Helensburgh Community Council (HCC) is the largest in Argyll and Bute, but currently has eight vacancies, and anyone over the age of 18 has been called upon to put themselves forward for nomination.

There are also vacancies on community councils in Rhu and Shandon, Rosneath and Clynder, Cove and Kilcreggan, Cardross, and Luss and Arden.

HCC represents the views of Helensburgh residents to Argyll and Bute Council and other local bodies, and also makes representations on issues it thinks are important for the town.

The community council has had some notable successes over the past few years – its three surveys were instrumental in Waitrose receiving the go-ahead from council planners to build a new store at Colgrain.

It also helped set up the hospital bus service to the Vale of Leven and Royal Alexandria hospitals, and played an important role in setting up other local campaign groups such as the Helensburgh Play Parks Group and the Friends of Hermitage Park.

Helensburgh community council says it needs to look ahead and create a new vision for the town, and community councillors will be campaigning for an exciting Pier Head Masterplan, improved street lighting, pavements, road surfaces and cleansing and more activities for young people.

Nigel Millar, HCC secretary, told the Advertiser: “People of all ages should look to join, firstly, to give something back to our town, and because we still face challenges in the town which the community council has a part to play in.

“A strong community council will bring a better Helensburgh, we need to attract more people in their late teens and early twenties and we have turned to social media to list our vacancies to try and attract a younger generation.” HCC meets once a month on a Thursday night, and has three sub groups helping to drive it forward — the Town Improvement Group presses for improvements to the town infrastructure, e.g. roads, pavements, street lighting; another deals with planning applications; and a third responds to issues such as the Local Plan.

Nomination forms are available for Helensburgh community council, as well as Luss and Arden, Cardross, Rosneath and Clynder, Cove and Kilcreggan, and Rhu and Shandon.

Forms are available from Scotcourt House, 45 West Princes street and on the council’s website and, must be submitted no later than 4pm Monday, October 27 you must be registered on the electoral roll to take part.