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Helensburgh Pier lease plans sail forward into New Year

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Pictures by Bill Heaney

By Aileen MacLennan

Plans for The Helensburgh Pier Company Ltd (HPC) to take on a new lease of the town’s timber pier took a step forward this week when Argyll and Bute Council agreed to the Heads of Terms.

The HPC plans to re-open Helensburgh Pier to marine traffic and to sustainably develop the pier to provide economic and social benefits to the local community.

Taking on a lease of the pier will enable the group to target funding sources unavailable to the council.

The group has submitted a full project summary containing details of its intentions to carry out work on the timber pier to bring it back into use for large vessels such as The Waverley and Hebridean Princess.

The council’s Policy Lead for Finance and Commercial Services, Councillor Ross Moreland, left, said: “This is very positive progress for everyone involved. The Helensburgh Pier Company Ltd is keen to get the ball rolling on this project and apply for funding streams the council cannot access to help reinstate the pier and bring it back into full use to benefit the Helensburgh waterfront and the wider community.”

Helensburgh Pier and the PS Waverley (top of page) packed to the gunwales leaving for a day out.

Meanwhile, creating more opportunities for residents and visitors to make journeys by walking, cycling or wheeling is the aim of Argyll and Bute Council’s new Active Travel Strategy.

Councillors approved the draft strategy at today’s Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee and agreed to put it out for public consultation.

The Scottish Government has committed to national funding for active travel to speed up the delivery of new active travel infrastructure and behaviour change projects.

However, opportunities to secure a share of this funding require local authorities to demonstrate a relevant and up-to-date Active Travel Strategy and delivery plan as one of the key criteria.

The council’s Policy Lead for Roads, Transport and Amenity Services, Councillor John Armour, pictured right, said: “We strive to provide a network of high-quality routes suitable for safe cycling and walking within each of our main towns that link people to places of employment and education, shopping areas, leisure centres, hospitals and other prime hubs.

“Over the last five years, the council has secured £9.4 million of external funding to develop some of these networks across Argyll and Bute, many of which are now in operation and are being well used by local communities. In addition, we have successfully secured highly competitive external funding to fund the staff costs of the active travel team doing the work to progress these plans.

“A key part of developing viable active travel routes, however, is listening to what our communities, residents and businesses need, and I would urge as many people as possible to let us know their views on the draft strategy by taking part in our consultation when it is launched in the New Year”.

Further details about the dates and times of the consultation will be published on the council website soon.

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