HEADLINES	by Richard Trail

John Dickie Homes – Proposed Housing Development on the Current Academy Site The public display of the proposals for the housing development on the Hermitage Academy site was held on Saturday 17 November. A report on the comments from the public is available here. NOTE : you can always send more comments on, or objections to, the proposals direct to Argyll & Bute Council – copies of the plans should be in the Library. The address to send your views is : Argyll & Bute Council, Development Services, Blairvadoch, Shandon, G84 8ND
New Members
The Community Council is composed of both elected members and nominated members. There are vacancies on the Council at the moment and it is open for any local club or organisation to nominate someone to serve on the Community Council. So if you know someone who you think could make a useful contribution get in touch with the Chairman or Secretary, their contact details are available on the Members page.
Evidence submitted to PLI
The evidence that was submitted by the Community Council to the Public Local Inquiry on the Local Plan can be viewed here.
Retail Survey
Finding a way forward to improve the town centre is never going to be easy. To inform the debate members of the community council have conducted a survey amongst the town's people. Read the full text of the survey report and analysis.
Retailers Meeting
The meeting on Thursday 12th July was well attended and produced lively and frank discussion of the issues. Jim Mather MSP who led the discussion, praised local business woman Melanie Andrews for organising the meeting. There has not been a meeting like it in the town, where most of the town's retailers got together to discuss the crisis facing the town centre - too many empty shop units in the heart of the town; too few customers; too heavy a burden of rent and rates. What is the way forward? There were clearly different views on the solutions offered. Jim Mather summarised the discussion in 3 mind maps and the maps are: Goal, Inhibitors and Potential. The local council's position was presented by Councillor James Robb and his views are available here.
Helensburgh Pier Head Site
The Community Council have submitted a letter to the Helensburgh Advertiser this week (15 June 2007) outlining why they think that the pier head site should be retained for leisure, tourism and recreation. The matter is under consideration at a public local inquiry right now and it is proving highly contentious. This is such an important site that we have to get it right. Your views are important, make them known to your councillors, to your community councillors and to the Editor of the Advertiser! Full text of letter.
Ambulance Services
The Community Council received some shocking news about our emergency services cover. There are times when an ambulance can attend a patient but is unable to take him or her to the hospital if required. The Council were stunned by the revelations.
CCTV
The Community Council have been involved with the CCTV system in the town centre from the start. After a difficult few years the cameras the whole installation was upgraded a couple of years ago and is now working very well. Due to changes in legislation, the band of volunteers responsible for the cameras will be shortly disbanded and the Argyll & Bute Council will take over.

HEADLINES

by Richard Trail

John Dickie Homes – Proposed Housing Development on the Current Academy Site

The public display of the proposals for the housing development on the Hermitage Academy site was held on Saturday 17 November. A report on the comments from the public is available here.

NOTE : you can always send more comments on, or objections to, the proposals direct to Argyll & Bute Council – copies of the plans should be in the Library. The address to send your views is :

Argyll & Bute Council, Development Services, Blairvadoch, Shandon, G84 8ND

New Members

The Community Council is composed of both elected members and nominated members. There are vacancies on the Council at the moment and it is open for any local club or organisation to nominate someone to serve on the Community Council. So if you know someone who you think could make a useful contribution get in touch with the Chairman or Secretary, their contact details are available on the Members page.

Evidence submitted to PLI

The evidence that was submitted by the Community Council to the Public Local Inquiry on the Local Plan can be viewed here.

Retail Survey

Finding a way forward to improve the town centre is never going to be easy. To inform the debate members of the community council have conducted a survey amongst the town's people. Read the full text of the survey report and analysis.

Retailers Meeting

The meeting on Thursday 12th July was well attended and produced lively and frank discussion of the issues. Jim Mather MSP who led the discussion, praised local business woman Melanie Andrews for organising the meeting. There has not been a meeting like it in the town, where most of the town's retailers got together to discuss the crisis facing the town centre - too many empty shop units in the heart of the town; too few customers; too heavy a burden of rent and rates. What is the way forward? There were clearly different views on the solutions offered. Jim Mather summarised the discussion in 3 mind maps and the maps are: Goal, Inhibitors and Potential. The local council's position was presented by Councillor James Robb and his views are available here.

Helensburgh Pier Head Site

The Community Council have submitted a letter to the Helensburgh Advertiser this week (15 June 2007) outlining why they think that the pier head site should be retained for leisure, tourism and recreation. The matter is under consideration at a public local inquiry right now and it is proving highly contentious. This is such an important site that we have to get it right. Your views are important, make them known to your councillors, to your community councillors and to the Editor of the Advertiser! Full text of letter.

Ambulance Services

The Community Council received some shocking news about our emergency services cover. There are times when an ambulance can attend a patient but is unable to take him or her to the hospital if required. The Council were stunned by the revelations.

CCTV

The Community Council have been involved with the CCTV system in the town centre from the start. After a difficult few years the cameras the whole installation was upgraded a couple of years ago and is now working very well. Due to changes in legislation, the band of volunteers responsible for the cameras will be shortly disbanded and the Argyll & Bute Council will take over.