PLANS to link historic Dumbarton Castle to the town centre with an ambitious walkway will be discussed once again by councillors this week.

Members of the West Dunbartonshire Council Planning Committee agreed to a request seeking the approval of draft planning guidance in relation to the project back in December.

But a new report will come before the planning committee on Wednesday this week, asking members to approve some amendments to the original draft planning guidance.

The report go before members requests they approve Planning Guidance on the Dumbarton Waterfront path subject to the following amendments- the associated plan is updated to reflect the application boundary of the waterfront path, Option A is confirmed as the specification- subject to a few minor amendments- and path costs per site will include a note that estimated costs will be updated in line with any rises in inflation.

A council study came up with two versions of the project- one costing just under £1m and a second one costing £1.2m.

The higher spec vision, costing around £1.2m, is the preferred option.

In response to the initial consultation, four responses were received.

Three came from landowners/developers in the immediate area – Cullross, Lidl UK and Brabco Ltd and one from Scottish Natural Heritage and the local authority addressed the responses.

In September, The Reporter told how the proposal was one of four major regeneration projects in West Dunbartonshire to get the green light of a £7m investment. The funding came from West Dunbartonshire Council’s Regeneration Capital Fund.

The plans will also see a revamp in Bowling Basin, two public squares in Balloch being established and the Glasgow Road area of Clydebank being “revitalised.”

The projects will get a share of the cash handout after councillors voted to approve the investment at the council’s infrastructure, regeneration and economic development committee last year. The four projects were identified during local charrette processes, in which local residents had their say on local priorities via drop-in information sessions.

At Dumbarton waterfront, money is being set aside to develop the walkway and cycle path from the town centre to the castle, with an additional £1m expected to be sourced from housing developers and other commercial partners. The plans for the A814 at Glasgow Road will see crossings installed at Clydebank Town Hall and Queens Quay to improve pedestrian links. This project will receive £2.3m from the Regeneration Capital Fund and has secured £2m in Sustrans funding.