Council Invites Views on Proposed Transformation of Clydebank Town Centre

Posted in: Business

Residents and businesses of Clydebank are being invited to give their views on a £4.3million plan to transform pedestrian, cycle and traffic routes in the town.

West Dunbartonshire Council and ‘Connecting Clydebank’ project partners Sustrans Scotland are holding a Drop-In consultation event at Clydebank Town Hall on Tuesday, September 12 between 3pm and 8pm ─ and everyone is encouraged to attend in order to have their say.

Sustrans Scotland has provisionally awarded £2million of match funding to the Connecting Clydebank project through its Community Links Programme, which is funded by Transport Scotland. The project will also receive funding from West Dunbartonshire Council’s Capital Regeneration Fund.

Sustrans Scotland will work with the Council to transition the funding from provisional to full funding over the next three years, following the delivery of a detailed communications plan and agreement on final designs which improve cycling and walking connections across the A814.

Connecting Clydebank aims to revitalise the civic core of the town, forming essential links between the Town Hall on Glasgow Road, the ongoing multi-million pound Queens Quay regeneration project and the existing town centre.

It will include removing the central reservation between Hall Street and Hume Street, realigning key junctions and raising sections of the road to pavement level to assist pedestrians in crossing the road.

These significant improvements will create a safer and more attractive route from the town centre to Queens Quay in order to encourage active travel such as cycling and walking. It specifically takes in the stretch of the A814 between Clydebank Library and to the west of the Argyll Road junction.

There is so much great work going on in the town and to be able to make it an even more attractive place for cyclists and pedestrians is something that we are firmly in support of

Councillor Iain McLaren Convener of Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development

A mandatory 20mph speed limit on this stretch of the A814 will make the area safer for pedestrians and cyclists and, research shows, reduce traffic congestion.

Councillor Iain McLaren, the Council’s Convener of Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development, said: “The plans that have been developed for this project are truly transformational and show just what can be achieved in Clydebank. There is so much great work going on in the town and to be able to make it an even more attractive place for cyclists and pedestrians is something that we are firmly in support of.”

Councillor Diane Docherty, Vice Convener of Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development, added: “We are pleased with the plans that have been developed so far but we are of course keen to hear as much feedback from local people as we possibly can, which is why this consultation event on September 12 has been arranged. Every piece of feedback will be received and considered and, where possible, used to help shape the future of Clydebank.”

The Connecting Clydebank project originated from a successful Charrette process in 2015 and, since then, has been progressing in consultation with funding partner Sustrans.

Initial views on the project were sought from local residents and businesses in December 2016. In recent months, the design has been advanced, taking into account the comments received so far and the results of detailed technical assessments and traffic modelling.

A detailed layout has now been produced and will be shared with the public at the event on September 12.

Councillor Jonathan McColl, leader of West Dunbartonshire Council, said: “We are very driven as a Council to ensure that the people of West Dunbartonshire have an active hand in the projects that take place in their areas and we know Connecting Clydebank will touch the lives of many residents, businesses and visitors. To ensure that their voices are heard, it is vital that as many people as possible come along to this consultation event and see for themselves what is being proposed and give their views to Council officers working on the project.”

Sustrans Scotland National Director John Lauder added: “We are really pleased to be partnering with West Dunbartonshire Council on this project.

“The proposed changes to the A814 will help to transform the civic heart of Clydebank and make it easier for residents and visitors to the area to walk and cycle for more of the journeys they make every day.

“Feedback from the consultation in September will help to inform the designs further, helping to ensure that the people of Clydebank have a say in how their town will be shaped for future generations.”

Anyone who is unable to attend the event can find out about the plans at the Council website at www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/connectingclydebank and can issue their feedback using the email address regeneration@west-dunbarton.gov.uk