HELENSBURGH COMMUNITY COUNCIL : FORWARD TOGETHER

Community Council Meetings

Meetings start at 7pm and are held in the Osprey Suite, Commodore Hotel.

The agenda is published 10 days before the meeting.

The minutes of the previous meeting are available shortly after each meeting.

The Community Council Accounts for year ended March 2011

The Community Council maintains an archive of various papers which it has published relating to Helensburgh

Meeting Schedule

• Thursday 26th January
• Thursday 23rd February
• Thursday 29th March
• Thursday 26th April
• Thursday 31st May
• Thursday 28th June
• Thursday 30th August
• Thursday 27th September
• Thursday 25th October
• Thursday 29th November
• Thursday 13th December

NOTICES...

The Future of Helensburgh

The Argyll and Bute Council have shown their plans for new developments in the town. These include the pier car park site and the old Hermitage school site at Colgrain. The consultation exercise has shown that the public do not favour a supermarket on the pier car park site.

Helensburgh Pier head Supermarket Survey

Helensburgh Community Council is most grateful to the 1172 people who, so far, have filled in our questionnaire. This compares with the 977 who commented on the proposed supermarket site at South Colgrain.

The detailed results from the survey are available in a spreadsheet. The following is a commentary on the results

The final results of the analysis on the survey are detailed, and this summary should be read in conjunction with the numbers analysis. 1222 questionnaires were returned; compared with the 1027 who commented on the proposed supermarket site at South Colgrain. This total is made up from 1012 on exit from the exhibition in Victoria Hall on 25th/26th November (including 12 from Facebook), 109 from Lomond School, 54 from the Helensburgh Advertiser and 47 from S6 pupils at Hermitage Academy.

The headlines figures show 40% (487) want a supermarket on the pier head and 50% (609) do not, the remaining 10% (120) being uncertain. However 56% (686) wanted a petrol station alongside the supermarket, with 3% additionally whilst wanting the petrol station alongside the supermarket did not want it on the pier!! This result contrasts dramatically with those from South Colgrain Survey where 97% stated they wanted a new supermarket in Helensburgh, and 89% wanted it opposite the Academy.

Other key questions polled as follows:-

• 74% (900) said that design was very important
• On the effect on local shops 60% of respondents said they would use the local shops the same amount (73% South Colgrain) and an additional 19% (21% South Colgrain) stated that their use of local shops would increase; the same percentage 19% (6% South Colgrain) who said they would use the local shops less.
• The reduction in free car parking was viewed as a very important issue for 51% and important to another 23%.
• A significant majority 88% wanted a new swimming pool/leisure centre to be built before the present one is demolished.
• The geographic spread of respondents was fairly even between G84 7, 8 and 9 post codes and totalled 86%.
• Analysis of the question Q3 "What else would you like to see on the pier head site?" has proved revealing. 85 different suggestions were noted from a total of 1949 comments. Interestingly enough 185 (10%) offered no comment whilst a further 3% wanted the site to remain as it is.

It is quite clear that a Leisure Centre is much desired. 26% of all answers referred to the need for a Leisure Centre or Leisure Centred activities. Of the individual mentions under this heading were play area/ facilities for children (2%), Leisure Recreation Area (2%), Skateboarding Area (1%). It was mentioned that the Leisure Centre should have Sports Area/Arena by many respondents. The same theme carried through with 5 a side Football, BMX Park, Covered Canoeing/Kayaking, Ice Rink, Indoor Bowling and 10 pin, Games Arcade all receiving mentions.

An Outdoor Events Arena, Putting, Go Karting, Pond for sailing and/or paddling, and swing park all received support.

The next highest mentions were a new swimming Pool (9%) and improved Car parking (9%); the latter encompassed free parking, and provision for long term parking for commuters and coaches, tourists and lorries alike.

Gardens and Landscape Areas (including landscaped Car parks) along with Promenades and walkway provisions made up 8% of interest.
The same percentage 8% wanted Museum/Heritage/Visitor centre to focus on the navy (a whole submarine) and local celebrities (John Logie Baird).
Again the same percentage 8% wanted a Restaurant/Café/Wine Bar/Bistro (7%) and the McDonalds/Dominoes/KFC (1%) offering.

Surprisingly Shops were wanted by only 3% of respondents, and of the other Categories Sea related activities account for just over 2%, and Cinema/Arts Centre/Concert Hall/Theatre the same 2%

In the 1% range were Architectural Feature/Iconic Structure; Fair Removed and Fair to stay; Houses and Flats; Site cleaned and tidied up; Public Toilets.

Additionally there were a significant number of additional written comments also submitted which will need careful analysis.

Conclusion

Clearly the public have given their opinion it what is a most valuable consultation. It will enable the Community Council to:-

1. Respond to any planning application for a supermarket on the Pierhead site with authority.
2. Take part in the consultation over the projected use of the Pierhead site, again with authority.
3. Support the South Colgrain site application in preference to the prime site on the sequential planning test, based on public opinion clearly demonstrated.

Proposition

That the Community Councils notes the results of this survey and uses the information to inform its decisions on planning applications for supermarkets and consultations on projected use of the Pierhead site.