NO formal update on Helensburgh’s waterfront is planned for a meeting of local councillors in the town next week.

Argyll and Bute Council’s Helensburgh and Lomond area committee, made up of all ten councillors for the Helensburgh Central, Helensburgh and Lomond South, and Lomond North wards, is staging its regular quarterly meeting on September 10.

But absent from the agenda is an update on plans for the empty area in front of the town’s new leisure centre, which were progressed last month.

Forrest Developments Ltd has been named as the preferred bidder for the site, with proposals for retail units including one big enough for a supermarket.

However, as of Wednesday, September 4, more than 2,100 people have signed a petition set up by Helensburgh Community Council against the decision.

Placards have also appeared at the site bearing slogans including ‘We did not vote for more shops’, while the words ‘No supermarket’ were painted on the site.

Argyll and Bute Council has published a Q&A on its website saying that the proposal “meets the needs” of the community.

Members of the public will have the opportunity to put questions to the area committee on any subject, including the Waterfront, during public question time at the meeting.

The meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 10, at Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre, starting at 9.30am.

A meeting staged at the same venue by the community council last week heard that a social media vote found 94 per cent of the public respondents to be against the proposal.

The petition says: “This retail development threatens the livelihoods of local businesses and will ruin the waterfront views we value in our community and bring many tourists to our town.”

Community council convener Peter Brown told the meeting: “There is widespread community concern about a supermarket development. Many people have been in touch with HCC and told us they are planning to come to [the community council’s] meeting, often for the first time.”

Forrest Group were named as preferred developers, behind closed doors, by the council’s policy and resources committee on Thursday, August 15.

The council said of the decision: “This kind of development meets the needs of the town that have been considered and agreed through different routes, for example, two local development plans (which match use of land to different development needs); and the specific Waterfront Masterplan.”

Public questions can be submitted in advance to the council by emailing stuart.mclean@argyll-bute.gov.uk.