Councillor claims Helensburgh is losing out

Jul 10 2009 by Tina Kemp, Lennox Herald (main ed)

THE people of Helensburgh are being forced to settle for the “scraps” in a multimillion regeneration project.

SNP councillor James Robb says it has lost out once more against other Clydeside towns – despite having the most viable proposal.

Now he wants those behind the decision to put the town down the priority list to explain themselves to the people of Helensburgh.

And Councillor Robb, recently ousted as chairman of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee, has called for the waterfront improvements to be completed within four years or sooner.

Argyll and Bute Council’s executive met last week in private to prioritise projects under the CHORD (Campbeltown, Helensburgh, Oban, Rothesay and Dunoon) town centre and waterfront regeneration initiative.

Councillor Robb is furious Helensburgh was placed fifth and sixth out of eight projects, and awarded just £6.7m of the £30m pot.

He said: “Helensburgh again seems to have lost out. Initially well advanced of the other towns with projects that deliver the largest economic benefit and the easiest to plan, control and deliver, it has been dragged back by council procedures and other projects promoted ahead of it.

“Helensburgh appears to have been held back by the process whilst other towns are fast-tracked. It seems yet again we should be grateful for the scraps we are given.

“Yes, £6.7m of investment is to be welcomed if it materialises in 2011-2013. Contrast that with the £30m earmarked from council and other sources for the Dunoon projects.”

Councillor Robb has persistently questioned why the Helensburgh area gets approximately 18 per cent of council spend for contributing approximately 30 per cent of funds through taxes.

He said: “I am no longer on the executive but urged the council leader to hold this debate in public so everyone could see how the programme board reached its recommendations and why executive members supported them.

“I am sure the Helensburgh Project Board, despite this disappointment, will re-double its efforts to ensure that the projects to improve the town centre and esplanade are delivered in 2013 if not sooner."