This week, after many months of waiting, Helensburgh Community Council heard the outcome of the judicial review into Argyll and Bute Council’s public consultation about its plans to develop a supermarket on Helensburgh’s waterfront. We hoped the court would find that the process, including consulting a mere 83 people, does not meet the standard required of a public consultation. 

Helensburgh Community Council acted in the interests of the wider community.

The judicial review agreed with us on a number of points, in particular that we were entitled to raise the judicial review because the Community Council’s role is to take actions that are in the interests of the wider community.

Judgment finds that Argyll and Bute Council did not have to act fairly.

However, we are disappointed that the review has been dismissed on a technical point of law, where the common law rule of “fairness” did not have to be applied to the Council’s public consultation on its waterfront plans.

We are working with our legal team to consider appealing this judgment.

You have shown the strength of feeling against plans for a supermarket on our much-valued waterfront site. At least 5000 people – those of you who signed our petition -are opposed to the Council’s waterfront plans. We know Argyll and Bute Council has not listened to us.

We still have the whole of the planning process to get our concerns heard. 

The judicial review was an opportunity to stop the supermarket before the planning process begins. While this didn’t succeed, putting a supermarket on the waterfront is not a done deal. We still have the whole of the planning process ahead of us to get our concerns heard. We’ll be in touch to let you know how to have your say.

If there is one thing you do this week, do this.

We have an important opportunity to raise our concerns about plans for a supermarket on the waterfront at the Argyll and Bute Council drop-in event about the long-term vision for Helensburgh and Cardross on Wednesday, 26th November, between 4pm and 7.30pm at the Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre. We can’t promise the Council will listen, but these opportunities are rare. We strongly encourage everyone to come along to make your views heard.

Thank you so much for your support.

We are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported us by signing the petition, joining the rally and contributing to our fundraiser. We remain steadfast in our belief that Helensburgh deserves a waterfront that enhances our town’s character, supports local businesses, and serves as a vibrant public space.

Our campaign continues!

Young Stars Shine at Helensburgh’s Got Talent Competition

Local performers dazzled audiences at the annual talent showcase held at Hermitage Academy

Helensburgh’s brightest young performers took centre stage on June 19th as the town’s popular Got Talent competition returned to Hermitage Academy for an evening of exceptional entertainment.

The annual showcase drew an enthusiastic crowd of approximately 150 community members, including proud parents and friends, who gathered to witness nine outstanding acts featuring songs, dances, and creative drumming performances.

Prize Winners Announced

Three talented performers were recognised for their exceptional displays, with prizes generously donated by Lomond Rotary Club and presented by club President Richard Trail. The prize money was contributed to Hermitage Academy’s PTA for the school’s Music Department.

The competition performances evaluated by a panel of three expert adjudicators who ensured fair and professional judging throughout the evening.

Community Support and Funding

The event’s success was made possible through the dedicated support of several key contributors, with funding provided by Helensburgh Community Council. Pamela Frew, Head of Music at Hermitage Academy, provided essential coordination without which organisers say the event could not have taken place. Elizabeth Lambert also played a crucial role in event organisation while managing the tuck shop on the day.

Members of Lomond Rotary Club demonstrated strong community spirit by attending the event and assisting with various arrangements, including operating the Green Room and providing additional support throughout the evening.

The competition highlighted the wealth of artistic talent among Helensburgh’s young people, showcasing the vibrant cultural scene thriving within the local community. The annual event continues to provide an important platform for emerging performers to display their skills and gain valuable performance experience.

Helensburgh Community Council is calling on the next generation of local talent to step into the spotlight at Helensburgh’s Got Talent, a live competition taking place at Hermitage Academy on Thursday, 19th June 2025 at 6:30pm (doors open at 6:00pm).

Open to pupils from both primary and secondary schools across the Helensburgh and Lomond area, the event promises an evening of music, performance, and entertainment in front of a live audience and a panel of independent local judges.

Young performers wishing to take part must submit a demo or video of their act by Friday 30th May at 5:00pm. Entries can be submitted online via the following link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxQwYjTz8NKvjQxgODX0ol3wEEaofWpqhckmjRSKOzupo8Bw/viewform

Selected finalists will be invited to perform live at the event, where the judges will award prizes to the top three acts. Every performer will be recognised for their efforts with a certificate of participation.

Tickets are just £3 on the door, and all proceeds will go towards supporting future community initiatives. Refreshments will be available for purchase during the evening.

Whether you’re a budding singer, dancer, comedian, or magician, this is your chance to show Helensburgh what you’ve got. Come for the talent, stay for the celebration.

We need to raise £30,000 to mount a legal challenge against the unwanted supermarket development. Donate now to protect our town’s future.

Our Community’s Fight for the Waterfront

The numbers speak volumes: over 4,000 Helensburgh residents – more than a quarter of our population – have signed the petition opposing Argyll and Bute Council’s decision to build a supermarket on our cherished waterfront. This overwhelming opposition continues a 30-year community stance against supermarket development on this prime coastal site.

Despite this clear public rejection, the Council has proceeded with their plans, conducting key meetings behind closed doors and refusing to engage with community representatives. Their lack of transparency and dismissal of public opinion has left us with no choice but to pursue legal action.

How Your Donation Will Help:

• Fund a judicial review in the Court of Session
• Cover essential legal and professional fees
• Access necessary legal documents

If successful, we’ll work towards a Community Asset Transfer, ensuring the waterfront remains in public hands for everyone’s enjoyment. Any surplus funds will support:

• Community Asset Transfer of the waterfront
• Helensburgh Skatepark Project
• Helensburgh Pier Company Ltd’s restoration efforts

Time is critical. We must raise these funds by November 10th to proceed with the judicial review. Similar successful community campaigns, like the St Fittick’s Park case in Aberdeen, show that legal action can protect our community spaces – but it requires financial support.

🎯 Take Action Now: Every donation, large or small, brings us closer to saving our waterfront.

Together, we can stop this development and create a waterfront that serves our entire community.

What an inspiring sight it was to see around 400 residents of Helensburgh come together on a grey autumn Saturday to stand united for our waterfront. The turnout at this weekend’s rally demonstrated once again how deeply our community cares about the future of this precious space.

The video below captured the powerful image of our community gathering at the proposed supermarket site, showing exactly what’s at stake – a prime location on our beautiful waterfront that deserves better than a supermarket development.

Against the backdrop of the Clyde, local musicians filled the air with song while young people showcased their talents at the skatepark. The atmosphere was one of determination and hope, reflecting the spirit of the 4,000 residents who have already signed the petition opposing the supermarket development.

Helensburgh Community Council extends heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended. Your presence sends a clear message to Argyll and Bute Council: our community’s voice matters, and we remain steadfast in our opposition to this inappropriate development.

Helensburgh Community Council is excited to announce the official launch of the Vision for Helensburgh website—a new digital space that invites all residents to take part in crafting a Local Place Plan (LPP) for Helensburgh. This initiative marks a vital opportunity for the community to come together and establish a shared vision for our town’s future.

The LPP is a framework that allows communities to communicate directly with local authorities about development priorities. Rather than a top-down approach, the LPP puts residents’ voices front and centre, making it a unique and powerful tool for local empowerment. Through the Vision for Helensburgh website, residents can access comprehensive information about the LPP, from its purpose and potential impact to specific themes that define Helensburgh’s community goals.

On the site, you’ll find key areas dedicated to different aspects of life in Helensburgh. Each section reflects priorities that matter to residents, including enhancing green spaces, supporting local businesses, and creating a sustainable future. The LPP is about much more than basic infrastructure—it’s about fostering a sense of community pride and shaping Helensburgh into a town that serves the needs and aspirations of everyone who lives here.

The Vision for Helensburgh website is designed to encourage users to explore, review, and reflect on each section. Once you’re familiar with the different areas of focus, take the time to participate in a survey. The surveys are tailored to different groups within the community, ensuring that responses reflect a broad and diverse range of perspectives. Whether you’re a long-term resident, new to the area, or a business owner, there’s a survey that fits your experience and perspective.

We encourage all community members to visit Vision for Helensburgh, review the materials, and take the survey that resonates most with you. Your input is essential—these survey responses will directly shape the LPP, ensuring it represents our collective vision for Helensburgh.

By contributing your ideas, you’ll be part of a significant community-led effort to make Helensburgh a town that meets both current needs and future ambitions.

Visit the Vision for Helensburgh at www.visionforhelenburgh.org

Over 4000 people in Helensburgh have signed a petition opposing Argyll and Bute Council’s decision to give the go for a new supermarket development on a beautiful and prime location on Helensburgh’s waterfront. This is an extraordinary response in our town of 15,000 people – with 1 in 4 people calling on Argyll and Bute Council to stop the supermarket. 

Come and join Helensburgh Community Council for a rally to stop the supermarket and save our waterfront, 12 -1, on Saturday 26th October – at the proposed waterfront site.

Our waterfront could be a vibrant community space to be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. Instead we are to be given a supermarket that is harmful to Helensburgh’s wonderful view over the Clyde, as well as our fragile local businesses. Argyll and Bute Council’s process for selecting the winning supermarket bid has been flawed and secretive. It has disregarded the views of the community and is using weak and out of date evidence. Despite the strong community opposition, Argyll and Bute Council is still not listening to the community.

Bring your friends and neighbours for a rally to stop the supermarket and save our waterfront, 12 -1, on Saturday 26th October – at the proposed waterfront site, next to the skatepark.

• Hear the latest news about the supermarket plans
• Marvel at the BMX and skateboarding display at the skatepark
• Mark your opposition with wildflower bombs and ribbons
• Listen to wonderful local musicians

See you at midday on Saturday 26th October to stop the supermarket and save our waterfront.

Find out more about the campaign here.

Goodbye to Norman

It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of our long-time convenor Norman Muir last October. He was our dedicated leader for more than seven years and is greatly missed by the Community Council and the whole Helensburgh community. He was a true champion of the Community, and he continues to influence much of our current work.

Waterfront

Much of our time this year has been devoted to discussions and plans for the development of Helensburgh Waterfront. A dedicated committee of community councilors and other community experts worked together to submit a bid to Avison Young, with proposals for the community use of the area. The desire for community use reflected the views of residents gathered through both our Vision for Helensburgh Project and a more recent digital survey.

We were disappointed not to be selected as one of the preferred bidders. We continue to have serious concerns about the transparency of the process and lack of real engagement with the community. We still have no information as to what is intended on this piece of premium public land fronting directly on the Clyde.

We have recently written to the Chief Executive of Argyll and Bute, all Argyll and Bute Councilors, our local MP and MSP’s expressing our concerns, and will continue to raise the issue at every opportunity to ensure the voice of the community is heard.

We are pleased to see the return of the skate park to the waterfront, where we believe it belongs, and congratulate Jackie Hood and the Helensburgh Skatepark Project on this achievement. Whilst only temporary it provides a welcome facility for our young people and families of all ages. It has brought life and excitement to our waterfront and is being well used.

We will continue to monitor future developments and keep the community informed. We thank the Helensburgh Advertiser for their regular attendance at our meetings and the coverage of our Waterfront project and other Community Council issues in their paper and digital newspaper.

Parliamentary Petition

On HCC’s behalf Stewart Noble drafted and submitted a petition to the Scottish Parliament.  This concerned democracy in local planning. It called for local councils to “Prioritize local Participation in Planning Decisions”. This has now been taken forward for further consideration and is very relevant to our concerns about the Waterfront.

Pier Regeneration Group

The pier regeneration group supported by the Helensburgh Community Council is holding meetings with interested parties to move this project forward. They are working on a four-point plan to bring the pier back into use. We know this is something supported by the Helensburgh Community. Argyll and Bute Council have indicated that they would be willing to discuss an asset transfer. We are grateful to Bill Purdon for chairing the group, and to all the other volunteers who are working their hardest to make this happen.

Business Group

This group was set up last year by local businesses and HCC. It has held two further meetings and has 104 members on a separate Facebook page. It organized a successful Christmas window competition together with the Winter Festival.  A speaker from the CARS project gave information on grants for restoring historic shopfronts. There have been lively discussions around current issues such as the leasing of buildings and empty properties. Currently the group is working with Councilor Fiona Howard and the HCC to prevent the closure of RBS Bank, or at the very least to preserve some services. A petition has been launched. The idea of a Banking Hub is being investigated.

JLB Innovation Hub

This HCC initiative has now been officially launched in the Helensburgh library and is being administered by LiveArgyll. It provides office space and other facilities for those wishing to work locally.

Remembrance Parade at the War Memorial Hermitage Park:

Norman Muir always took great pride in organizing this annual event. HCC continued the tradition this year, working alongside the newly founded Helensburgh Branch of the British Legion. HCC members helped with the planning and publicity and acted as stewards on the day. Norman was fondly remembered at the beginning of the service on a cold but sunny November day.

Town Centre Issues

We continue to work with Argyll and Bute Council and raise issues highlighted to us by residents. This year these have included drains, streetlights, rubbish bins, road closures and parking. Please continue to use the “report it” function on the Argyll and Bute website to get issues resolved.

Beach Cleans

Regular sessions have been organized together with Plastic Free Helensburgh at both The Pier and the East Bay. The provision of a grant for skips from the Argyll and Bute Supporting Communities Fund has helped greatly with this. We are indebted to local farmer David Howie who regularly supports our cleans with his tractor. We would also like to take the opportunity to thank the large numbers of volunteers who regularly turn out for these events and the individual litter pickers who can often be seen on the beaches and streets around the town. Thanks are also due to the gardening volunteers who help weed and tidy the shrub beds in Colquhoun Square.

Planning

Our active planning group regularly assesses all local applications, sharing thoughts, opinions and offering advice and support to residents.

Music in the Square

The initiative is funding a local composition project on the fiftieth anniversary of the sinking of the “Sugar Boat”. A second Helensburgh’s Got Talent Show is underway at the Hermitage Academy. There is now a form for local groups to use to apply for grants from this Scotland loves local fund, and we encourage those involved with festivals, events, and music groups to apply.

Engagement

We joined in the “Big Conversation” an initiative funded by the newly created Argyll and Bute Climate Action Network and organized by Plastic Free Helensburgh. More than forty representatives of local Helensburgh groups involved in environmental activities took part. The discussions were lively and wide ranging, and it is hoped this will lead to community groups working together and sharing resources and expertise on environmental issues.

We receive monthly written police reports and thank Inspector Bart Simonis for being our current contact. We have raised a variety of local issues. We welcome the recent addition of two Community Police Officers to the Helensburgh area.

We are currently organizing a meeting of local Helensburgh and Lomond community councils to explore ways we can work together on common issues and shared concerns.

HCC members have also regularly attended meetings of the Helensburgh and Lomond Committee and the Helensburgh and Lomond Community Planning Partnership to discuss and raise issues brought to them by the community. These have included warm spaces, parking issues, the waterfront, the skateboard park, community engagement, the pier, and the allocation of levelling up money.

We continue to be frustrated by the lack of progress with the Helensburgh to Dumbarton Cycle path and raise our concerns at every opportunity. We have been working with the Cardross Cycle Action Group on this.

We would like to thank those Argyll and Bute councillors who regularly attend our meetings, engage with us, and find out more about community views. We look forward to working with the new chair and vice chair of the Helensburgh and Lomond committee following the change of leadership at Argyll and Bute Council.

We would also like to extend our condolences regarding the recent death of Councilor Robin Currie who was for so long a councilor and leader of Argyll and Bute Council

We have had a variety of speakers and presentations including:

• Live Argyll re the new Leisure Centre
• The Save the Tower Campaign
• The Hill House engagement officer
• Colin Young (A and B council) re the cycle path and the Helensburgh in Motion Active Travel Survey.

Reflections

It has been a busy year, and members of the Community council have made a great contribution to our work and activities. They are all volunteers and come from diverse groups. They give their time and knowledge freely to support the community and make sure its voice is heard. It is our desire and purpose to make Helensburgh a better place to live, work, study, play or run a business.

It has been particularly pleasing to see the increase in members of the public attending and participating in our monthly meetings throughout the year.

The year ended with an election to fill two spaces: one being Norman Muir’s and the other following the resignation of Jonathan Meuli, who is now spending more time abroad. Both made valuable contributions and we thank them.

We were the only Community Council in the whole of Argyll and Bute which needed an election. We believe this reflects the interest of the community in our activities and a willingness to join us and get involved.  Louise McCormack-Fisher and Simon Vella were elected, and we are now back to our full complement of twenty.  Thanks to Bill Purdon who, whilst not successful, will be continuing his valuable work on the Pier Regeneration Committee.

Tonight, we will elect a new convenor to replace Norman. He will always be remembered for his outstanding contribution to the Helensburgh community and his legacy will live on in our activities.

We can always be contacted in person or via our website or Facebook page. Please follow our activities in the local newspaper, or even better join us at our monthly meetings held on the last Thursday of every month 7:00pm here in the Civic Centre. You will be made very welcome.

Help us keep Helensburgh looking as beautiful as possible by helping out at our beach cleans. You don’t need to bring anything; we’ll provide pickers and bags. Just come on down and get stuck in. Here’s the dates for 2024.