West Dunbartonshire Council plans to spend thousands of pounds putting large advertising hoardings at the sites of new developments across Dumbarton and the Vale including the planned new council offices, primary schools, and a park upgrade.

The local authority has applied for planning permission to erect 11 signboards throughout West Dunbartonshire at a total estimated cost of more than £7,300. The majority, nine, are planned for Dumbarton and the Vale and include two at Dumbarton Burgh Hall – the site of the planned new council headquarters.

The signboards will read: “Coming 2017: Council offices and public areas” with an artist’s impression of the new offices.

One board would be erected outside the hall on Church Street and at the road entrance into the hall on Castle Street. The new offices are part of a £19m million project, which also includes the refurbishment of the Municipal Buildings – the planned site for another advert. This will read: “Coming autumn 2015: Municipal Buildings refurbishment. Preserving our local heritage.” The town’s East End Park has been earmarked for a signboard, positioned by a path in the centre of the park, and reading: “Coming 2016: East End Park new and improved playing facilities. Improving health through sport.” Another advertisement is proposed for the £10million super-care home planned for Crosslet House in Dumbarton.

It would be placed on land between Dumbuck Road and Stirling Road, and read “Coming 2017: New Dumbarton care home” over an image of the new home which replaces five others.

Advertising hoardings would be put in place at primary schools in the area, including at the site for the new shared campus for Aitkenbar and St Peter’s Primary Schools at Howatshaws Road, Dumbarton.

Two signs are planned for new Balloch primary schools campus at St Kessog’s Primary School and at the new Lennox Primary.

All the boards would also have the West Dunbartonshire Council logo and the slogan ‘building a better West Dunbartonshire’.

Adverts are also planned for projects in the Clydebank area.

Councillor Jim Bollan hit out at the campaign, saying it was ‘unnecessary expenditure’ and the cash would be better spent help reverse cuts to school meals.

He said: “This is overkill and unnecessary expenditure to promote the council. All these projects have been well advertised and trailed over many years in various news outlets.

“The council leader also reports on all these projects on an almost weekly basis on social media. This £7,000 would have been better spent reversing the cuts in milk and fresh fruit made by the Red Tories to five year olds in our primary schools.” A West Dunbartonshire Council spokeswoman said: “It’s common practice for signs to be put up at construction sites to inform local residents what is happening and the duration of the work. As part of the council’s ambitious regeneration programme there are a number of major projects under way or about to begin which require such signs.

“The cost of these varies depending on size but standard signs are around £500 each and will help to inform residents for years to come.”