Helensburgh’s planned new leisure centre could be at risk of flooding just 10 years after it’s due to be completed.

The shock new prediction was published just two working days before a marathon seven-hour hearing on Argyll and Bute Council’s £18 million waterfront proposals – and led to councillors putting off a final decision on the plans.

The new forecasts say that proposed flood protection measures will only protect the landmark building until 2030, rather than 2060 as originally forecast.

The council's planning, protective services and licensing committee voted 6-4 to continue consideration of the application to await the publication of updated climate change forecasts.

Councillor David Kinniburgh, chair of the committee, moved to approve the plans for the £18m complex, with Councillor Rory Colville seconding.

But an amendment proposed by Councillor Lorna Douglas, and seconded by Councillor George Freeman, to continue won the day - to cheers from those in attendance at the Victoria Halls.

The application is now expected to be considered at the next meeting of the planning, protective services and licensing (PPSL) committee, to be held on Wednesday, December 19 – not in Helensburgh, but at the council's HQ in Lochgilphead.

There were also contributions on Monday from Helensburgh Community Council (HCC), Helensburgh and Lomond Chamber of Commerce, and other members of the public.

Peter Brown, speaking on behalf of HCC, said: “A flood risk adviser made an updated statement two working days before this hearing, saying that Argyll and Bute Council now agrees there will be wave damage danger within 10 years.

“The council flooding officer’s initial condition was in the October PPSL report. It had a detailed design of flood defences to guard against wave overtopping through the lifetime of the development. As of Thursday, it says that flood defences are only acceptable until 2030.”

Mr Brown used empty milk cartons and plastic bottles to demonstrate how much water will hit the proposed centre per second. He added: “This sea water will not be gently placed – it will be blown by a storm.In an hour, we will get a million litres of water lying on top of the raised flood defences.

“The leisure centre will be damaged by a major storm in 10 years – that is what the council’s flood defence officer has said.

“The flood defences as currently designed will not be sufficient for wave overtopping beyond 2030, and will need to be extended.

“That means that the £2m which is to be spent on flood defences will only provide nine years of safety, at a cost of £220,000 per year. That is a capital cost to defend a building that does not have to be situated at the seafront.

“The UK climate predictions are going to be revised this month. They change every nine or ten years.

“If you [the committee] choose not to move the leisure centre, you are committing to millions more being spent to avoid significant damage to the building.”

The updated council document states: “On the basis of the information currently available, the proposals are acceptable through (to) 2030.

“To ensure that they remain acceptable through 2060, it is recommended that the defences be reviewed following each release of UK Climate Projections’ climate change scenarios or their equivalent.”

Councillor Ellen Morton, a passionate supporter of the project but not a PPSL committee member, also spoke at the meeting and said: “As 20 years a councillor, I feel very strongly about this.

“Based on comments made directly to me by local residents and constituents, I am absolutely certain that the community wants to see these proposals approved and action taken to improve a site that is currently dilapidated and to replace a building that is no longer fit for purpose.

“It [the existing pool] is well past its shelf life and will be lucky if it lasts three years. If this application gets approved, I would hope we will be setting a benchmark for Argyll and Bute.

“For the first time ever our most disabled children at Parklands School and those staying at Ardlui Respite Centre will be able to access a swimming pool in Argyll and Bute.

“I have spoken to parents who are delighted with the proposals. One said to me that they were blown away by the plans and they couldn’t wait to see their daughter get into a swimming pool for the first time.

“There will also be a changing places facility. At the moment an older child or adult with severe physical impairment has no appropriate toileting facility anywhere in Helensburgh and Lomond and often has to be laid down on the toilet floor to be changed. (this is) totally undignified for that person and a strain on carers.

“A ‘Changing Places’ facility is a space large enough to accommodate the disabled person in a wheelchair plus two carers.

“The toilet is positioned so that there is space for one carer to get on either side of the adult to assist.

“There is a rise and fall changing bed so that the person can slide from the wheelchair on to it then be raised into a more comfortable position for the carers to work from.

“There will be space for a screen so that the carers can move behind that, giving a degree of dignity and privacy to the disabled person. Think how much better that will be than being manhandled on a toilet floor.

“I urge the committee to approve the application.”

The issue of coach parking was also raised at the meeting by Chamber of Commerce director Vivien Dance.

The current plans consist of two parking spaces and a number of drop-off points for coaches, but that is less than is available at present - and concerns have been raised over the effect on retail in the town.

It has been suggested that coaches could park at Station Road in Craigendoran after dropping visitors off.

Mrs Dance said: “We have spoken to the coach companies, and if they are only provided with a drop-off point and parking in Station Road, they will not come to this town.

“We have businesses working together to develop incentives to coach drivers to come to Helensburgh.

“But the coach companies have said from the start that they will not come if this is all they have.”

“I hope we don’t go away from here holding our heads in shame.”

Councillor Douglas questioned how many responses the council had to its consultation process. Architect John Gordon responded that 199 direct responses had been received over three days of events.

Helensburgh Community Council had a total of 1,109 responses to its survey on the waterfront plans.

Councillor Douglas said: “HCC have had over 1,000 responses to their consultation. Something doesn’t seem to be right.

“It is a real shame we have spent the whole day going through this when everybody agrees that we need a new swimming pool. I just don’t understand why you would put a building there worth millions of pounds, and could cost the council an awful lot.

“You say it is low maintenance - that’s great, but we are putting it in a place at such risk to damage.

“The building itself I have no problem with. The location I have a problem with. I think there is still information due within a couple of weeks that might boost one of the proposals being put forward.

“I know there is going to be a flood risk, but the best we can do is wait until these statistics are released.

“For a whole host of reasons, I propose a continuation of this until such time as we know what statistics are going to come up on flood risks. That could have an effect on where the pool is moved to.”

Councillor Freeman added: “My concerns relate to flood risk. It will be the public who will carry the risk. It will be their money that has to pay for any problems.

“We have waited a long time on this but I don’t think we should be forced into a decision. It is better to get it right than to rush it.

“We should continue consideration to the December PPSL as I don’t feel my concerns have been addressed.”

Councillor Kinniburgh then said: “When I come to these hearings, there is only one thing certain – we will never please everybody.

“Having given this consideration, I am finding it very difficult to come to a decision – but I have reached one.

“There are feelings that the pool is in the wrong place and could be compromised, but I honestly don’t think it could be.

“It would be very difficult to come to a compromise, but what has swayed me, and some members have referred to it, is where the building is situated. It is there so that it is a facility that can be seen as you look down Colquhoun Street.”

Councillor Kinniburgh also made reference to proposed retail units for the space in front of the potential leisure centre, but are not part of the current planning process.

As well as Cllr Colville, his motion was also supported by Mid Argyll councillor Donald MacMillan and Kintyre and the Islands’ Alistair Redman.

However, the amendment to continue was backed by Richard Trail (Helensburgh and Lomond South), Audrey Forrest (Dunoon), Jean Moffat (Isle of Bute) and Sandy Taylor (Mid Argyll).