Helensburgh rallies in opposition to supermarket development

Hundreds of residents assembled at the empty plot in front of the leisure centre to voice their opposition to a new supermarket and moving the popular skate park.

The exact plans by Argyll and Bute Council to sell or lease the land to Forrest Group to move the Co-op from Sinclair Street remain secret.

But officials have said it will secure the future of Helensburgh, while the skate park would be best on the outskirts of the town instead of the centre.

The community showed its support for the skate park and opposition to the supermarket (Tom Watt)

The community showed its support for the skate park and opposition to the supermarket (Tom Watt)

The community showed its support for the skate park and opposition to the supermarket (Tom Watt)

The community showed its support for the skate park and opposition to the supermarket (Tom Watt)

The community showed its support for the skate park and opposition to the supermarket (Tom Watt)

The waterfront rally along with two engagement sessions to save The Tower Cinema and Arts Centre made for a day of action in Helensburgh.

Campaigners voiced their commitment to maintaining public spaces for the community and thriving independent businesses and venues.

More than £6,000 has already been raised to challenge the council in court over their waterfront decision, while the petition approaches 5,000 signatures.

Helensburgh Community Council (HCC) organised the rally after a year of pushing for transparency over the bidding process and outcome for the waterfront.

They have been particularly critical of the limited consultation of 83 people in June 2023 cited by council officials.

Argyll and Bute Council are seeking to move the skate park to Kidston Park, despite its popularity after being restored to the pierhead.

The community showed its support for the skate park and opposition to the supermarket (Tom Watt)

The community showed its support for the skate park and opposition to the supermarket (Tom Watt)

The community showed its support for the skate park and opposition to the supermarket (Tom Watt)

The community showed its support for the skate park and opposition to the supermarket (Tom Watt)

The rally started at 12noon on Saturday with pipers in the middle of the proposed supermarket site.

This was followed by speeches from HCC leaders as well as Helensburgh Skatepark Project's Jackie Hood. Cove Park Youth Project made banners and the skate park's youngsters brought placards.

They then surrounded the empty plot and chanted "no" to the supermarket" and "yes" to the skate park.

Young boarders and BMXers showed off their skills to end the event.

Organisers had billed it as much as a "celebration" in favour of the public space as against the supermarket plans.

Helensburgh has repeatedly opposed and defeated attempts by the council to put a supermarket at the West Clyde Street land.

The community showed its support for the skate park and opposition to the supermarket (Tom Watt)

The community showed its support for the skate park and opposition to the supermarket (Tom Watt)

The community showed its support for the skate park and opposition to the supermarket (Tom Watt)

The community showed its support for the skate park and opposition to the supermarket (Tom Watt)

The community showed its support for the skate park and opposition to the supermarket (Tom Watt)

Polly Jones, vice-convener of HCC, said: "We are over the moon that more than 400 people, of all ages, joined our rally to stop the supermarket.

"There is no doubt the community does not want a supermarket on the waterfront. [Chief executive] Pippa Milne and [council leader] Jim Lynch must start listening to the community and pause their plans.

"A huge thank you to everyone who came along to support the rally - and all the pipers, boarders, BMXers and artists who supported the event."

Dr Peter Brown, convener of HCC, said: "Only last week Helensburgh Community Council launched a crowdfunding appeal to fund a legal challenge and already we have raised £6,500.

The community showed its support for the skate park and opposition to the supermarket (Tom Watt)

The community showed its support for the skate park and opposition to the supermarket (Tom Watt)

The community showed its support for the skate park and opposition to the supermarket (Tom Watt)

"The strength of feeling against these supermarket plans is very strong. The simplest solution is for Argyll and Bute Council to listen to the community and pause reset their plans for a supermarket."

Jackie Baillie MSP sent her apologies and was unable to attend, but issued a statement after the rally.

She said: “I have had a substantial amount of correspondence from constituents in Helensburgh and Lomond opposed to Argyll and Bute Council’s plans for the waterfront.

“I share many of their concerns and completely agree that there has been a lack of consultation over the plans for Helensburgh’s waterfront space.

“I would urge Argyll and Bute Council to heed the views of residents. It is essential that further consultation is carried out as a matter of urgency.”

The community showed its support for the skate park and opposition to the supermarket (Tom Watt)

The community showed its support for the skate park and opposition to the supermarket (Tom Watt)

The community showed its support for the skate park and opposition to the supermarket (Tom Watt)

A spokesperson for Argyll and Bute Council said:  “Public views have shaped the current Waterfront Masterplan and we continue to listen to the community - there are views both in favour and against development.

"Previous masterplans proposed over 76,000 sq ft of retail floor space at the waterfront but, following community engagement, this was scaled back significantly to only 29,000 sq ft. 

"There is a commitment, as agreed in those plans to deliver all stages of the development to help support the long term regeneration of Helensburgh and part fund the project.

“The development has been delivered in stages to ensure the leisure facilities remained available throughout the redevelopment when the council could have closed the whole site and redeveloped it as a single project, however, this doesn’t mean other elements can then be discarded.

"The commercial area is also not a new concept for the town and has always been part of the Waterfront Master Plan, Local Development Plan and business cases.

"We understand there are mixed views with elements of any development, however, this has been a long-term project which has already delivered an award-winning new leisure centre, new parking, sea defences, a resurfaced pier and public realm spaces.

"The council has also committed to retaining the skate park at the waterfront unless a suitable alternative site is identified.

"Positive developments in Helensburgh including Hermitage Park and the new Waterfront Leisure Centre have led to wider private sector investment for the town despite initial mixed views.

"We look forward to Forrest Developments sharing their detailed drawings and plans as part of the planning process during which time the public will have the opportunity to provide feedback.”

The next HCC meeting will be October 31 at 7pm at the Civic Centre.