The Lochside Press

Helensburgh gets set for the big Christmas switch-on Helensburgh will light up this month as the town centre gets into the festive spirit. The big Christmas Lights Switch On event on Saturday November 22 kicks off at 12.30pm in Colquhoun Square, bringing the community together for a happy family event. As ever, the volunteers of the Helensburgh Festive Lighting Charitable Trust, which raises money tirelessly throughout the year to ensure the magical illuminations are as spectacular as ever, have been busy installing the lighting arrays all ready for the big day.

Volunteers have been busy all year raising funds to ensure the town centre looks festive

Firefighters thank public for support Fire crews in Argyll and Bute have praised the support of the public after hosting a series of open days across the area. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service officers have also reported on the success of the first fire skills course to be held in the area, teaching young people about actions in the event of a fire. The details feature in a report to go before Argyll and Bute Council’s community planning group for Helensburgh and Lomond on Tuesday.

An open days was held in Helensburgh and officers supported water safety campaigns on Loch Lomond

Warning signs for A82 junctions planned Warning signs are planned for notorious junctions on the A82 beside Loch Lomond. Transport Scotland officials say they are working on a design strategy for lay-bys and rest areas with contractors BEAR Scotland and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority. And this week Argyll and Bute Council’s Bute and Cowal area community planning group was told that further work was planned.

Transport Scotland ae also planning to survey the length of queues at roundabouts on Loch Lomondside, while roadworks due to start on Monday have been delayed

Cardross station shortlisted for award Cardross has been shortlisted as Adopted Station of the Year in a national awards scheme. The station’s estate is managed by Cardross Community Organic Garden (COG), which adopted the area in 2022 under ScotRail’s ‘Adopt a Station’ programme. Since then dedicated volunteers, led by Jane Connolly, have worked determinedly to transform approximately 1,400 square metres of the property including north and south station platforms, carpark raised beds, embankments and adjacent grass areas.

Volunteers have transformed the station area into a ‘flowering and productive oasis’

Countdown to 12th Cove and Kilcreggan Book Festival There are only three weeks to go until the 12th Cove and Kilcreggan Book Festival, and tickets for most events are still available. Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s talk, which will open the event, has been sold out. But weekend passes and tickets for all other individual speakers at the event in Cove Burgh Hall on November 29 and 30 are still available…

One talk at the annual event has already been sold out and organisers advise booking tickets for other speakers in advance

Latest Argyll and Bute plans Planning applications in Cove, Helensburgh and Cardross are among those to be validated by Argyll and Bute Council this week. The full list of applications in the Helensburgh and Lomond area is below - for details of an individual application, go to the council's website and use the reference number. Reference number: 25/01815/PNAGRI Community council: Cardross Proposal: Erection of 3 agricultural sheds…

All the latest planning applications in the Helensburgh and Lomond area

Landmark for future submariners Submariners in the making passed-out from the Submarine Qualifying Course at Faslane this week. Eleven students who are being trained for service on board Astute -class submarines have reached the end of their ten-week “dry phase” Royal Navy training. This means they have successfully completed their classroom part of their course. Director Submarines Rear Admiral Andrew Perks personally awarded each graduate with their certificate.

Certificates were presented by an admiral at Faslane

£15m West Highland Line project starts tonight Part of the iconic West Highland Line will close for nine days from tonight as Network Rail begins a £15m upgrade on a key section of the route. The line connects remote Highland communities and is also a popular tourist route, linking travellers with destinations such as Fort William, Mallaig, and the world-famous Glenfinnan Viaduct. Over the coming days, engineers will renew around 10 kilometres of track, replace more than 9,000 sleepers and manage vegetation along the line.

Buses will replace trains on the section of the route between Crianlarich and Fort William

Tourists to get more advice on driving in Argyll and Bute Police aim to have more information available for visitors on driving conditions in Argyll and Bute, an officer has said. Concerns were raised at a meeting of community figures about tourists being unaware of road regulations when they visit the area. Inspector Roddy MacNeill said that work was ongoing to educate visitors, and to distribute resources among hotels and hire companies.

Problems have included visitors driving on the wrong side of the road, police have said

Face the West play in Arrochar Face the West will be performing in Arrochar’s Three Villages Hall this weekend to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the group’s debut album Edge of Reason. Supported by local musician Charlie Ferguson, the gig takes place on Saturday from 7pm to11pm and organisers promise it will be a ‘full-on musical experience, bristling with energy, innovation, and sheer joy’. Pioneers of electro-trad music, Face the West offers a unique blend of synth solos, guitars and dance beats, combined with the haunting notes of pipes, accordion and fiddle. The unusual combination is a firm favourite with audiences and tickets are now available priced £18 on the hall website.

The pioneers of electro-trad music are marking the 25th anniversary of their debut album and will be joined on stage by Charlie Ferguson

Appeal to parents over Vale of Leven Hospital Medics at the Vale of Leven Hospital have urged parents to follow advice with their children’s healthcare. They have stressed the importance of calling their GP or NHS 24 on 111 before attending the hospital in Alexandria. The Vale’s Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) can assist with a wide range of minor injuries, including cuts and wounds, minor burns and scalds, sprains, and minor fractures.

Medics have stressed that babies need specialist care and cannot be treated at the Vale of Leven Hospital

Latest national park plans A planning application for a mobile sauna was among those to be validated by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority last week. The full list is of applications is below - for details of an individual application, go to the national park's website and use the reference number. Reference number: 2025/0258/DET Community council: Luss and Arden Proposal: Demolition of existing dwelling (retrospective), erection of replacement dwelling and erection of garage…

All the latest planning applications in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park

Over 150 drivers caught speeding Police recorded more than 150 speeding offences by motorists in Helensburgh and Lomond in little more than three months, a report has revealed. Officers detected a total of 157 speeding offences across the area between July 1 and the week commencing October 6, while more than 100 road accidents were also reported. Three months ago, it was reported that 140 speeding offences had been prosecuted in Helensburgh and Lomond over four months, while in May, 100 had been detected in three months.

Police also caught almost one driver a week who was unfit because of drink or drugs

New law to prevent repeat of fatal Cameron House fire The Scottish Government has pledged to introduce new regulations to prevent a repeat of the fatal Cameron House Hotel fire. The move comes after MSP Jackie Baillie joined forces with Jane Midgley – who lost her son, Simon, in the 2017 blaze – in a campaign to secure safeguards. Jane’s campaign culminated in ‘Simon and Richard’s Law’ – named after Jane’s son and his partner, Richard Dyson.

A campaign for Simon and Richard’s Law has led to new legislation insisting on automatic fire suppression systems

Concerns over Rest and Be Thankful traffic lights Traffic lights should be removed from the Rest and Be Thankful stretch of the A83 as soon as possible, a meeting heard this week. A councillor said the placing of the lights on the Dunoon side of the area is “not the safest place” for them to be situated. A Transport Scotland (TS) official had given an update ahead of a meeting of community figures, written before a large boulder was removed from the roadside the previous week.

Lights on notorious stretch of A83 trunk road ‘not in the safest place’

‘Material shortfall’ in MoD accounts The Ministry of Defence has not provided accounting records for key projects involving the UK’s nuclear deterrent, a new report has said. Spending watchdog the National Audit Office (NAO) said there had been ‘a material shortfall’ in provisions for ongoing capital projects carried out on the MoD’s behalf by AWE, a non-departmental public body that helps deliver the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

The UK’s spending watchdog has highlighted issues including capital costs of the nuclear deterrent and relocating Afghans after a data breach

Lest we forget: Remembrance services next weekend Communities across the Helensburgh and Lomond area will be silent next weekend for Acts of Remembrance. The fallen in conflicts including both world wars will be remembered in services on Sunday November 9. In Helensburgh veterans and cadet forces are invited to join the muster at 10.15am in the roadway by the Hermitage Park pavilion. The public is to gather in the memorial garden from 10.20am to be in by 10.40am.

Details of all the Acts of Remembrance in Helensburgh and Lomond this year

Submariners’ remembrance ceremony Royal Navy submariners from all over the UK joined in an annual remembrance parade in London last weekend, remembering all submariners who remain on ‘eternal patrol’. Submariners, veteran and serving, gathered at Westminster Abbey on Saturday for the dedication of the Submariners Remembrance Garden in the North Field. Nominated personnel laid wreaths at the Special Forces Memorial in the West Cloisters of Westminster.

Submariners, veteran and serving, gathered in London for annual events at the weekend

Giants Burn wind farm: Objections mount Three organisations have added to the objections facing plans for the Giants Burn on th Cowal Peninsula. Glasgow Airport, Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and SEPA have all lodged objections to the proposals by Statkraft. The Norwegian state-owned company wants to build seven turbines on a site near Dunoon and Sandbank, five with a blade tip height of 200 metres and two with 180-metre blades.

Concerns have been raised over the effect of the turbines on aircraft, peat and the setting of historic buildings

Navy vessels on Loch Long were operated from Portsmouth Vessels operated remotely from England were involved in an exercise on Loch Long this week. Five uncrewed boats swarmed around HMS Tyne in a demonstration as the Royal Navy tried to show how it could utilise such technology on operations. A real-life scenario of escorting a warship was played out during 72 hours of training off the coast of Scotland.

Uncrewed boats were used in a ‘swarm’ – while being piloted from 500 miles away

A814 flooding ‘responsibility of MoD’ Flooding which caused huge rush hour tailbacks this week was caused by a drain maintained by the Ministry Defence, a council official has said. The A814 between Shandon and Garelochhead was hit by major flooding on Wednesday morning, with cars struggling to get through at the peace camp, near the south gate of the Faslane naval base. Conditions seemed to improve during the day but the road was completely blocked by flooding by 4pm – the busiest time for naval base commuters and school traffic.

Naval base commuters and school traffic faced chaos on Wednesday evening  after the main road beside the Faslane naval base was closed by flooding

Latest Argyll and Bute plans Planning applications in Coulport, Helensburgh and Kilcreggan are among those to be validated by Argyll and Bute Council this week. The full list of applications in the Helensburgh and Lomond area is below - for details of an individual application, go to the council's website and use the reference number. Reference number: 25/01775/PP Community council: Cardross Proposal: Alterations to front elevation and erection of raised decking…

All the latest planning applications in the Helensburgh and Lomond area

Caravan park withdraws LPG application A bid for hazardous storage consent for liquified petroleum gas at Rosneath Castle Caravan Park has been withdrawn. Management at the holiday park were seeking hazardous storage consent to enable them to store the substance (LPG), but have now decided to pursue another option. No feedback had been received by Argyll and Bute Council from the public during the planning process.

There had been no public comments on the planning application for hazardous storage consent

New building planned at nuclear base Council officials are being asked for their opinions on a new three-storey building at the Ministry of Defence’s Coulport nuclear base. Warehouses, training space and offices are among the facilities being considered for the proposed structure. The facility is proposed to enable current activities at RNAD Coulport to continue for the future class of Dreadnought submarines, which will carry Trident nuclear weapons.

The three-storey building is part of plans for the new Dreadnought class of submarines, which will carry Trident nuclear missiles

Council signs Buy Social Pledge Argyll and Bute Council has become the fifth local authority in Scotland to sign the Buy Social Pledge, an initiative that empowers organisations to use their purchasing power for social and environmental good. The pledge, run by Social Enterprise Scotland, brings together corporate businesses, SMEs, academic institutions and public sector bodies in a shared commitment to integrating social enterprises into their supply chains.

Argyll and Bute is the fifth authority of Scotland to commit to using its purchasing power for social and environmental good

First poppies of 2025 go on sale Royal Navy personnel gathered at Faslane this week when the first poppies of the 2025 Poppy Scotland Appeal went on sale. Naval base staff visiting the HMS Neptune Supermess for lunch stopped to make their donations and receive their poppies which will be available to buy in various locations across the site. Captain of the Base Elaine Boyd, who was one of the first to buy a poppy for this year’s appeal said: “This event marks the beginning of a poignant period of Remembrance, offering people a chance to honour the fallen, reflect on their sacrifice, and support the ongoing work of Poppy Scotland.

The red poppy has been a symbol of Remembrance since 1921

Sign of the times for uncrewed submarines Quantum technology has been deployed on an uncrewed submarine in a milestone trial for the Royal Navy. Testbed submarine XV Excalibur went to sea with Infleqtion’s quantum optical atomic clock on board – the first time such a device has been operated at sea in an underwater vessel. The successful trial saw Infleqtion’s Tiqker clock demonstrate precision timing onboard the extra-large uncrewed underwater vessel (manufactured by MSubs) which has been undergoing various sea trials.

Quantum technology has been trialled for the first time – it could mean that uncrewed submarines can stay submerged for longer

‘Big step forward’ for community power projects A pilot project making it easier for communities to own renewable energy developments has welcomed – though with a warning that it doesn’t go far enough. And campaigners on the Cowal Peninsula, where there are two plans for large wind farm developments currently being put forward – have said it is ‘painfully ironic’. Following a campaign of pressure from community energy groups, the Scottish Government says it is making it easier for communities to own windfarms, hydroelectric schemes and solar PV arrays on public land.

New legislation will make it easier for communities to own windfarms, hydroelectric schemes and solar PV arrays on public land – but it comes too late for campaigners on Cowal

Plans for new leisure centre roof ‘in final stages’ Plans for a new roof on Helensburgh’s £23m leisure centre are ‘in the final stages of development’, officials said today. Argyll and Bute Council has issued its latest update on repairs to the town’s leisure centre and swimming pool, which have been closed since the roof was torn off in Storm Eowyn in January. It says: “We continue to make progress with the varying steps and actions needed to repair the leisure centre.”

The council has published an update on repairs to the £23m building, which has been closed for seven months

Latest national park plans A planning application for a public sauna beside Loch Lomond is among those to be validated by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority this week. The full list is of applications is below - for details of an individual application, go to the national park's website and use the reference number. Reference number: 2025/0244/DET Community council: Buchanan Proposal: Siting of two containers to be used as a sauna and associated staff/changing facilities…

All the latest planning applications in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park