HELENSBURGH and Lomond South Councillor Richard Trail addresses the recent Rest and Be Thankful road closure as well as the efforts of Helensburgh community council in clearing up Colquhoun Square.

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THE recent landslips at the Rest and be Thankful demonstrate how vulnerable Argyll is to the vagaries of nature.

The extensive protection works undertaken over recent years are clearly inadequate. The catch fences were only partially successful in preventing sliding rocks reaching the road, and it is proving impossible to predict where the next landslip will occur.

An alternative solution will need to be found. The news reports of the closure of the main road into Argyll lead to businesses losing customers and are damaging to the local economy.

The A83 Task Force is meeting soon and there will be calls for a review of options to free us of the blight of road closures due to landslips.

The Rural Growth Deal which the council is now negotiating with the Scottish and UK governments lays great stress on connectivity as essential for business. Neither of the two trunk roads into Argyll are up to standard: the A82 from Tarbet to Ardlui is more suited for the horse and cart than modern cars. Plans for upgrading this section have been around for years, but somehow the implementation phase is a mirage that is forever in the future.

The BBC TV nature series Blue Planet, and in particular Blue Planet 2, have raised awareness of plastic waste in the oceans. The problem is huge and threatens so many species of birds and sea creatures. What can the individual do in the face of this daunting global challenge?

Volunteers have been doing beach cleans for a good number of years and they do make a difference. But whenever there is a storm, litter gets piled up on our beaches.

Arrochar is particularly badly hit as the wind blows the flotsam up Loch Long and dumps it on the village’s doorstep. The beaches have seen some improvement as a result of the charge on plastic bags in supermarkets.

Colquhoun Square in Helensburgh is a popular spot to sit and enjoy warm sunny days. For the past four years, however, the green bits have been a disappointment. The beds have been neglected and the grass is full of weeds.

Here, too, though, things are changing. Helensburgh Community Council has organised work parties to weed the beds and fill them with new plants. All credit goes to HCC, and in particular Norman Muir and John Tacchi, for their efforts. There is always room for more volunteers to help on Saturday mornings: if you know a dandelion from a dahlia, you will be made welcome.