by Andrew Galloway, local democracy reporter
Helensburgh’s new waterfront leisure centre could still have additional coach parking facilities added, it has been claimed.
The plans for the site, which were approved by Argyll and Bute Council this week, feature only two bays for long-stay use by coaches, plus drop-off points.
But the authority’s planning officer overseeing the application, David Moore, confirmed that a condition of the development is that a suitable parking strategy has to be brought forward.
Concerns about insufficient coach parking facilities had previously been raised by Helensburgh and Lomond Chamber of Commerce, and were echoed by a councillor at this week’s meeting of the planning, protective services and licensing committee.
Isle of Bute councillor Jean Moffat said: “You are going to lose coach parking spaces and you are telling us that these will park at Craigendoran.
“I have spoken to one or two coach drivers, who have said that there is no way they will come with a coach party, drop them off and drive to Craigendoran.
“They want to be able to go for a cup of tea, or buy a roll or whatever. These parties also tend to be the older generation who want to go back to the bus after a couple of hours or so when they have had enough.
“They will not walk back to Craigendoran to do that.”
Cllr Moffat also stated that she was not convinced about the location of the building, adding: “The public purse has been robbed by austerity since 2008.
“Why put that in jeopardy? I can understand why not to put it on the current site as you need a facility, but is that going to be retained?”
Mr Moore responded on the coach parking issue: “There was considerable discussion about that.
“Campbell Divertie (technical officer with the council) made a long presentation at the public hearing in November.
“If permission is granted, there is a condition requiring appropriate car parking strategies to be brought forward.”
Condition four for the development – one of 15 conditions it must meet – states: “No public use of the building shall commence until a minimum of 155 parking spaces (including disabled spaces) and all vehicular servicing areas associated with the operational use of the building have been provided in accordance with the details hereby approved.
“Thereafter the remaining parking spaces shall be provided within 12 months of the building being first brought into use.”
Condition 12 also seeks the submission and approval of a Green Travel plan, setting out proposals for reducing the dependency of using a private car.
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