Thank you for your input to our community survey about the proposed Waterfront Development!

We received 1109 survey responses from a balanced distribution of age ranges in the Helensburgh & Lomond area, and people took the time to write 2360 comments in the free-form answer boxes.  The Community Council is very grateful to the community for the level of input that we’ve received.

Our full 50-page report on the survey results is available here.

The headline figure is that 55% of those surveyed did not approve of the overall proposal. 

A majority (53%) also felt that the facilities that were proposed for the leisure centre were not adequate for their needs.  There was also a significant majority that objected to the designation of the area beside West Clyde Street as being “retail”, and against the proposed level of car parking.  Finally, the most conclusive result was that 98% want a cafe rather than just vending machines.

We have used the community’s opinions and comments to create a set of seven recommendations that, if used to modify the proposals, would address a significant proportion of the public’s concerns.  One of the key recommendations is to locate the building as per the 2012 Masterplan Addendum because this reduces the flood risk, including ensuring that it will not flood due to climate change, and also reduces the cost of the proposed sea defences.  Details of this are in the Appendix to the document, in which we’ve tried to address a shortcoming in the Flood Risk Assessment (which is not yet public, but which the Community Council have seen).

Our seven recommendations are the following:

• Recommendation 1: The leisure centre must be positioned as per the 2012 Masterplan Addendum, aligned north-south beside the pier, to avoid flooding.
   
• Recommendation 2: The designers should incorporate the high priority leisure and functional elements identified by the community to ensure that the building meets the needs of its users.  These elements, ranked in priority order from the comments, are:

1. Fun elements for families, etc.
2. Slides for the studio pool.
3. Flumes.
4. Viewing area for parents/carers.
5. Spectator seating.
6. Multi-use sports hall.
7. Larger pool or gym.
8. Soft play area.
9. Wave machine.
10. Step access to the studio pool.
11. Café.
12. Skate park.
13. More changing facilities/showers.
14. Climbing wall.
15. Tourism, such as a museum.
16. Skating/ice rink.
17. Outdoor pool.
18. Hot tub.
19. Diving board.
20. Sea view from the pool.
21. Bowling alley.
22. Improvements to the pier.

• Recommendation 3: There must be a café facility, rather than just vending machines.
   
• Recommendation 4: The designers should be asked to look again at the question of spectator seating and consider how it can be located without adding significantly to the volume of the pool hall.
   
• Recommendation 5: The designers should consider all possible options to create a distinctive design statement that inspires the community.
   
• Recommendation 6: Car parking must be reviewed for the whole of the town centre and, if the analysis shows a need for more parking, then the area marked for retail development should be rezoned for parking.
   
• Recommendation 7: The area currently designated for retail must, at least, be reduced in size to the area agreed in the 2012 Masterplan Addendum and, preferably, other uses for this area should be explored – as prioritised by the community – such as a skatepark.

We briefed the project team about these recommendations on 23rd May, and they will incorporate these comments into their position statement for the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee meeting.

That meeting has been moved from its proposed date of 8th June to 21st June to allow proper consideration of all the comments and suggestions, which we fully welcome.

The deadline is fast approaching for you to have your say on how money from A&BC’s Supporting Communities Fund is spent.  To make your views count, visit http://abpb.argyll-bute.gov.uk and vote for which projects you would like to see funded.  Residents aged 16 and over can vote for as many projects as they like, up to the total value of funding available of £28,072 in Helensburgh and Lomond.

Helensburgh Community Council has two bids into the fund:

• JLB INNOVATION HUB IN HELENSBURGH LIBRARY : for a Feasibility Study & Business Plan.
• HELENSBURGH 20/20 : A Vision for a Town Embarking on Change, to create a Community Action Plan.

Helensburgh Community Council’s vision for the John Logie Baird Innovation Hub is about to leave the launch pad.

On Saturday 12th May, HCC is holding two Taster Events in Helensburgh Library for potential users to introduce them to the Hub concept – see the agenda attached – what is on offer, and to get their reaction.

As well as start-ups, we are particularly keen to encourage:

• women in business
• naval spouses
• RN retirees.  

All have an ambition to take on a new challenge and a determination to succeed, whether setting up a new business or taking the one they already have to a new level.  HCC is convinced that with the Innovation Hub they can get the support then need in taking that all-important first step.

The Waterfront Project to build a new swimming pool and leisure centre on the pierhead now looms large on the horizon and the first public consultation ‘drop-in’ on the subject takes place in Victoria Halls on Monday 26 March hosted by Argyll & Bute Council. This is in addition to the information panels with comment sheets available now in the Victoria Halls, the swimming pool and the library.  This consultation process is part of the statutory Pre-Application Consultation demanded by planning authorities.

However, overarching this process is the importance of the community in agreeing all aspects of the project such as the position of the building on the pier, the function and content of the building and the public realm issues, e.g. parking consequent on the construction.

The Waterfront team have acknowledged the importance of community involvement by noting in their strategy document:-

• “… that the proposed development (must have) the widespread support of the local community, user groups and businesses.”
• “The benefits of extensive and inclusive community consultation are fully recognized, as community support is ultimately essential to the success of the project. Community support and buy-in will ensure that the scheme to be delivered is one that is regarded as ‘fit-for-purpose’ and is one that meets community needs.”
• “members of the public (must) continue to have a genuine opportunity to express their views on the various elements…”

Those quoted extracts clearly indicate how important community input is to the to the legitimacy of the finished project. None of the pictorial designs and layout has been agreed. None is cast in stone. Therefore, all questions, suggestions and amendments have to be considered and evaluated by the design team. The community must take more control over what happens in the town. The more rigorous and challenging the process is, the more consensual an outcome which represents value for money.

We in the Community Council emphatically urge each member of the community to assume your civic responsibility and attend the session on the 26 March.

For further details of the plans and feedback process see, https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/helensburgh-waterfront

*** Correction 12/3/18 – the plans are viewable at the Library, not the Civic Centre. 

*** Correction 15/3/18 (further updated 17/3/18) – the 2nd consultation will be open 11am-7pm but the Marine Scotland consultation will be 9.30am-5.30pm that day)

Argyll & Bute Council have made public their plan for a new swimming pool building, sea defences and revised car park on the pierhead site.  As part of the current Pre-Application Consultation phase, in advance of the planning application submission in June, A&BC are seeking feedback from the community over the next 12 weeks.

The plans are available to view at Victoria Halls, the swimming pool and the Library, and also online at https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/helensburgh-waterfront.  For ease of access, HCC have uploaded images of the eight PDF plans below – click on the thumbnails for a larger version.

Feedback can be given to A&BC via forms at the locations above, or to “Andrew Collins, Regeneration Project Manager, Argyll and Bute Council, Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre, 38 East Clyde Street, Helensburgh, G84 7PG”, or by email to: andrew.collins@argyll-bute.gov.uk.

A&BC will also be running public drop-in sessions at which the plans will be available for viewing at Victoria Halls on the following dates:

• Monday 26th March 2018     11am-7pm
• Monday 30th April 2018       11am-7pm (and Marine Scotland Pre-Application consultation will be 9.30am-5.30pm that day, also in Victoria Halls)
• Wednesday 14th May 2018   11am-7pm

Helensburgh Community Council strongly encourage the community to have a look at the plans and provide their feedback on this development at this stage.  This is another critical development in the ongoing transformation of Helensburgh, and everyone will want to have their input into the plans.

(Click the thumbnails below to open a larger version in a new window.)

At the Community Council meeting on 25th January 2018, the Vice Convener gave a briefing on the historical masterplans for the Pierhead as context for the forthcoming public consultation about Argyll and Bute Council’s proposals for developing the site. This covered the masterplans from 2009 onwards, what public consultation had been previously undertaken, and gave context about the funding of the project as well as comparison with other recent leisure centre developments. It must be noted that this is one interpretation of a significant amount of public documents, but we hope this is useful to bring the community up to speed with previous discussions about this key development for the town.

We have no detail, as yet, on A&BC’s plans for the site – as soon as we know details of the public consultation dates, we will advertise them on our website and Facebook page.  It is vital that the community provide their feedback on the plans so that this once-in-a-lifetime development meets the aspirations of the town.

The presentation is available as a PDF / Powerpoint download.

Christine Woods, with others from Helensburgh Community Council, has decorated our tree at the Tree Festival at URC Church in West Princes Street.  Thanks to Christine and the other volunteers for their efforts.  Do go along and see all the trees at the URC for the remainder of this week.

At the October meeting of the Community Council the subject of stalled spaces within the town boundary was raised. This is the identification of any land or unoccupied/boarded-up/derelict buildings which we can refer to the authorities in Argyll & Bute for owner identification and the start of improvement/remedial action. The aim is to improve the ambience of the town. However, we need the community’s help to cover the whole town for these stalled spaces and present a composite picture.

Send us any details by email via the feedback page on this website; either an address or location is sufficient, and we will process the action with Argyll & Bute Council. Your support will be greatly appreciated.

The Community Council recently had approval from Argyll & Bute Council to participate as partners in maintaining the serviceability of our roads infrastructure in the town. The infrastructure covers the maintenance and serviceability standards of roads and pavements, road signage, traffic signs and street lighting.

We need the assistance of the community to compile a list of problems in these areas of interest and therefore request your assistance to send us details via this website so  that we can compile a list for corrective action. Please give as precise details as possible and thank you for your support.

Speed Limits

A number of mothers and indeed members of the public have expressed concern at the increase in the speed of vehicles in the town. Since most drivers will have family members and children of their own, it is time to think of the consequences of excess speed and keep to the speed limits.

Parking                                       

A vexed subject at the best of times anywhere in the UK. In Helensburgh, we would make a plea for considerate parking to be the order of the day. In other words, be neighbourly, and think of others when you park in public parking areas. The parking on pavements should also be discouraged by all vehicle drivers. The deterioration to pavements is only a matter of time.

Funding of Projects

The Community Council has been fortunate to gain funding for two projects in the town. The first award is to bring a number of Health & Wellbeing initiatives to bear on the community. The second award concerns the purchase of material towards the improvement to the shrub beds in Colquhoun Square. We hope to start this in the near future and will be calling upon our band of volunteers to assist us. 

Community Empowerment

We have held the second of our meetings with Argyll & Bute officials concerning the community participation on roads infrastructure in the town. These are early days but hopeful in their outcome. The participation request was agreed by Argyll & Bute Council and it now requires a process of consultation and engagement to make the town’s roads, pavements, street furniture, parking and signage the best they possibly can be in the face of funding shortfalls. We shall be calling on the community for assistance to ensure that we gather all the information necessary to make our side of the arrangement work effectively.

Traffic Warden

A traffic warden in the town is a necessary facet in our modern society and does not deserve the daily occurrence of abuse directed towards him in the execution of his duty. There might be repercussions for such bad behaviour.