Helensburgh Community Council (HCC) says it wants to see retail at the town's empty waterfront site - but the kind of shops that match the town's small business success.

The group of volunteers made an ambitious pitch to develop the site in front of Helensburgh Leisure Centre in December as Argyll and Bute Council invited six bidders for a shortlist to take on the empty land.

There has long been suspicion that a large retail unit was destined for the waterfront and was the only desired outcome by council officials.

But repeated public survey have found residents don't want that.

So instead HCC suggested a "sustainable economic model" to benefit the entire community.

Their bid stated: "We will therefore leverage Helensburgh's unique strengths to create new revenue streams for both A&BC and the local economy.

"We propose capitalising on the potential of local entrepreneurship, boosting tourism through our event spaces and outdoor activities, and exploring innovative partnerships with both national companies (who can provide maintenance assistance through community efforts) and local groups (such as the Helensburgh Pier Extension Project and LiveArgyll)."

A total of 750 square metres out of 5,380 on the site would be a retail village, with another 200sqm as a "pop-up retail on soft surface area".

A similar amount of space would go to extra car parking, and the rest would be for recreational use, such as a skatepark.

HCC said that despite the rise in online shopping, there was still a place to build on Helensburgh's "existing retail successes and its location".

Their pitch states: "Helensburgh has been known for a long time for its wide range of independent retailers.

"Visitor surveys undertaken previously by the Community Council suggest those shops are a prime reason for day visitors to come to the town.

"The council’s CHORD investment has helped support independent retail and hospitality businesses, and the town centre majors on these two commercial offerings.

"Retail is now more experiential and often blended with leisure. Destination retailing is to the fore. People need a reason to go shopping and return as repeat visitors."

HCC's vision is of 12 retail 'pods', similar to glamping pods and measuring three metres by four, is based on similar units at Amble Harbour Village, on the Northumberland coast, where arts, crafts, and foodstuffs are all sold, and which also features a lobster hatchery.

The pods would be owned and operated by the Helensburgh Waterfront Community Space Trust, the organisation that will own and run the waterfront under HCC's vision.

There would be further pop-up retail units for entrepreneurs to "test the waters or reach new customers" without having a permanent storefront.

Up to four mobile units would be next to the planned event space.

In phase two of the waterfront plan, the retail village at the southwest corner of the site could be developed into a multi-purpose space to meet cruise passengers, additional toilets and link with a renewed Helensburgh Pier.

Phase three could include a multi-use sports hall for indoor sports in conjunction with the leisure centre.

It would also offer a flexible exhibition space similar to Rothesay's "Winter Gasrdens" and "artisan retail units" or even a micro-brewery.