Helensburgh Pier needs a "messiah" and for the community to "set aside their egos" for the facility to have a future, councillors have been told.

Councillors lamented - but approved - a report that drew "a line under" any future Argyll and Bute Council involvement in bringing the facility back to life.

The pier has been closed to all marine traffic for more than five years and a new report, published last said it was not commercially viable.

But they said it could yet be transferred to the community.

Members of Argyll and Bute Council's environment, development and infrastructure committee said on Thursday that would require various groups and visions for the pier to speak as one voice.

Fergus Murray, head of development and economic growth at the authority, said the report by Stantec UK Ltd concluded there was no business case for the council to work with the pier.

That would now "draw a line under it", he told Thursday's meeting.

The conclusions, first reported by the Advertiser last week, were dismissed by Provost Maurice Corry, who has been involved in efforts with Helensburgh Community Council (HCC) to create a new berthing facility at the pier.

Helensburgh Advertiser:

The Stantec report said the berthing proposal would not be revenue neutral, given there would not be enough business year-round.

But the community council and others - including the Provost - have insisted they don't believe the pier is yet a lost cause.

At the meeting on November 30, Helensburgh Central councillor Gary Mulvaney said: "There's either a commercial case or there's not.

"I'm disappointed that we are where we are. We have explored it.

"It's right enough to point out other pier developments that have not stood the test of time. But we recognise that. Why would we repeat the same mistakes?

"We accept where we are, albeit it's disappointing."

He said council officers were willing to work with third party groups to take the pier forward and maybe help apply for funding.

But he also said there needed to be a single organisation for officers at the council to deal with, rather than "umpteen different groups".

"The onus is back on the community now to come together with a single cohesive view," he said.

"We need to get that single vision and contact, so we don't end up wasting a lot of time.

"We now need to see these individual elements coalesce around one point of view and one point of contact so officers and go to other funding options."

Councillor Graham Hardie said: "The report is disappointing, but the pier is a very emotive issue within Helensburgh, so we have to tread carefully. We have to get community groups involved."

He added that Helensburgh has been recognised as growing, and in 10 years' time the pier could be viable.

Council leader and committee chairman Robin Currie quipped: "Well, we can look at it in 10 years time."

Councillor Ian MacQuire (SNP, Helensburgh Central) said he was confident there were people with expertise who could make the pier work.

But Cllr Mulvaney said: "It reminded me of the Life of Brian. We know what the problem is and we just need to get the solution in.

"These groups will have to set aside their ego and get together because that will make the thing happen."

Another councillor added: "We should be looking for a Messiah."

Again, Cllr Currie quipped: "I don't think we have the funding for that."