The antiquated fuel station on the Island of Colonsay is to undergo a major revamp with assistance from Argyll and the Islands Enterprise (AIE) and the Rural Petrol Stations Scheme (RPSS).

Colonsay Community Development Company Ltd (CCDC) has been awarded £10,000 from AIE along with £126,610 from the Scottish Executive-funded RPSS, which is administered locally by the development agency.  CCDC has also contributed £8,645 from its own coffers and £1,016 has been secured from the European-funded LEADER+ initiative.

The money will go towards redeveloping the site at Scalasaig to meet current petroleum and environmental legislation.  The old petrol tank and pump will be removed and replaced by a new twin compartment tank, with two fuel dispensers.  CCDC recently purchased the fuel station site from Colonsay Estate, with assistance from the Scottish Land Fund and the Community Land Unit at Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Colonsay has Iomairt aig an Oir (Initiative at the Edge) status because of the very fragile nature of the Island and its economy.  The Island is home to about 100 residents who rely on the services of Colonsay's only fuel station.

Welcoming the funding support, Christa Byrne, CCDC chairperson said: "Colonsay's petrol pump has been living on borrowed time for quite a while.  We have a particularly primitive system, involving funnels and jugs for dispensing diesel so we all eagerly anticipate the completion of the new reliable upgraded pumps in the very near future."

Chief executive of AIE, Ken Abernethy said: "Colonsay is a high priority Island for AIE and we see this project as being vital to the sustainability of this community."