THE chair of Argyll and Bute Council’s Helensburgh and Lomond area committee has reiterated that a way forward must be found on the town’s Waterfront.
Councillor Fiona Howard (Labour, Helensburgh Central) was questioned at a meeting regarding an article she wrote for a section of the local press the previous week.
A judicial review of the council’s process of awarding the contract for the Waterfront development found in the authority’s favour over Helensburgh Community Council.
Councillor Howard expressed the view that a way had to be found for progress to be made, but said that it was “very early days” at the meeting of the committee on Tuesday, December 9.
In the initial article, she wrote: “The decision of the judicial review on the waterfront will have many repercussions and anyone who thought it will be easy to move on would be kidding themselves.
“But we have to find a way forward, a way to make a start on at least trying to making a bad situation better.
“Progress is now more obvious on Helensburgh Leisure Centre and council officers are still confident that the March date for completion is still in sight. More regular updates on continuing work should start to appear on the council website.”
Vivien Dance then asked during public question time at the committee meeting: “The chair of the area committee has gone on record stating that we have to find a way forward on the Waterfront.
“I fully understand what the role of the area committee chair is – it is to lead the committee, but of course, it is the committee that makes the decisions.
“Can I be updated on what the decisions have been so far on this way forward? When has the area committee met to discuss this so that a statement can be made?
“And can you give an indication of what that is likely to be, because there are a number of groups independently taking forward other ways of action?”
Councillor Howard responded: “I make no statements on behalf of all 10 members of this committee. I made the statement that somehow, we have to find a way to work through this.
“There are things we can and cannot do, but we have not had a minute to discuss the plans, and as soon as there are, people involved will be invited to come and talk to us.
“That is all I can tell you, because it is very early days.”
Mrs Dance, an ex-councillor, said as she left the table: “That is extremely helpful, thank you.”
