A councillor has sought to make the restoration of changing facilities at a Helensburgh football pitch a priority for Argyll and Bute Council.
Fiona Howard made the request yesterday during discussion on the council’s priorities over the next five years at its last full meeting of 2022.
But the authority’s leader Robin Currie said the issue would be better raised when priorities for local areas were established in the months ahead.
The council then signed off a lengthy list of priorities for across its four administrative areas, including improving educational attainment for young people and upgrading harbour infrastructure.
The completion of the very overdue Helensburgh to Dumbarton cycle path by 2027 also features among the council’s list of priorities.
Cllr Howard said: “I would like to move an amendment that we could add into the priorities for the Helensburgh community to make every endeavour to restore the pavilion at East King Street Football Park.
“The fact that it is not there any more is preventing youngsters from playing football matches and disadvantaging young footballers, of which there are hundreds.”
Cllr Currie responded: “I appreciate what Cllr Howard is saying, but the best way of working that is when we come, in the next six months, to looking at area plans. This is something that could be included in those.
“We are not going into detail on priorities but very soon we will be establishing area plans.”
Cll Howard then asked: “Will everybody get a chance to contribute to those?”
After Cllr Liz McCabe, who was chairing the meeting, said yes, Cllr Howard added: “Not everybody got a chance to contribute to the priorities.”
Cllr McCabe then said: “Those were the administration priorities.”
Cllr Howard replied: “I will accept that and await the opportunity to put it forward again.”
Speaking to the list of priorities which were put before the council, Cllr Currie said: “Our priorities for the life of this council encompass the issues that are important to our people and our communities as well as the different aspects of our business and responsibilities as a council.
“We have set out strategic priorities which focus on people and places – seeking the best for our young people, making the most of our infrastructure.
“Improving and developing connections of all kinds, and taking action to address crucial issues like affordable housing and the impact of climate change.”
The list of priorities was unanimously agreed.
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