DISAPPOINTMENT has been voiced that Helensburgh was not put forward by council officers to be one of the UK’s Towns of Culture in 2028.
The UK Government recently launched the competition to allow communities to celebrate their places, with opportunities in three categories based on population size.
At its full meeting on Wednesday, February 25, the council unanimously agreed to select Bute to be put forward as a contender for the small (population under 20,000) category.
But a former councillor has expressed disappointment that the nomination did not go to Helensburgh instead, following the success of recent events to mark the 100th anniversary of John Logie Baird’s invention of television.
A festival was held in Colquhoun Square on Saturday, April 25, and a museum was also staged in the town centre.
Vivien Dance told the meeting of Helensburgh Community Council on Thursday, April 30 of her disappointment that the town had not been selected.
She said: “Given the success of the day we all had last Saturday, and the recent events to do with John Logie Baird, it is fair to assess Helensburgh has a bit of a reputation for culture, and history of culture.
“Why were we not considered to be the Town of Culture for 2028? Our culture is not only about John Logie Baird and Henry Bell, it is a whole history of people who have contributed.
“We have had one of the busiest visitor centres for the [National Trust For Scotland] at the Hill House, and we have not even been considered. We have a bit going for us, so why has the council voted it through?”
In a report to the February meeting, the council’s executive director Kirsty Flanagan said: “Argyll and Bute has five main towns that could all be worthy contenders for the 2028 Town of Culture Competition.
“Whilst all or our towns have their own individual merits it is considered at this time that the Isle of Bute affords the best opportunity for achieving the 2028 Town of Culture in this round of funding.
“Officers have considered the ambitions of the fund and whether there would be an appropriate town that might both fit with these ambitions and the required deadlines.
“In addition, officers have also considered the resource requirement for submitting a bid, and for this reason have concluded that there needs to be an existing cultural body in place who would be able and willing to consider taking on a substantive role in both developing a bid and facilitating a programme of delivery.
“For these reasons officers have concluded that the best fit would be the Isle of Bute, with the Rothesay Pavilion Charity ideally positioned to deliver this working with other stakeholders as appropriate including local community representatives and bodies such as the Mount Stuart Trust.”
When contacted for comment, Argyll and Bute Council referred to the report.
