WORKS to upgrade Helensburgh’s skating pond could cost Argyll and Bute Council over £1million, a report has revealed.
Council officers have also agreed that a hybrid project, providing ecological benefits and a quality nature site for visitors, is the preferred option.
An update on plans for the site at the top of Sinclair Street was given in August, with a landscape architect warning that “doing nothing is not an option”.
However, the authority is now thought to need to find around £1m, a source of which has not been identified, in order to deliver the project in full.
A report will be considered by the council’s Helensburgh and Lomond area committee at its meeting on Tuesday, December 9.
It states that a range of works have been considered as part of the options, including drainage, the removal of silt and invasive species, planting, roads and fencing.
Executive director Kirsty Flanagan said: “The estimated capital costs are circa £1m. This includes prelims, contingency, design development, additional surveys, statutory approvals and project management.
“Officers continue to seek external funding to progress this project and members will be updated when further funding is secured.
“The estimated capital costs include works to improve access at the far corner of the skating pond which is not in council ownership.
“It may be that this could be funded in later years, delivered in-kind or excluded from scope as although important for access, would require permissions and consideration of liability.
“Maintenance costs for the skating pond are currently circa £5,000 per annum for grass cutting and edging, and there are no figures available for pond or tree maintenance which are required but are not cyclical.
“It is anticipated that there will be a need for circa £4,000 for pond maintenance in addition to grounds maintenance costs.
“Any pond works will require a commitment to a sustainable management and maintenance plan that ensures resources are available to maintain any investment.”
Ms Flanagan added: “Officers were aware that the costs would be high and have succeeded in securing £75,000 of funding at this stage.
“It is anticipated that funding for the skating pond improvements could be accessed from both the Nature Restoration Fund and alternative external funds such as Crown Estates and active travel programmes subject to suitability and the availability of funds.
“This is dependent on Scottish Government allocation of funding, and also allocation of funds to a level that would allow for consideration of the skating pond as one of a number of projects going forward to the policy and resources committee each August for approval. Given the amounts required it is proposed that the project is delivered in phases.”
