A petition launch by a Helensburgh teenager in a bid to save a shop and post office under threat of closure has gathered over 600 signatures within its first 24 hours.

Taylor Cameron, 17, is urging residents to support his Save Our Shop (SOS) campaign to prevent the loss of Churchill Square’s McColl’s store.

Morrisons, which took over the collapsed chain of stores, announced last month that the Burgh shop was one of 132 set to close as part of its conversion plan.

Taylor’s SOS campaign calls on Morrisons, the Ministry of Defence (MoD), and Argyll and Bute Council to work with the community to reverse the decision which would see the store close in January.

He said: “I have lived in Churchill my whole life and this shop provides a lifeline for 100s of families.

“I’m worried young families living on Churchill, as well as older and disabled people, will be cut off from post-office services, including topping-up prep-payment meters.

“With the current cost of living crisis, shutting this shop could leave people in the cold.

“I’m asking everyone in Helensburgh to Help us Save Our Shop and sign our petition to David Potts, CEO of Morrison’s.

“We have just a few weeks to get this terrible decision reversed. The MoD and Argyll and Bute Council must get behind this campaign and use their influence to protect this service.”

Helensburgh Advertiser: Taylor is urging residents to back his petitionTaylor is urging residents to back his petition (Image: Polly Jones)

Morrison’s decision has already drawn criticism from elected officials, including Councillor Fiona Howard who urged residents to write to Morrisons bosses.

Last week, the Advertiser reported that Argyll and Bute Council’s Provost, Councillor Maurice Corry, has called on the supermarket to reconsider its plans in a show of support for Royal Navy families who rely on the store.

Taylor’s campaign is also being backed by Helensburgh Community Council, which says it is “fully behind” the petition.

Community councillor Polly Jones said: “Morrisons must keep the Churchill shop and post office open because it provides an essential service for hundreds of residents in Churchill, and hundreds more across Helensburgh.

“Taylor has done a fantastic job in starting this campaign. Now it needs us all to join him to Save Our Shop.”

Cllr Howard added: “Having asked the people of Helensburgh to contact Morrisons themselves to appeal against this decision I am so impressed that Taylor has taken the fight on board.

“This post office is one of only two in Helensburgh and is used by many more people than just those who live in Churchill. The town centre post office, also owned by Morrison’s is not easily accessible and is too small to serve a population of 16,000 plus.

“Please support Taylor and sign his petition.”

The petition can be found here.