A COMMUNITY council looks to have lost their battle with West Dunbartonshire Council over proposals for street names at a new housing development in Bonhill.

The issue relates to a development site at land opposite Strathleven Park Estate, in Bonhill’s Stirling Road - by Barratt Homes.

The local authority’s building standards team recently sent out correspondence over the names they planned to put forward for approval.

They opted for the following names at the new site: Capercaillie Drive, Kingfisher Avenue, Thistle Place and Osprey Place.

Building standards also claimed they conducted a “thorough search” into the area’s history but found “no historic associations” relative to the site area.

And they claimed the reason they chose Scottish wildlife names was to represent the “theme of wildlife and flora and fauna of Scotland.”

But chairperson of the Bonhill and Dalmonach Community Council Janice Ross reckoned the proposed names were “simply not good enough.”

The community council chair said: “We were somewhat disappointed at the lack of imagination in the street names and feel that the search, which reports no historic associations with the land, overlooked the modern day history of the area of Strathleven and its close proximity to Strathleven Industrial Estate.

“Given that the industrial estate had a rich history of iconic industry – and we recognise that there is still established and new developments in the estate – surely that should be explored and considered?

“For example Polaroid Place, Westclox Way, Burroughs Drive. Or conversely, is it not about time we recognised the important and influential local women of the the Vale of Leven and recognised them in fitting manner?

“I find it difficult to understand how a simple historical search of our area did not identify a rich seam of modern day history.”

She added: “Our view is that the proposed street names lack imagination and could be a development in any part of Scotland, and that is simply not good enough.”

But the local authority's planning committee look set to ignore the suggestions from the community council and go with the ones from their buildings standards division.

A report to go before members of the planning committee on Wednesday, May 31 said: "The street names proposed for consideration are Kingfisher Avenue, Osprey Place, Thistle Place and Capercaillie Drive.

"The four new street names proposed are derived from the theme of Scotland’s flora and fauna and comply with the Council's Street Naming Policy.

"Only two street names are required for the development.

"In line with the street naming policy the elected members for the Leven Ward and Bonhill and Dalmonach Community Council were all consulted on the above

street names.

"One response has been received from Bonhill and Dalmonach Community Council who do not support the proposed street names.

"The concerns raised were that the suggested street names

had no historic associations with the land and to focus

on the heritage of the industrial background in the

area and influential local women.

"The street names they put forward for consideration were Polaroid Place, Westclox Way and Burroughs

Drive.

"After consideration it was deemed the suggestions

given by the community council were more in character with an industrial area rather than a residential development

and in relation to influential local women the use of names was not considered appropriate.

"Also, one of the names proposed is already used in the

industrial estate.

"It is felt necessary to differentiate the housing development

from the existing industrial estate, and it is considered appropriate that a new theme of Scotland’s flora and fauna

is proposed for this new residential development."

The report adds: "The developers of the site have confirmed that they are happy with the proposed street names.

"No comments have been received from elected members to date."

Members of the planning committee will discuss the matter at their meeting in Garshake Road, starting at 10am on May 31.