Helensburgh residents and businesses are being asked to have their say on the future of every aspect of the town in a bid to influence what's approved - and what isn't - by planning officials in the future.

There is a new legal requirement for local authorities to at least consider what are called "local place plans" when preparing their own development plans (LDPs).

Helensburgh Community Council (HCC) are collecting responses from next week on everything from transport to zoning for greenbelt and commercial uses.

The public survey, open until the end of November, will inform the local place plan they submit to Argyll and Bute Council next year.

The questionnaire is linked to the previous Vision for Helensburgh efforts designed to inform how HCC campaigned for the desires of residents.

They told the Advertiser the process matters because it's an "officially sanctioned route to having our say".

Argyll and Bute Council's current LDP, known as Local Development Plan 2, is nearing the end of its 10-year lifespan, and will soon make way for a new LDP covering the whole of the local authority.

An HCC spokesperson said: "The community council has learnt from experience that it is difficult to amend or input to projects after the planning process has begun.

"We have nothing to lose by getting our ideas or projects on paper before the next Local Development plan is agreed.

"The council has a legal requirement to at least consider our Local Place Plan.

"The community is more likely to get what it wants by engaging in the process than not."

HCC will contact community groups and businesses in the next few weeks asking them to share their views on what should be included in the Local Place Plan for the town.

Responses from the survey will be analysed in December and January, then develop proposals based on the results.

They will write and consult on the place plan in April and May 2025.

There will be focus groups, workshops and consultation in person to ensure all priorities or problems are highlighted.

The place plan will be submitted to the council in June to fit with their plans for next LDP.

For more information visit www.visionforhelensburgh.org.

The survey will be live next week.