Fears over leakage of shoppers’ spending from Helensburgh to other areas are “a fallacy”, a meeting heard this week.
Fiona Baker questioned councillors over the perceived need for the waterfront site, in front of Helensburgh’s leisure centre, to be sold to the highest bidder.
An Argyll and Bute Council report on the bidding process for the site warned that nearby Dumbarton and Alexandria were “progressing with town centre commercial developments”, and that there was “a risk that Helensburgh may see further expenditure leaking to these centres if no action is taken”.
But a council official told Ms Baker that there was more than the financial aspect of the sale being considered, while another remarked that mixed use was “key” to the development.
Earlier in the meeting of Argyll and Bute Council’s Helensburgh and Lomond area committee on Tuesday, Cllr Graham Hardie said his own research had found that 75% of Helensburgh retailers were in favour of a retail development at the waterfront.
Ms Baker then asked: “In light of the recent eye-watering 10% council tax increase during a cost of living crisis, and Argyll and Bute council having £96m in reserve, why is there continued insistence the pierhead site must be sold off to the nearest bidder?
“It seems with all this extra income there is no need to put a retail development on the site which we do not want or need.
“Cllr Hardie’s anecdotal 75% of retailers wanting a retail development is incorrect.
“The retail study, for all its flaws, points out Helensburgh is ahead on retail but behind on leisure. There will always be leakage, but there is leakage from other areas to Helensburgh for specialist shops.
“Thinking that a new supermarket will not stop leakage is a fallacy. A community-focused development and a real investment in the town centre could proceed with the funds available.
“Will the council clearly demonstrate that it is not purely a fiscal issue?”
David Allan, the council’s estates and property development manager, said: “The waterfront site is a mixed use site.
“The council has invested over £20m in the leisure centre and while I am not a Helensburgh person, if I look at investment over the last decade, in the Civic Centre and Hermitage Park, there has been a lot of investment.
“I think it is mixed use that is key to the development.”
Ross McLaughlin, the authority’s head of commercial services, added: “On the open space, there are a number of open spaces in Helensburgh and today is not about selecting one preferred bidder.”
Ms Baker then said: “I was going to mention Rothesay Pavilion and the amount of money being spent on that, but it has been said that is the best commercial value. This site does not have to be sold for £1m – it can be sold for £1.”
Mr McLaughlin responded: “Money is not the only consideration. We have criteria based around transport, legal and governance issues as well as financial outcomes.”
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