll have the great new-look Stafford Street open for business in time for the 2015 tourist season.”

The plan at this stage is for the site office to be set up by January 19 and meetings with traders along Stafford Street to go ahead on January 14 and 15.

A project start up event is also planned for mid-January, introducing the programme of works to the public.

Raynesway has delivered a number of high-value and complex projects recently, such as the High Mill and Victoria Park Primary School for South Lanarkshire Council, the Underwood Road recycling facility for Renfrewshire Council and the A82 Strathleven improvements.