The start of a £2million package of street works in Oban has been delayed until next year.
Construction in Station Square, George Street and Queen’s Park Place had been due to begin next month.
But with the Royal National Mod taking place in the town from October 8, and the busy Christmas shopping period following soon after, contractor Land Engineering has set a new start date in January.
The on-site work should be completed by the summer.
An Argyll and Bute Council spokeswoman said Land Engineering aimed to finish the shopfront side of George Street and Station Square first, with work on the seaward side being carried out last.
Among the improvements for Station Square are the provision of a shared space for events, a widened seaside footway, and better shelter for bus passengers, as well as bespoke seating and plants.
George Street and Queen’s Park Place will also get new seating areas, improved pavements, refurbished railings and replacement lighting.
Both areas will also get “feature lighting columns” which will include a wifi repeater station.
Land Engineering will have a site office in the centre of town, where people can drop in if they have business or personal queries on the project and speak to the dedicated community liaison officer.
Chairman of the local authority’s Oban, Lorn and the Isles area committee, Councillor Roddy McCuish, said: “While we cannot foresee exactly how the work will unfold what we can guarantee is that we will make every effort to keep people informed about the project, with regular weekly updates.”
He added: “With Stafford Street complete, the planning permission in place for the new Oban High School, the Oban Airport business park project under way and now a programme of works agreed for the bigger public realm project these really are exciting times for people in and around Oban.”