Helensburgh Waterfront: Argyll and Bute Council answers questions

Answers to some questions raised during a meeting of local councillors have now been published on Argyll and Bute Council’s website.

But other questions, including ones about the future site of Helensburgh’s Skatepark, are not dealt with in the public domain.

Several members of the public asked questions regarding the Waterfront at a meeting of the authority’s Helensburgh and Lomond area committee on September 10.

Councillor Fiona Howard (Labour, Helensburgh Central), who was chairing the meeting, said at the start that all questions on the subject would be referred to officers for a full response.

The council announced a month earlier that its policy and resources committee had selected Forrest Development Ltd as the preferred bidder for the site in front of Helensburgh Leisure Centre.

The council said it is estimating income in the region of £1 million from the sale of the site.

In the online Q&A, the council said: “A commercial development has the potential to create much-needed jobs in the town centre that will contribute to boosting the local economy and help people find employment.

“It is national and local planning policy to create retail space within town centres and that is preferable to out-of-town retail as it keeps spending within the town and complements other retailers.

“We are keen to keep as much retail spend within Helensburgh town centre as possible and stem the outward flow from other retail areas like Dumbarton.

“Helensburgh has several public open spaces such as Colquhoun Square, Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre, Kidston Park and Hermitage Park where events take place.  Creating a mix of commercial and open space has the potential for a vibrant place.”

It also addressed the Waterfront not being on the agenda for the meeting, under the heading: “Why was a proposed development of a retail site on the Waterfront not included on the agenda of the Helensburgh and Lomond area committee on August 10?” (sic)

The question was answered: “The policy and resources committee considered the latest update on the Waterfront at its meeting on August 15 and we published information on our website and social media platforms about this at the time.

“Council business is conducted across several committees and membership of these committees is made up of a cross-section of political and geographical groupings.

“The policy and resources committee is principally concerned with the financial and asset planning of the council so dealing with Helensburgh Waterfront for key decision-making is in line with the constitution and normal activity.”

Some other questions, contained within minutes of the meeting, have yet to be addressed on the council website.

Jackie Hood, of Helensburgh Skatepark Project, asked: “Why, when the Skatepark Project has repeatedly stated that the waterfront is their preferred location and they would rather a smaller park there than a larger one out of town, are the council continuing to pursue alternative locations?

“Could the council also clarify why Hermitage Park is now being considered as an alternative location when it was deemed unviable two years ago?”

No answer to that question has yet been published, but Ms Hood forwarded on a response she received to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

It reads: “Officers have been working with the group to develop alternative proposals on the understanding that a larger facility potentially at Kidston Park would be preferable to a site of 350sqm at the waterfront.

“It has been confirmed that the waterfront area will require to include the normal run-off areas so will be significantly smaller scale than the existing temporary area at the waterfront.

“The Helensburgh and Lomond area committee asked officers to consider Kidston Park as an alternative location with Hermitage Park being a secondary option. Officers will keep in touch with the group to consider the options further as matters are clarified.”