During the countdown to the Scottish independence referendum, the Advertiser looked back at the impact of the last time the community faced a major decision – the vote to leave Dumbarton District Council in March 1994.

Now 20 years after the community said Yes, we asked our online readers if Helensburgh and Lomond is better off as part of Argyll and Bute?

About 66 per cent of respondents said ‘no’ it wasn’t better off, compared to the 33 per cent of those who said ‘yes’ it was.

Promoting the case for the move 20 years ago, the Tory-run Government said the current system had ‘serious flaws’, with confusion over which council was responsible for what services, relating to an overlap and a duplication of bureaucracy, and unnecessary cost.

Opposition criticised the move due to the geography of the council headquarters, which is 65-miles away in Lochgilphead, and claimed there was no real logical ground – whether economic, social, or based on reactions of transport, or employment – for the change.

In the end, 71 per cent of residents voted to join Argyll and Bute Council.

Reacting to the Advertiser poll, councillors said the results came as no surprise, however the topic has sparked debate and made many think about the area’s potential in the future.

Councillor Vivien Dance, below, said: “What is most interesting is how this debate in the Advertiser has coincided with the publication and findings of the Commission on Strengthening Local Democracy, which will now lead to changes in Scotland’s local authority landscape with a review of boundaries included in the fundamental review that is now on the horizon.” Cllr Dance added that a debate may be in order, to ‘put right’ the ‘mistake’ of 1994.

She said: “There is undoubtedly more of an interest in democracy as we run up to the vote on September 18 with a huge turnout predicted, perhaps after that we can harness some of this enthusiasm and see if we can go it alone.” Councillor Gary Mulvaney, below, said that the most important poll is on September 18, and Helensburgh and Scotland would be much better off as part of the UK.

Councillor James Robb, far left, said it would be difficult to imagine how the area could be worse off today if remained with Dumbarton, with Helensburgh and Lomond providing around a third of funding to Argyll and Bute Council, but receiving around 20 per cent of resources.

Cllr Robb said: “Maintaining surplus facilities and different practice in the other areas of Argyll and Bute leads directly to poorer services for our area – less care hours, less spent on each pupil in our schools, and less on our roads and pavements.” Councillor George Freeman, below right, said he believes that if the Helensburgh and Lomond had been linked to the West Dunbartonshire Council area 20 years ago – instead of Argyll and Bute – a poll now would see a similar result with most people being unhappy about the change. He added: “I have stated in the past that Helensburgh and Lomond tends to fall into a bit of a ‘no- man’s land’ as far as local authorities are concerned and I do not think that there would be a positive vote no matter which local authority it was linked to.” Joyce White, chief executive of West Dunbartonshire Council, was asked if Helensburgh would be welcome again within West Dunbartonshire.

She said she respects the decision made 20 years ago, adding: “Today we are more interested in working in partnership with Argyll and Bute Council on shared issues that ensure this region of Scotland can have as bright a future as possible.”