COMMUNITY chiefs in Helensburgh have claimed that the collapse of one-way plans for the town shows the importance of engagement with residents.
Helensburgh Community Council (HCC) convener Norman Muir also said that Argyll and Bute Council did not stage discussions with the group in order to achieve a workable plan of action.
As reported in the Advertiser in October, the local authority decided recently that planned one-way measures to help with social distancing in Helensburgh will not now be implemented.
Traffic on Sinclair Street, Princes Street and Clyde Street would have followed new one-way measures to allow pavement widths to be increased.
READ MORE: Plans for one-way system in Helensburgh town centre are scrapped
However, after considering the views of the public, it was decided not to pursue any such scheme. More than half of respondents in the consultation favoured no change on Princes Street and Clyde Street.
Mr Muir said: “Helensburgh Community Council were lukewarm supporters of the street scheme but offered up some suggestions for discussion as to how it might work.
“Our plea was that discussions should take place to achieve a mutually acceptable solution. These never took place.
“At least the Spaces for People programme was not imposed on us. In England, certain local authorities had to remove their pavement barrier schemes due to a public backlash, with the consequent wastage of money.
“For us, the issue illustrates the importance of discussion and engagement between local authority and community council.”
In its response to the council’s consultation, HCC said that Charlotte Street and William Street should also be made one-way to assist with the flow of traffic.
READ MORE: Reaction split on Helensburgh one-way traffic proposals
It also said: “We would conclude that the changes proposed in the Spaces for People Programme require further discussion and co-ordination between the community council, Argyll and Bute, the Chamber of Commerce and the Police to confirm any outcome and that such an outcome is kept under constant review.”
An Argyll and Bute Council spokesperson said: “We undertook the consultation in order to get the views of local people and thank Helensburgh and Lomond residents, the community council, and businesses for their views.
“We have paid close attention to the responses and these have been weighed up by elected members.
“It’s now vital to use that information to open up our town centres as quickly and safely as possible.”
Writing in last week's Community Column, Mr Muir said: "We know that fatigue and cynicism accompany the plethora of surveys and consultations we are presented with in the course of a year from the local authority.
"We are trying to ensure more engagement and discussion to make such events relevant and of substance to the community.
"It is down to us to show that we do take an interest in community business and respond to consultations. A recent consultation on Spaces for People (one-way traffic, parking and pedestrian changes) attracted 381 responses from a town population of 16,500. We can do better."
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