COUNCIL chiefs HAVE acted on public concerns on vehicle parking and a public footpath around the proposed Helensburgh waterfront development, a report has claimed.

A pre-application consultation (PAC) feedback document on the planned leisure centre was published on Argyll and Bute Council’s planning website last week.

And despite concern that the public’s views on the proposals have not been heeded, the report, written by officials from the council’s own economic development department, says that the consultation – carried out during March, April and May this year – led to some significant changes to the plans.

It says: “[The] car park layout and number of designated parking spaces for the leisure building have been developed taking account of feedback from Argyll and Bute Council development and infrastructure department.

“The number of bus parking and bus drop off areas have been developed as a result of the informal stakeholder and community engagement.

“A servery has been added to the café as a result of the feedback from the informal stakeholder and community engagement.

“As a result of consultation with the Central Scotland Green Network Trust regarding the John Muir Way we have proposed the finish of the long distance walk is relocated from its current location along the esplanade to the corner of the former Mariners site.

“The proposals include the relocation of the current stone/artwork that identifies the finish of the walk.

“Feedback on the requirement for robust materials and planting for the landscaping proposals will be taken forward post consent when more detailed planting proposals are developed as part of the landscape design.”n undertaken in full accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, as amended by the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006.

“Argyll and Bute Council have compiled with, and exceeded, the minimum statutory requirements for PAC.

“The Helensburgh waterfront development project team is committed to continuing engagement with the public and other consultees through the next stages of development of the proposals.”