Our latest opinion column is written by Councillor Ellen Morton, chair of Argyll and Bute Council's Helensburgh and Lomond area committee.

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For me, as for many people, it’s great to see the town centre heading back towards normal life.

I know there is still a long way to go, but it’s wonderful to see life return to local shops, parks, restaurants, bars and cafes.

I would particularly like to congratulate those business owners and staff who worked hard to make adaptations to their businesses in order to meet the necessary social distancing guidelines and secure jobs.

We are all obviously particularly grateful to all key workers who have kept on working throughout the pandemic to provide essential services across the local area.

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I’m also delighted to see that we are finally in a position to start the waterfront development, which will bring both temporary jobs during the construction phase and permanent jobs to the area once it’s in operation.

In addition to improved leisure and swimming facilities, the development will include the introduction of a Changing Places facility.

This will make the development far more accessible to a wider group of people, while giving privacy and dignity to those with disabilities who currently have no option but to get changed on the toilet floor.

As well as two swimming pools and a large fitness suite, the new facility will feature a cafeteria, a viewing gallery with increased spectator seating, better laid out parking as well as flood defences which will, we hope, stop the persistent flooding of the whole area during times of bad weather.

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In my opinion, the pier car park is an eyesore in its current form. I’m most looking forward to seeing a vastly improved space, completing the works begun by the town centre CHORD and Civic Centre projects.

The waterfront development is now definitely all going ahead, the finances are in place and the contractor has been appointed and announced.

As with any project of this scale, there will be some disruption around the construction site, however as they saying goes ‘no pain, no gain’.

I firmly believe the overall benefits to the leisure facilities, health and economy in the Helensburgh and Lomond area will far outweigh any short-term disruption, and I look forward to seeing its completion in two years’ time.

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