The Council decided today to refer the task of identifying options for the future of the Helensburgh Waterfront to the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee having considered the results of the recent public consultation and after hearing from community representatives on the previous proposals.
The council was developing Helensburgh Waterfront in phases as part of a masterplan that had been shaped by public views and developed over a number of years. The leisure centre, public car park, sea defences and waterfront walkways are already in place.
The proposed final phase involved adding to leisure facilities on the waterfront with a re-instated skatepark and delivering commercial development on the site that would fund the community and leisure elements of the waterfront long term, help keep local spend in the local economy, and create opportunities for local jobs.
Before taking any decision to dispose of or change the use of common good property, which relates to a section of the Waterfront, the Council was required to consult the local community.
Consultation responses showed significant public opposition to the proposed sale and commercial development of the site, with nearly 95% of the 3,430 responses opposing it.
At the meeting today of the Policy and Resources Committee, councillors considered the consultation findings alongside the potential community and economic benefits of the proposed development, as well as Common Good obligations. It also welcomed a delegation by Helensburgh Community Council outlining local community opposition.
The Committee decided against the commercial development, and to refer the matter to the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee to develop financially sustainable alternative options for the disposal of the site, in consultation with the community, and report back to a future meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee.
Councillor Jim Lynch, Leader of Argyll and Bute Council said:
"The proposed development could have brought significant long term economic and community benefits to Helensburgh. However at the same time there was significant local opposition to development of the site.
We have listened to consultation feedback from local communities and taken the next steps in the future of the Waterfront in a different direction.
I look forward to hearing progress from the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee on sustainable alternative options for the site.”
