Helensburgh Community Council hosted another beach clean on 23rd June.  Thanks very much to everyone who came along to help, and sported our new high-vis tabards!  About 25 metres of beach was cleaned, major timber and plastics removed.

Helensburgh Community Council attended today’s Helensburgh & Lomond Area Committee meeting at which the Waterfront Development proposal was approved to go to the next stage (planning application submission). 

This report was written during the meeting to document verbatim the discussion that happened at the committee.  Comments on behalf of HCC have been inserted in bold after the meeting.

John Gordon of A&BC presents the following slides:

• First slide compares 2012 Masterplan with new plan, and shows all 2012 items are included, although only if the “Future Development” column is completed will the retail and skate/play park be built.  The retail and skate/play park area are “safeguarded” for future development.  “Those elements will be taken forward by future projects if approved”.
• Shows a cross-section through the site to demonstrate that the leisure centre will be at the same height as West Clyde Street
• Next shows a slide of soft landscaping, focusing on moving the John Muir trail start to the bottom of Sinclair Street.
• Re flooding – “we have based our design on the industry-recognised forecast for 2080.  We have designed our site, even at the lowest level (and I’ll caveat that the basement is 22cm about the still level of 2080, bar the pump pit that has to be lower).  The building life is only 40 years, therefore before we reach that worst-case scenario in 2080 it is highly likely that we would be looking at a replacement facility.”

(Comment from HCC, which we’re not allowed to make at the meeting itself – as we’ve said before, these levels take no account of wave overtopping, only still water levels.)

• Covers inclusitivity features of the ground floor – moveable floor in studio pool, pool pod for access to studio pool changing rooms and steps into main pool (not into the studio pool).

(Comment from HCC – this ‘inclusivity’ misses the community’s comments about access into the studio pool for pregnant women or toddlers, who will not have as easy access.)

• Shows external views of the building – these are only indicative, and materials will be discussed as part of the planning process.
• Re the location and orientation – “the design team that we have brought in – this is what they do.  We have representatives from LiveArgyll to say what makes a sustainable and financially successful building”.  The reasons for orienting this way are twofold:
  • solar glare.  Swimmers are generally head-down in the pool and don’t want glare in their eyes.  Similarly, lifeguards need to see into the pool and can’t deal with glare.  We could counteract this with tinted windows, etc, but it would add cost.
  • gym and studios can all look out at the Clyde.  So treadmills can look out at the view.
• Where appropriate to do so, we have maximised views from the building.  Including from the cafe, we have maximised views.

(Comment from HCC – the swimming pool is proposed to look out to the car park, the cafe looks to the beach.  We have provided an alternative layout that allows the cafe, as well as the gym and studio, to look out to the Clyde, and the swimming pool to look to the beach.)

• Finally, showed views of the internals of the building.

Questions from Councillors:

• Cllr Richard Trail commented that the view of the cafe suggests it looks quite large.
• Cllr Richard Trail commented that the moveable floor is not part of this project – his understanding is that LiveArgyll will provide funding for it.  Do we know when they will confirm that they have got this funding, and is there a cut-off date.
  • John Gordon – a funding application has already been made.  We always look at seeing where we can obtain external funding.  This provides additional flexibility and additional revenue.  At the end of the next stage, we will ask members to sign off what was out to tender.  We have had discussions with SportScotland, of which the major focus was inclusivity.  The caveat is that their funding pot is significantly reduced.
• Cllr Ellen Morton – can you clarify re the external walkway.  I didn’t realise we were going to get this.  Will this link in to the esplanade, and past Tower Place.
  • John Gordon – we are still exploring this, because we are constrained by our site boundaries.  We are discussing with Sustrans, etc, and this may become an addition to the coastal path.  It will be a balance between what they ask us to deliver, and what we are constrained by planning requirements to deliver.
• Cllr Aileen Morton – some of the detail in 6.6 re accessibility is really good.  I’m aware this is a very big project, and a complex report.  It’s very readable.  Re 6.6.5, soft play – a lot of people have picked up the desire for this, particular indoors re weather.  It’s good that LiveArgyll are looking at one of the studios being available for softplay.  Can anyone from L.A. talk to that?  No one from L.A. here.
  • John Gordon – at Dunoon Queen’s Hall, we are putting in a fixed soft play.  Requires 6m high space, and about 6m wide.  By moving to moveable soft play, this is only available up to age 5, say.  L.A. are looking at how to introduce small children to healthy concepts, and therefore mobile equipment will make that happen without tying up a fixed space in the building.
• Cllr Ellen Morton – one of the things we were impressed with at Clydebank that teenagers were attracted to – electronic/IT equipment – I know we haven’t factored that in, but is that something that we can look at moving forward.
  • John Gordon – points at the small room on the 1st floor.  The benefit of the Clydebank equipment was that it doesn’t take up a lot of space.  So if funding became available, this could be incorporated into this small room, without taking away from other floorspace.
• Cllr Ellen Morton – you’re not adding to the cost of the building, by not adding to the volume of the building.
  • John Gordon – the great thing about that equipment is that it’s software-driven and therefore can be updated.  It takes an Xbox-style environment and takes it to the next level, life-size.  It projects a football pitch onto the floor, etc.  The kids thing they’re playing, but they’re actually exercising.
• Cllr Ellen Morton – one of the things of great concern at the early draft was the amount of spectating space.  We were disappointed in Clydebank that there was <20 spaces for spectators.  The issue about fixed spectator seating is that it takes more floorspace and airspace.  We seem to have gone a long way to resolve that.
  • John Gordon – again, it’s that combination of capabilities and flexibilities.  If you create a fixed space then that space has to be warmed to 1 degree above the water temperature.  We’ve created bench seating at the 1st floor to allow a view from the top of the building, plus the cafeteria area, plus (if there’s a gala on) then seating could be on top of the moveable floor of the studio pool.  It’s about getting the balance right between operational costs and flexibility.
• Andrew Collins – also have 40 seats poolside.

(HCC comment – the poolside seats are news to us, because they’re not obviously on the plan.)

• Cllr Aileen Morton – looking through the comments received, we had a significant discussion about the rock armour.  There is a comment there about materials being delivered by sea.  At the moment, delivery through East Clyde St would be a real problem.  To what extent has delivery by sea been considered.
  • John Gordon – the next stage will be the submission of the planning application, and marine licence application.  We have to set out our indicative construction methodology at that stage.  One of the options that we are considering in great detail is to bring them in by water.  There are some things that we will have to bring in by road, but looking to minimise that.  We will ask in our contractors to avoid access early in the morning, or parked-up in roads outwith the council area.  All of that is under consideration.
• Cllr Richard Trail – as regards coach parking.  Can I confirm you have made 6 medium term, and 2 at the drop-off?
  • John Gordon – we’ve put the drop-off at the leisure centre, after the consultation.  We’ve put the short-to-medium term coach parking on the access road, so that these people can go into town from there. (It seems that there are only 4 medium-term coach points, in fact.)
  • (Some discussion follows about the drop-off area near the pier, but this is only for cars.)

(HCC comment – good point.  This means that coach drop-off for swimming lessons, etc, is not near the entrance for the pool, but requires all passengers to walk the entire length of the building.  We hadn’t spotted that.)

• Gary Mulvaney (as policy lead) – appropriate to thank the officers for all their work, for bringing the report forward.  It’s a very readable document, and we should commend then for that.  We have a great facility – flexible studio, increased gym, good pool, we’ve added a cafe (which people wanted) and we’ve ensured that space is set aside for retail (which helps to underpin the finances for this development, and when funding becomes available then this may be used for future play equipment).  I was a little bit disturbed by the front page of the Advertiser this morning when I saw it wasn’t entirely positive.  

(HCC comment – the article on the front page of the Advertiser was about public concerns about the development, but not initiated by us, we should point out!)

• Cllr Mulvaney continued:
  Have they read the report that I’ve read?  I think it’s important that we look through the comments, and there are 5 main elements that I want to comment on:
  •  – the Community Council re flooding debate.  We’ve heard the figures this morning from Andrew and John, and in a nutshell (and it’s a complex area). the lowest point of the building is still 2 feet above the level today, and when we get to the start of the next century it will still be above that level.  I, and the community council will not be here then, and maybe that’s a double blessing.

(HCC comment – Cllr Mulvaney’s comment appears to suggest that he wishes the Community Council were dead.)

•  – the visible link from the town – I think we’ve created something that links up.  There’s a clear link between the pool, you can look right up to Colquhoun Sq, we’ve moved the John Muir way, we’ve got a walkway around the site.  In terms of visible links, and allowing people to move from one area to the next, I think we’ve done very well.
•  – the additional spectator seating – re HCC recommendation 4 – their own survey said 59% of people were satisfied.
•  – the design should do justice to the site – when you ask the people, 70% said they were happy.  I agree with the people’s verdict, and I’m not sure why HCC doesn’t reflect that.

(HCC comment – no-one, either in the End Stage Report or in the Committee presentation today, mentioned that 55% of the community surveyed did NOT approve of the plan overall.)

•  – another point that annoys me – the point raised by the leader of the CC in the paper today re engagement – I looked at the level of information that’s out there.  The HCC wanted a participation request, and we accepted that, so we did that.  We had 3 stakeholder meetings in January; various people turned up, although not Architecture and Design Helensburgh.  We’ve had 3 consultation events, fairly well attended.  We’ve had flyers, detailed displays, visuals on the PAC.  In terms of HCC, what have we done wrong – has it been at arms length? There’s been dozens of emails between us and the HCC members about different points, the HCC have been provided with half a dozen reports, and drawings, and there’s been over 10 individual meetings between us and the CC members.  In terms of engagement, our small band of officers are to be commended with how they’ve involved the community.  I do wish HCC would come on board, and I’ll finish with the same sentiment as the chair.  Why do you not just get on and do it – that’s exactly what get’s said to me.  I bumped into someone as I walked along yesterday, and we were talking about the town, CC, etc – he said we have to forget the moaning, whingeing, etc, and just get on and build it.  I fully agree with him, let’s encourage the community, and indeed the CC that ought to represent them to come on board and support it, because that’s what we deserve.

(HCC comment – the HCC has been clear throughout, and it’s in the second paragraph of our report, that “HCC supports the replacement of the existing swimming pool on the Pierhead and our overriding aim in this consultation has been to establish how the community views the proposed development so that this opinion can steer the planning process”.

A personal comment as HCC Vice Convener: I’m affronted by Cllr Mulvaney’s comments and ask that he retracts them:

• The Community Council has been completely “on board” with this project from the beginning.  That is why we have voluntarily spent hours, days, and weeks to ensure the public consultation was a thorough process.  
• We spent a lot of effort gaining a total of 1109 respondents, which was significantly more than A&BC’s 200 responses.
• I personally spent a significant amount of time ensuring that our report completely reflected the respondents’ views.  As an organisation, we are confident that have done a very successful job of representing the community.
• Our recommendations are solely founded on the community’s quantative responses and comments, with the single aim of showing what will cause a majority of the community to support this project, which is not the case at present.
• Our concern is that the significant concerns of the public, such as the desire for ‘fun’ elements in the leisure centre, or more parking, have been almost completely ignored.  Consultation is a two-way process – both informing and listening.
• The Convener and I met with Cllr Mulvaney to personally present the results of our survey after the consultation period had ended.  He was very positive in that meeting about the quality of our consultation and report.  If he was concerned about what we had produced, we would have welcomed him raising this concern in person.)
   
• Ellen Morton: you’re invited to approve the End Stage Report, and next stage of technical work.  I have no issue with agreeing with the End Stage Report, submission of the planning application, and the next stage of the projected work, which will allow us to keep to the timetable.  And we thank the officers for the tremendous effort in creating the report.

We will be mad if we don’t go ahead of this – to get rid of the eyesore on the front.  This is the plan that has come nearest to delivering.  If we don’t go ahead now, then I don’t know when we will be able to.

We have a plan that has the support of the majority of the people, and the current building is on its last legs.  If we go ahead to planning, and we can’t say what will be decided at planning.  I think it’s really important to go ahead now because it’s going to be 3 years before this is in place.

(HCC Comment – our survey didn’t show a majority supporting the plan.)

I am formally moving the recommendations on page 22, with the addition of thanking the officers.  

Unanimously agreed, with the exception of:

• Cllr David Kinniburgh, who had absented himself because he is on the planning committee
• Cllrs Richard Trail and Lorna Douglas, who had remained for the discussion, but had said they would not vote because they are also on the planning committee.
• Therefore passed by Cllrs Ellen Morton, Aileen Morton, Gary Mulvaney, Graham Hardie, Barbara Morgan, George Freeman.

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.