Anger at Helensburgh 'apathy'

Fiona Howard • Published 1 Apr 2010 11:23 7 Comments

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HELENSBURGH has responded to the recent CHORD project consultation with a resounding - silence.

Some 7,000 postcards were issued to households in Helensburgh seeking views on what the townsfolk want for the town centre and only 128 replied.

And this week Helensburgh woman Marion Gillies said: "The apathy of this town is disgraceful.

"People are quick enough to complain when what is done doesn't suit them but this is their chance to help decide the future for their town and they are not bothering."

She continued: "You can be sure that if they don't like the outcome they will be quick enough to get up in arms but once it has all come to fruition it will be too late.

"Do they not understand that this is their chance to play their part and at least let the people who will carry the town centre redevelopment forward know what it is they want.

"I know that there have been many, many consultation exercises in the last few years and people are fed up with it but this one really does matter.

"I am sure many people think that it is just another exercise and nothing will come of it but it will.

"The money is there and it has got to be spent. It is up to everyone to make sure it is spent correctly.

"There will be no going back if they don't like what they get."

She added: "I could understand if there had been only 2,000 replies from 7,000 but 128 is just ridiculous.

"People have to realise that this redevelopment is happening, this traffic management scheme is happening. They must take the chance to make their views known now and not when it is too late."

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Jim
Unregistered User
Apr 1, 13:39
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What's the point in being angry...that's Helensburgh. I didn't fill in a postcard but I did go to the Chord event in the square to put my points.

There's been so much money spent on reports in the past. Is it any wonder people don't see the point in getting involved? Maybe if something actually gets done folk will get involved the next time.

Jim

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Dave
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Apr 5, 19:11
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I'm sorry to say that the reason why so few people replied is that the postcard was really badly designed.

I couldn't understand how we were supposed to annotate the map in any kind of useful way.

It wasn't apathy for me at least.

Davern

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Alan
Unregistered User
Apr 6, 16:20
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How on earth was anyone meant to contribute constructively on such a major project with a few lines on a card. Who came up with that idea? "Lets send out a postcard - that'll do it"

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Kirsteen
Unregistered User
Apr 7, 11:47
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I didn't even get one in my household so I don't know who they were sent to.

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Ian
Unregistered User
Apr 9, 12:53
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So the Helensburgh people are disgraceful, says Marion Gillies. Well may I suggest that it is CHORD that is disgraceful

That postcard must have been made up on the back of an envelope. What feedback could be given for what looked like a survey designed by school children

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lee
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Apr 13, 11:20
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By and large the people of Helensburgh are talented, hard working lot who want to see their town shake off decades of under investment to become a prosperous and vibrant place to live.

The town is anything but 'apathetic', just look at what individuals and community groups have achieved over the years. In my view the CHORD Project needs to have a long hard look at how it communicates with the townspeople of Helensburgh.

Why 7000 printed postcards (of dubious design) in the 'free' Community Advertiser? Why not use the Advertiser as well? Townsfolk who buy a local newspaper are paying for the privilege of finding out what is happening in the town so surely they would be more inclined to comment!

This is the 21st Century, so what's wrong with online communication and consultation? Helensburgh is an affluent town with a high rate of broadband usage, so why can't the CHORD Project have its own defined web space away from the clutter of the A&B Council website? Haven't they heard of social networking sites (the hint is in the name!) like Facebook, Twitter, online discussion forums and the rest?

Marion is right in one respect, this is a crucial time for Helensburgh, but to expect people just to 'realise' what is happening is not good enough. How the CHORD Project communicates is vital to the success of this exercise, they must do better!

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James Barrett-Bunnage
Unregistered User
Apr 19, 12:13
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Perhaps the opacity of the initiative hasn't helped. Your reporting makes nothing clear - what is CHORD? What traffic management scheme? Who the heck is Marion Gillies? Who voted for her as representative?

The fact that the postcard (always an excellent vehicle for detailed discussion and in-depth consideration, I find) allowed only four days for response, and implied via a map that the scheme only affected certain areas, would suggest that balanced discussion was not the aim of the exercise. In fact, the result achieved appears to have been the aim all along.

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