Helensburgh Community Council Update

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Helensburgh Community Council Update August 2025 for CPP
• We held our AGM at our meeting in May Office bearer elected as follows:- Peter Brown Convener, Polly Jones and
Norman McNally joint Deputy Vice- Conveners, Elizabeth Lambert and Joanna Pryce Joint Secretary and Cameron
Foy Treasurer. We are five short of full complement of twenty councillors. We also confirmed members for sub
groups for Planning, The Waterfront, and Town Improvement.  The Local Place Plan steering groups continues as
before. 
Planning
• We continue to monitor the plans for the Waterfront and had our case for Judicial Review heard in
Edinburgh on 4th July, we await the judgement decision. The action has been funded by a crowd funder
supported by 281 local people raising £20,045. 
• A group of HCC councillors and interested residents are currently investing a lot of time in developing a Local
Place Plan. We hope to issue the draft in August.
• We took part in the HDSF Focus Group at Civic Centre in June. 
Music in the Square
• Our Music in the Square initiative came to a close with the fund supporting numerous local groups and
events over the last few years. Including in 2025: the Easter event at Hermitage Park and Helensburgh’s Got
Talent at the Academy. Also funding for: Neptune Volunteer Band, Sounds Good Choir, Dorian Choir and the
Lomond and Clyde Community orchestra, supporting community events.
Town Improvement
• Summer is a very busy time for our volunteers with regular Beach Cleans and monthly work on the Shrub
Beds in Colquhoun Square.  We have received significant support from the Afghanistan and Ukrainian
community in Helensburgh at the beach cleans.  The Afghans went on to suggesting a clean at Churchill
which we facilitated and then they organised their own clean of the woodlands at Churchill. 
• With the help of David Hagerty and Cllr Gemma Penfold we have been supporting Kirkmichael Community
Development Group in their efforts to dispose of a derelict Portacabin in the play area. Which was previously
used as a community meeting place but is now is a dangerous state due to vandalism. 
• Cameron Foy continues to work with Cllr Fiona Howard on the issue of bus parking being allocated for
visiting coaches. 
Community Council Meetings
• May and July meetings heard representation from the Swim club over the difficulties created for the club
and swimmers by the closure of the leisure centre due to storm damage.  While understanding the reason
for the closure frustration was felt due to the time taken for a repair and the lack of communication from
the Council and Live Argyll to the Club.
• June heard representation from “Parents for Active Learning” PAL at Hermitage Primary regarding plans for
the site of the old Annexe. They do not support the suggestion of it being used for housing and favour it
being allocated for community outdoor and active learning. 
• We continue to get good public attendance at our monthly meetings held on the last Thursday of the month.
Further information about HCC and our activities can be found on our FB page, Website or by emailing the
Secretary Elizabeth Lambert reclyffe_lambert@yahoo.co.uk.