A DATE has been confirmed for the official civic opening of Helensburgh's new waterfront leisure centre.

The £22 million facility was opened to the public on September 3, having been handed over by contractors Heron Bros Ltd at the beginning of August.

Demolition of the old swimming pool next door to the new centre is now under way.

Helensburgh Central councillor Gary Mulvaney confirmed the date for the opening ceremony in a report to a meeting of Argyll and Bute Council next week.

The centre will be officially opened on Friday, October 7 - though it's not yet been confirmed who will perform the ribbon-cutting to mark its opening.

Councillor Mulvaney said in his report, submitted in his role as the authority's policy lead for finance and commercial services: “The new £22million state of the art leisure centre is now complete and was officially handed over by contractors Heron Bros Ltd at start of August, on time, despite the global construction challenges being faced, which is a fantastic achievement by all involved.

“The centre, which will be operated by Live Argyll, opened its doors to the public on September 3 and an official civic opening will take place on October 7.”

Councillor Mulvaney’s ward colleague, SNP councillor Ian MacQuire, told the council’s Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee this week that 500 new members had signed up to Live Argyll since the new centre opened.

Cllr Mulvaney's report, for a full council meeting on September 29, also revealed that the authority has seen a year-on-year increase in the amount of council tax collected.

On council tax, Councillor Mulvaney said: “The council tax collection rate at the end of August 2022 is 50.72 per cent, 2.98 per cent up on the same time last year.

“The increased collection is due to the £4.33m cost of living award that was allocated directly to council tax accounts at the start of the year, although it should be noted that on a month to month basis, the level of increased collections is reducing.

“There are challenges reported by sheriff officers in collection performance post summons related to the cost of living crisis and as we are passing over less debt to them this year to collect as debtors in receipt of benefit increases.

“The non-domestic rates (NDR) collection rate at the end of August 2022 is 62.21 per cent, down 1.92 per cent in comparison to the previous year.

“This variation is because of movements in the level of rates relief we have been able to offer businesses between these years.”