ARGYLL and Bute councillors have agreed to designate part of Helensburgh town centre as a conservation area – opening up the possibility for significant external funding.

The decision follows a public consultation, in which the majority of respondents were in favour of the proposals.

Helensburgh currently has two designated conservation areas – at The Hill House and in Upper Helensburgh.

As a result of the approval of the full council at a meeting today (Thursday), an area incorporating part of the town centre between James Street and Maitland Street, and Clyde Street up to King Street, will be designated a conservation area.

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The council will now notify Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and Scottish Ministers of the decision, before applying for funding from round eight of their Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), which, if successful, would support regeneration activity within the new conservation area.

Policy lead for planning and regulatory services, Councillor David Kinniburgh, said: “The feedback from the public consultation was very positive, with 64 per cent in favour of the Conservation Area. And we have used the feedback to make some changes to the boundary of the area.

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"This designation will allow us to preserve or enhance the special architectural or historic interest of Helensburgh town centre’s retail core.

“We have seen the results delivered by CARS schemes elsewhere in Argyll and Bute, and it’s great news that we will soon be in a position where we can apply for and hopefully secure similar funding for Helensburgh.”

The full proposal for the Helensburgh Town Centre Conservation Area, including a boundary map, can be viewed on the council's website, at http://bit.ly/2lhc7gP.