The cost of Helensburgh’s waterfront project could rise again – and the date when it would finally be complete has been delayed once more.
Argyll and Bute Council’s controversial project for a swimming pool and leisure centre will be discussed at two meetings this week.
On Wednesday councillors in Lochgilphead will be asked for a third time to give planning permission to their own project.
And the next day in Helensburgh local members will consider a ‘position statement’ which could see the cost of the project’s rise to £19.5m, with a new public square added.
Last month a special local hearing was due to decide on planning permission, but the decision was delayed so that new climate change data could be taken into account.
The council now says that the proposed floor levels and height of the site will withstand the forecast sea levels, and if the sea defences are raised by half a metre the flood defences will last for 40 years.
So far 96 people have made comments in support of the scheme, with 151 objections from individuals, as well as Helensburgh and Rhu and Shandon community councils.
Councillors at Wednesday’s planning, protective services and licensing committee have been recommended by their officials to give planning permission, subject to conditions including the altered sea defences.
A report states: “The concept is to provide a prominent building along the waterfront esplanade with a significant and clear main entrance with good accessibility in terms of movement and visual connections to the proposed surrounding development…
“The siting of the building within the southwest corner of the site is a deliberate and decisive place making decision.
“This move allows the building to engage physically with the pier-head, slip way and seawall defences and visually with the wider context of the town of Helensburgh.”
The following day, the council’s Helensburgh and Lomond area committee will hear that there has been slippage in building warrant submission and programming for quantity surveyors.
The timelines for two scenarios have been prepared, dependent on the previous day’s events – these predict the swimming pool opening in August or October 2021, and all work including demolition of the current pool finished by January or February 2022.
The swimming had initially been scheduled for opening in April 2020, and the most recent timescale previously was for all work to be complete by the end of 2021.
Councillors will also be asked to approve the budget for the project increasing again, this time from £18.6m to £19.5m, saying this would allow extra landscaping and ‘public realm’ work.
With the authority facing a £3m budget shortfall which could see school crossing patrols axed, the report states: “Whilst this is a major commitment of capital, we recognise that there are still expected to be significant challenges to overcome.”
The report to Thursday’s meeting suggests that work on the area of the car park facing West Clyde Street should be brought forward, rather than being a second phase, despite this meaning additional spending.
The report states: “Bringing these works forward into phase one adds additional scope and costs to the project, which requires that additional budget provision be sought.
“However given its prominence it is considered prudent for the hard and soft landscaping to be brought within the scope of our development proposals, as it will set a benchmark in terms of the quality and aesthetic for the subsequent development of the ‘safeguarded area’ (retail, play park, skate park), bounded as it will be, by public realm and environmental improvements on all four sides.
“It will mean that the key frontage along West Clyde Street is redeveloped from the outset, bringing a more cohesive look and feel to the initial phase of the overall redevelopment.”
The design includes the start of the John Muir Trail in a new public square at the eastern edge of the site, saying: “The setting of the new square and its role as a key nodal point is reinforced by its visual association with the façade of the Clock Tower and the presence of the existing crossing points and junction which form the principal vehicular entrance to the car park and the new building.”
You can be sure that A@B council will make the correct decision