10/10/2026
Council plan to ignore community views despite massive turnout against supermarket development
======================
It has been two months since the consultation closed on Argyll and Bute Council's proposal to sell the Common Good land at Helensburgh waterfront for a supermarket development.
At 11pm last night, the results of the consultation were made public, as part of the papers released for next week’s Council Policy and Resources committee.
There can be no doubt about the views of the community in Helensburgh and surrounding areas. 3,430 responses were submitted, with 95% rejecting the Council’s proposal, in a large and decisive turnout against the land sale and the supermarket development.
Despite this overwhelming rejection of the Council’s proposal, officers recommend that councillors ignore the consultation response, sell the Common Good land, and finalise the deal with supermarket development, Forest Developments Ltd.
You can read the papers for yourself here: https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/moderngov/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=544&MId=17072&Ver=4
The reason given for this recommendation is simply that officers know better than residents what is in our best interests.
The legal duties set out in the 2015 Community Empowerment Act about selling Common Good land are swept aside lightly and any money from selling the land is to be swallowed up as a contribution to the cost of building our leisure centre many years ago - the one we haven’t been able to use for nearly two years.
Councillors on the Policy and Resources Committee will consider the officers’ recommendation to sell the land for a supermarket development at their meeting in Lochgilphead on Thursday 15th October.
Helensburgh Community Council calls on elected Councillors to reject the recommendation to dispose of this land, to uphold their fiduciary duty and to respect the overwhelming voice of the community. The people of Helensburgh have spoken - clearly, decisively, and in good faith. It is now time for Councillors to do the right thing and act to stop this sale.
This is not a done deal yet.
There are three actions you can take:
1. Lodge a formal complaint to Argyll and Bute Council at this disregard for community views, flawed decision-making process and possibly unlawful use of Common Good assets.
Direct the complaint to the Development and Infrastructure Service. You can find the online form here: https://argyllandbute.custhelp.com/app/LAP_Forms/LAP_Complaints
2. Email your councillors and ask them to reject the Council’s proposal. You can find their details here: https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/my-council/councillors-directory
3. Come along to our public meeting Save The Tower Arts Centre on Tuesday 13th October at 7pm.
Our community has rejected plans for supermarket twice before already. The strength of feeling against selling this Common Good land is huge. There is still time for Councillors to do the right thing and reject this sale.
