Waverley will return to Helensburgh, vow pier campaigners

The Waverley hasn't called at Helensburgh since the town's pier was closed to all marine traffic on safety grounds more than five years ago.

But ambitious plans have been drawn up by a sub-group of Helensburgh Community Council (HCC) to restore the town's pier and return it to use - and those plans include bringing the Waverley back to town for the first time since 2018.

An update on the four-part proposals for the pier was provided at HCC's meeting on March 28.

HCC's subgroup, Helensburgh Pier Regeneration (HPR), aims to take on the pier through an asset transfer, taking it away from Argyll and Bute Council, who took the decision to close it and have insisted they can't afford a major regeneration of the facility.

When asked, "Will the Waverley come back in?", Bill Purdon, chair of HPR, replied: "It will."

He said Waverley Excursions had carried out an audit and found "it's phenomenal the amount of money it brings in" across the region.

READ MORE: Helensburgh pier regeneration still in sights of campaigners

The group's four-point plan would see the timber pier refurbished to a "minimum standard" to allow the lifting of the ban on marine traffic.

That would alow the Waverley and smaller cruise vessels to berth with "safe and secure passenger access".

At the same time, they would offer a pontoon on the east side of the pier with access from the existing slip.

That would permit 'day tour' boats to call at Helensburgh and provide a facility for boats moored in the East Bay.

It could also be used for activities such as open water swimming, triathlons and kayaking.

Longer term, the group wants to install a larger pontoon in the West Bay, with access to the stone pier, to enable medium sized cruise ships to visit.

The HPR summary states: "This would allow medium sized cruise ships to tender passengers from designated anchorages directly into the town at all states of the tide.

Helensburgh Pier with the original ticket office and the ‘PS Comet’ replica alongside (Image: Helensburgh Community Council)

"The larger pontoon could be used as a facility for overseeing marine activities, such as international sailing championships, dragon boat races, and search and rescue training."

HPR also wants to reinstate the original ticket office building on the pier as an events venue.

They say that would make the entire site "become a unified and attractive open space" with "historical ambience" and "modern amenities.

Their report concludes: "Our emphasis is on community connectivity, health and wellbeing whilst enhancing Helensburgh’s waterfront as an attractive and welcoming open space."

Mr Purdon told the community council meeting last week that a summary document has been submitted to Argyll and Bute Council as the next step towards an asset transfer.

He said visiting cruise ships would require the pier to have ISPS registration (International Ship and Port Security) as a port to allow passengers to come ashore.

Mr Purdon said there were "more and more" aspects needing considered before the pier can be returned to marine use - but he insisted the progress was looking good.

Since the closure of Helensburgh's pier, people in town looking to enjoy a cruise on board the world's last sea-going paddle steamer - which will celebrate 50 years in preservation this summer - have had to travel to Kilcreggan to board the ship there, with the Waverley's operators providing coach transfers to and from Helensburgh.

Mr Purdon, who was co-opted on to HCC last year, is also standing in a by-election to become a permanent member of the community council. 

The by-election takes the form of a postal vote of all those on the electoral register in the town, with the result due to be declared on May 2.