AN APPEAL has been made for Argyll and Bute Council to share the target reopening date for Helensburgh leisure centre – with a councillor saying it is “not that far away”.
But Councillor Fiona Howard (Labour, Helensburgh Central) steadfastly refused to reveal the date to the town’s community council after the authority did not meet the previous target for reopening.
The leisure centre has been closed since Storm Eowyn ripped off parts of the roof on January 24, 2025. A previous projected reopening date of March 2026 did not materialise.
The most recent update issued by the council, on Tuesday, April 28, said that the ‘first fix’ of the roof repairs was 75 per cent complete.
At a meeting of Helensburgh Community Council two days later, attendees were shown an email outlining the process for repairing the roof.
Community council convener Peter Brown said that Councillor Howard had obtained the update from a council officer to pass on to the community council.
Dr Brown said: “Prior to the most recent update, we have simply had information updates that have been given to the public.
“This is an update from the council to us. What we really want to know is the project timeline for completion.”
Councillor Howard, who is a board member of liveArgyll, which operates the leisure centre, said: “I am not allowed to tell you yet, because of all the things that have yet to be done to ensure they meet the current deadline.
“A lot will depend on the discussions with the insurers, but there is a date and it is not that far away.”
Community councillor Polly Jones then said: “It comes over that the council response is to tell elected representatives, and to tell you not to share it with us.”
Councillor Howard responded: “The reason they are not giving a date publicly is because they did and were let down. They cannot risk the abuse they got at that time.”
Ms Jones said: “People are frustrated because it is a facility we loved and used, and the council withdrawing all information is not how they should be behaving.
“All this about fixing the roof is way beyond me. All we are interested in is when it opens and I think people would understand more if that was shared.”
Councillor Howard said: “I would not risk giving it now, as I would get all the abuse.”
