Readers' letters, November 2: Housing plans don't fit in Helensburgh

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Please keep your contributions as brief as possible and include your name and address - and also a daytime phone number in case we need to check any details at short notice.

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Helensburgh Community Council (HCC) shares the support expressed by Cllr Gary Mulvaney in last week’s Helensburgh Advertiser for new homes at Ardencaple.

Where we part company is when he accuses HCC of describing the development as “monstrous”. We did not and wish to correct his misunderstanding of our position.

Our carefully measured response to the Persimmon application is available on the Argyll and Bute Council website. It was submitted by HCC in its position as statutory consultee.

The word “monstrous”, or indeed any other emotive language, is not contained in any of our representations. It was the Advertiser’s choice of headline.

To paraphrase the legendary Mae West: “I don’t care about what you say about us in the papers as long as you spell our name right.”

HCC does not have a planning and design group. What it does have is Architecture and Design Helensburgh (A&DH).

Set up in 2016, and unique in Scotland, it consists of professional architects, planners and others to advise it when responding to major planning applications such as the 76 Persimmon houses at Ardencaple.

Based on A&DH’s well-argued and thorough assessment, HCC sees the application going against both Scottish Government and Argyll and Bute Council planning policies for the following reasons.

First, 76 houses will overcrowd the site, especially when the council’s own local development plan indicates just 60.

Second, the house designs are dull and boring and totally out of keeping with that part of Helensburgh.

Third: the need for a sense of community, which Cllr Mulvaney believes unnecessary, is supported by Argyll and Bute Council and the Scottish Government. Both would argue that the houses at Ardencaple must not be somewhere just to “hang your hat.”

Cllr Mulvaney also said in his column last week that the Persimmon application is “in no way perfect”. HCC agrees with that – and then some. It would be happy to hear his reasons why not and then discuss them with him.

Nigel Millar, Helensburgh Community Council

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I attended the October meeting of the Helensburgh Community Council (HCC) as an observer. It was a really interesting evening with several important and topical issues discussed.

Let me pick on one that caught my attention. The waterfront development is something that everyone in the town is interested in and may be of concern. There was an old plan but that is to be “refreshed”.

We had an overview of the position from Councillor Mulvaney telling us where we are at present and where we are likely to go with it. Apparently Argyll and Bute Council (ABC) have appointed consultants to look at and refresh the old plans in the light of the available funding of just over £18 million.

When this is done it will be brought forward for consultation with the HCC and other stakeholders.

There was a suggestion from the HCC that there had been no effort to ask the people of the town what they wanted from the development before it went in to the planning stage.

A suggestion was made that there was a confusion between consultation and engagement. We are where we are, and I understood from that discussion that, in a few weeks, a rough outline should be produced for consultation and discussion.

I am something of a cynic, and I hope that I am proved wrong. I remember some of the communication problems of the CHORD project of a couple of years ago.

The seafront site at the moment contains a swimming pool and parking. The proposal will be to replace the pool and build other infrastructure.

It is my bet that the proposed site of the new pool will overlap with the existing pool to maximise space for other developments.

Will it transpire, like the seafront esplanade, that the first act is to demolish the pool, then do the groundworks to raise the levels for flooding prevention, then start with general construction?

Will we be without a pool for a couple of years while the site is given over to the builders?

Dougie Blackwood, Helensburgh

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After the meeting at Geilston Hall on October 19, reported in last week’s Advertiser, I had an idea that could be passed on to the National Trust for Scotland at their next meeting with the Friends of Geilston, if it has not already been discussed.

The Landmark Trust should be approached to help with funding and planning with the restoration of the house and buildings.

They helped the NTS when they first took over the Hill House with a generous donation and in return ran the school room flat for many years as a holiday rental.

A similar arrangement could be worked out for Geilston to the advantage of both organisations.

We have used Landmark, and have found them very well run and of a high standard, but they have relatively few places in Scotland.

I am sure they would seriously consider Geilston, as it is so close to so many local gardens and attractions as we all know so well.

I strongly feel that the NTS should return the money given to them which was set aside for Geilston’s maintenance. Ideally, with that money and the Landmark support, Geilston’s future could be assured.

Gillian George, via email

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Regarding your article in last week’s Advertiser about the change of ownership of the Garelochhead Pharmacy, it appeared to suggest that it “could only be made better”.

I have to say that as a regular customer I have found it to be an excellent business due to the skill and dedication of the staff, and I would like to thank them for this.

I have no doubt that this will continue, but not through change of ownership. It is the staff who make or break a business.

D. Chambers, Kilcreggan

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Our national and regional governments need to have a vision for the area and for Helensburgh.

The £1.7 million spent by the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park on the ‘flying geese’ sculpture was a waste of money. The structure fails at all levels.

It should be replaced by a red deer stag sculpture by Andy Scott, after the iconic portrait ‘Monarch of the Glen’ by Landseer, which would be a true welcome to the Highlands and Scotland.

The John Muir Trail from Dunbar to Helensburgh passes the Hill House and down Colquhoun Street. There should be a footbridge over the upper railway line to avoid the diversion to Sinclair Street. This would lead visitors directly into the heart of the town.

Local councillors are in love with their pier head development project, which is the wrong project in the wrong place. The pier should be restored and the approach dredged to allow the Waverley continued access to the town and to develop boat traffic from the many cruise ships that berth on the south side of the Clyde during the summer months.

Argyll and Bute Council charges bus drivers to park in the pier head car park. This is short-sighted since the drivers are enticed to Loch Lomond Shores by no parking charges and a free lunch.

Better that the council stop paying the parking attendants to harass the visiting public, and instead take the long term view that what is good for the shopkeepers of Helensburgh will generate revenue for the shops and an increased tax take for the council.

Recent budget restraints on the council have led to speculation that front line staff will be axed. This will mean a loss of service for residents of the town.

Get rid of top managers and middle managers who won’t be missed. Keep front line staff and maintain local services.

John Black, via email

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The national press continues to raise concerns about the roll out of Universal Credit which combines six benefits into one and in some cases will result in claimants having to wait up to six weeks before receiving their first payment of the new benefit.

We at the RAF Benevolent Fund are passionate about helping all members of the RAF Family who are in need.

We launched our Advice and Advocacy Service two years ago following research which indicated that many of our beneficiaries were not receiving the state benefits they were entitled to, such as housing benefit, council tax reduction or Universal Credit.

We are keen to hear from anyone who has served in the RAF, including their partners and dependants who find themselves affected by the recent changes to the benefit system.

We may be able to provide advice, advocacy or financial support to help alleviate your financial distress.

We can also help in relation to other forms of financial distress.

If you feel we can help you or someone you know, call 0800 169 2942 today or visit www.rafbf.org/help.

Air Commodore Paul Hughesdon

Director of Welfare and Policy, RAF Benevolent Fund