A lack of coach parking during the construction of Helensburgh’s new leisure centre could ‘finish’ some of the town’s businesses, a meeting has heard.
Vivien Dance, chair of Helensburgh and Lomond Chamber of Commerce, made the assertion during a meeting of the area’s community planning group last week.
But Argyll and Bute Council has said that it has listened to concerns, and amended its traffic order for a parking bay on East Princes Street to be allocated to coaches.
The chamber has previously voiced concerns that day coach trips will not visit the town if there is no suitable parking available in the town.
The Waterfront project has suffered a further seven-month delay due to a technical error during the original tendering process.
According to the most recent report to go before councillors, in September 2019, the construction phase is expected to start in May.
Parking ‘most challenging issue to affect the local economy’
The new leisure centre is projected to open in May 2022, with the existing facility to then be demolished.
Mrs Dance said: “Since Noah was a boy, we have been doing surveys of what people think, and traffic and parking is either first or second concern for people in Helensburgh and Lomond.
“We are extremely concerned about decisions that have been made with regards to the construction phase at the seafront, particularly on tourism parking.
“We feel that it is the most challenging issue to affect the local economy. We have three years of very difficult times coming up.
“If it is not right, it could literally finish some of our businesses.”
She then said: “All coach parking will be removed from the town centre car park during the construction phase.
“We sometimes have eight to ten coaches visiting Helensburgh at one time and the local economy is dependent on it through the summer, and to a lesser extent during the winter.
“But to have no coach parking available on the seafront would be devastating. We have been involved in conversations at all levels for over a year and don’t seem to be getting anywhere.”
Sephton MacQuire, of Dunbritton Housing Association, added: “The original plan was for two coach spaces, and drivers have said no way.
“They [the developers of the Waterfront] want to see something looking nice, not practical, and that is the biggest problem.”
The new leisure centre was granted planning permission in January 2019, with a decision having been deferred twice since a public hearing two months earlier.
An Argyll and Bute Council spokesperson said this week: “We met with the community council and have listened to concerns.
“The parking bay on East Princes Street [to the rear of the Grant Street car park] will have the traffic order amended to coach parking only. It is fully accessible, close to the town centre and away from the windy seafront which should help when disembarking from coaches.
“There will be a full public consultation, including the tour companies, prior to the amendment of the traffic order. While the building works are progressing, we will monitor the coach parking.”
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