HOUSING chiefs have been accused of a “missed opportunity” after homes in Helensburgh were reportedly given to people from outside Argyll and Bute.

A report to councillors revealed that there are 441 applicants on the HomeArgyll waiting list for a property in Helensburgh and Lomond, with a pressure ratio of five to one.

But Helensburgh and Lomond South Conservative Councillor Gemma Penfold raised a question after being advised of people from Glasgow taking up properties made available by Loretto Housing Association.

And her party colleague and Argyll and Bute Council’s depute leader, Helensburgh Central Councillor Gary Mulvaney, voiced concern that Helensburgh and Lomond applicants were missing out.

The discussion took place at a meeting of the council’s Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee on Tuesday, March 14.

Councillor Penfold asked: “It has been brought to my attention that people are coming from Glasgow and getting a home when there are people in the town waiting for housing.

“I understand that people need homes, but do we prioritise people from Argyll and Bute for housing in Argyll and Bute?”

Douglas Whyte, the authority’s strategy lead for housing services, responded: “The council gets 18 of 36 properties directly to use.

“We worked with local housing associations to free up properties in the area, so people in need in the area would get those consequential lets.”

Councillor Mulvaney then said: “Clearly Loretto are not part of the common housing register we have with ACHA (Argyll Community Housing Association) and Dunbritton. They have not historically been in this area.

“I do not think, in terms of common knowledge, there are a lot of people who would know who Loretto were, what they did, or where they were based.

“So my feeling is that they will have taken those applications primarily from their own list, and I am not sure there will be many Helensburgh and Lomond applicants on that.

“That is a really big issue, because that is an important site to use. I am not dismissing those who get these houses, but there are a lot of people in town who would be on the common housing list.

“They would have a really strong case, especially those towards the top of the list, for getting these houses. Whether by design or happenstance, it seems regrettable.

“I am not dismissing the fact that we have created houses and good homes, but people in Helensburgh and Lomond have potentially missed out. It seems a bit of a missed opportunity.”

A Loretto Housing spokesperson said: “The way we allocate our homes is fair and transparent - with 50 per cent of properties available to those on the Argyll and Bute common housing register and the other 50 per cent advertised to customers on our housing website.

“Customers who register for a home with us are placed in a banding according to their housing need. Applicants then register a note of interest in available homes in their banding.

“We’d be happy to discuss all the options available for finding a new home, including with other social landlords in the area or a private rent.”

Turning to other concerns, Councillor Penfold then asked: “I have also been contacted by a couple of families in overcrowded homes. One family is in a two-bedroom house but one child is a teenager and there is a big age gap with the other child.

“My concern is that they will be starting exams and have nowhere they can actually study. Do families with children those ages get pushed up the list?”

Mr Whyte said: “They will get recognised if they meet the criteria for housing overcrowding, but that does not necessarily mean a quick fix.”

A Loretto Housing spokesperson said: “The way we allocate our homes is fair and transparent - with 50 per cent of properties available to those on the Argyll and Bute common housing register and the other 50 per cent advertised to customers on our housing website.

“Customers who register for a home with us are placed in a banding according to their housing need. Applicants then register a note of interest in available homes in their banding."

* More on this story in the new print edition of the Advertiser - on sale from Thursday, March 16.