Helensburgh will benefit from the latest council budget, with £6m from being invested in a new swimming pool and leisure centre.

The money was identified from Argyll and Bute Council’s reserves fund. The entire project to redevelop Helensburgh’s pierhead is though to cost in the region of £17m, with money already in place from previous budgets.

Money from the revenue budget, which is day-to-day expenditure and the money required to provide services during the year, was also set aside to ensure Hermitage Park is redeveloped.

The swimming pool development, part of the previously approved Pierhead Waterfront Masterplan, will see substantial works to address the flooding, as well as providing the new pool and leisure centre.

Cllr Gary Mulvaney, area chairman for Helensburgh and Lomond, said: “The leader, depute and myself were determined to ensure that Helensburgh gets the money it needs for a new swimming pool.

“Other areas have more modern facilities and in many ways the pool and pier development is the final jigsaw piece in a multi-million investment in Helensburgh.

“In the last few years, we have seen a brand new secondary school, investment in our primaries, CHORD, new town centre offices and with the swimming pool, over £60million will have been invested in the town – positive proof of our commitment to make Helensburgh the best it can be.”

Cllr Mulvaney also said he wants the project to move forward, getting it tendered, contracted and started.

Depute leader Cllr Ellen Morton also said at the meeting that she was making “a commitment” to improving the Rosneath peninsula in the future, which she said “was looking tired and needing a bit of TLC”.

The project to redesign Hermitage Park could also benefit from this year’s budget, after it was agreed money would be set aside to underwrite the project – with £268,000 set aside from the revenue budget, although it is hoped this money will not be needed with external funders instead providing the shortfall.

However, the decision to allocate Helensburgh more money for regeneration was questioned at the meeting by Councillor Douglas Philand, a representative for Mid Argyll.

He said it “feels a bit unfair” for Helensburgh to have more investment.

However, head of strategic finance Kirsty Flanagan, said the waterfront project had already been agreed. She also said the Hermitage Park project was at risk if the funding gap was not met.