Part of Helensburgh pier can accept marine traffic again, it has been announced.

Helensburgh Pier Regeneration (HPR) - a sub-group of the town's community council - confirmed that the masonry section of the pier can now accept "shallow draft vessels".

The entire pier has been closed to all marine traffic since 2018 and Argyll and Bute Council have written off any plans to bring it back into use.

But Helensburgh Community Council (HCC) has been told that as of January 25, the slipway next to the leisure centre and the stone pier next to it could be used.

Shallow draft boats mean they are usually flat bottomed and have no keel.

The Waverley, for example, would still be unable to berth at Helensburgh.

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But campaigners say they hope this will be the start of their aims to regenerate and bring the pier back into use, principally with a floating pontoon.

The Advertiser revealed last year that HCC had teamed up with other local organisations to work on a plan to bring the pier back into use.

Bill Purdon, a member of HPR, was co-opted to become a member of the community council and told their meeting last week: "HPR can inform you that we have learnt that the existing masonry section of Helensburgh Pier and the adjoining slipway are open to marine traffic.

"Having received this information, HPR are looking at effectively installing a means of safe access from the masonry pier.

"This will be for the use of shallow draft vessels and will be phase one of Helensburgh Pier regeneration."

Peter Brown, interim convener of HCC, said: "The wood pier is not open, but the masonry is."

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Mr Purdon added: "We are moving forward. We have a lot of experts in all the various fields and are working closely with Argyll and Bute Council on this and they have stated they will support us.

"There's no way the Waverley can come in at the moment."

Last year an expert report commissioned by the council said there was not enough revenue to justify the cost of restoring the pier.

HCC views the regeneration of the pier as key to their vision for the adjacent waterfront space between the leisure centre and West Clyde Street.

Council officials are currently considering their proposals.

The former Helensburgh Seafront Development Project, which has been winding down for three years, is now contributing to the renamed subgroup of the community council.