ARGYLL and Bute Council should be “very careful” about committing any major funds to repairing Helensburgh’s pier for the sole benefit of the Waverley, according to one of the town’s councillors.

Depute council leader Gary Mulvaney, who represents Helensburgh Central, gave the warning at a meeting in the town last week as Helensburgh and Lomond councillors were given an update on the condition of the pier and options for its future.

Members of the council’s Helensburgh and Lomond area committee endorsed a report effectively ruling out the prospect of major work on the pier at an estimated cost of up to £850,000.

But Cllr Mulvaney, and several of his colleagues, backed the idea of exploring whether the Waverley, when it returns to service after major repairs, could berth in future on the west side of the pier, rather than along the front as it has in the past.

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And the committee also endorsed further talks with the Helensburgh Seafront Development Project (HSDP) on its plans to enhance the facilities available at the pier – in particular through the installation of pontoons to the eastern side of the structure.

Cllr Mulvaney said: “The idea of pontoons and working with HSDP is a positive one – we need to explore that and see if it can be reasonably taken forward.

“But potentially spending £850,000 to support one vessel, which itself is currently seeking public funding of more than £2 million for repairs, is difficult to sustain within the council’s capital budget, which is already under strain.

“Clearly sailing on the waters of the Clyde is challenging: we need to be very careful when looking at any significant capital expenditure, and basing that solely on one boat coming into Helensburgh.”

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Stewart Clark, the council’s marine operations manager, told the meeting that a low-cost option could involve dredging the area to the west of the pier and allowing the Waverley to berth there in future.

No firm cost estimate for these works has yet been produced, but Mr Clark said: “We could be looking at tens, rather than hundreds, of thousands [of pounds].

“This has never been looked at before because the Waverley was always comfortable to come to the front face of the pier.

“The option to berth on the west side of the pier is workable but it would require the Waverley to adopt a completely different approach path to the pier.”

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The committee’s chair, Cllr Ellen Morton, also told the meeting it was incorrect to accuse the council of not committing any funds to the pier’s future.

She said: “There have been comments from the public about the council not spending any money on the pier. That is absolutely, totally not true.

“There is money involved in every minute of officer time spent on this. Routine maintenance is being carried out all the time, for a pier that doesn’t bring in any money at all.

“More than that, because of the kind of ship the Waverley is, and the way it berths and the volume of water that is pushed through its paddles, it hits the pier every time it berths.

“If we can find an alternative way for the Waverley to berth, in conjunction with HSDP’s pontoons, that would be absolutely ideal – and more affordable.”