Is this Helensburgh of the future?

Sharon Thompson • Published 6 May 2010 11:45 2 Comments

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THE proposed plan for the development of Helensburgh's town centre was this week unveiled to the public for the first time.

As part of the CHORD project - encompassing Campbeltown, Helensburgh, Oban, Rothesay and Dunoon - Helensburgh has been allocated millions of pounds to redesign the town centre and surrounding streets.

And experts, including architects from Austin Smith Lord, were on hand in Colquhoun Square on Monday to keep residents up to date with the progress made in drawing up plans, which are featured above.

The plans illustrate changes to Sinclair Street, where the footpath on the west side would be increased in width, with parking and loading bays also formalised on the same side.

The carriageway would be of a reduced width but would accommodate two way traffic, while the east side footpath would be increased in width.

On West Clyde Street the footpath would be increased to a width of 4.5m in front of shops, and across the road on the esplanade the footpath will be reduced to 0.95 metres.

Colquhoun Square will only have traffic passing through on West Princes Street, Colqhuoun Street near to the seafront will only be used for local and service access and the road width will be restricted.

There will be wider pavements in front of Helensburgh Central train station and two way traffic will be maintained on Princes Street, although there will again be a reduction in carriageway width to accommodate wider pavements and street trees.

Graham Ross, from architects Austin Smith Lord, spoke to the Advertiser during the second of the gazebo days on Monday.

He said: "We asked people to identify the priority areas and they included the west bay, West Clyde Street, the area around Helensburgh Central train station and Colquhoun Square.

"This maps the preferred option that the people of Helensburgh want."

Graham said key issues that people wanted improved were the pedestrian environment in the town and the focal points.

He said there will be no net loss of car parking spaces, which means that pedestrians can be catered for in Helensburgh as well as those who need to accommodate their vehicles.

"We have also focused on improving linkages to the beach and esplanade and crossing points at junctions."

Graham said more than 200 people had stopped at the gazebo in Colquhoun Square on Monday to have a look at the proposals.

He added: "The key message is been in collaboration with the community

"They informed us throughout the process and we have taken on board what they have said. We have had eight design workshops, two futurewalks and two gazebo days."

He said the majority of the feedback had been excellent, but admitted that you can't please everyone.

"We deliberately came on a bank holiday to make sure the majority of people were off work, but also to ascertain the views of visitors who play a key role in the town's economy and we have spoken not just to residents but also tourists."

An exhibition of the preferred options is scheduled for June 21-25 in Helensburgh library.

What do you think of the plans? Have your say by emailing editorial@helensburghadvertiser.co.uk or leave a comment on our website. You can also search for us on Facebook.

This article appeared in Helensburgh Advertiser 06 May 10

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Hazelkaye
Unregistered User
May 12, 22:11
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ie Helensburgh Central RAILWAY station!

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AndyMc
7 posts
Aug 22, 09:44
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This may be an old story but how long has this funding been sat in the bank with nothing being done and how much longer will this go on?

All we see is reports of grand schemes, big ideas, and the results of consultancy and architects drawings. How much has been spent of consultancy and design whilst nothing is being done?

There were comments that of all the consultancy documents sent out to residents only a tiny number were returned. Could this be due to the fact that the documents were unclear, confusing, and would have generated almost no useful results? How much did that exercise cost?

Before we see the first work started a significant amount of money will have been wasted and any regeneration or improvement of the town, and hence it's residents, will suffer as a result.

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