BALLOCH residents, businesses and stakeholders are being invited to an exhibition which showcases the outline designs for the Balloch Village Plans project that are set to be handed over to West Dunbartonshire Council.

This community-led street design process, which has been looking at improving areas around the station and in the town centre, is a partnership between Sustrans Scotland, West Dunbartonshire Council and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.

Since September 2016, the partners have been developing design proposals with residents, businesses and community groups at various events, workshops and meetings to create a:

·High quality, distinctive and welcoming space between the train station and the tourist information centre

·People friendly village centre with slower traffic speeds and more places to linger and sit.

The outline design will be exhibited to the community at the National Park Headquarters on Wednesday, June 7 between 5pm and 8pm, with presentations at 5.30pm and 7pm.

The designs will then be handed over later in the month to West Dunbartonshire Council who will develop detailed designs for delivery.

The exhibition will:

· Summarise the community engagement since the ‘Live in Balloch Charrette;

· Report back on the recent consultation;

· Outline the next steps in taking the project forward into detailed design.

Rowena Colpitts, senior engineer, Sustrans Scotland said: “We have been delighted with the level of enthusiasm shown throughout this entire process and we now look forward to engaging with the public again at the exhibition.

“A wide range of residents, a number of local businesses and community groups have been involved in various events that has formed the basis of the outline design which we are now handing over to West Dunbartonshire Council.”

Jim McAloon, West Dunbartonshire Council’s strategic lead for regeneration, said: “The public engagement in this project has been vital at every stage and I would like to thank everyone who took the time to have their say and give us their feedback. Now they have the chance to see the outline design plans and, once again, let us know what they think.

“I look forward to hearing people’s thoughts on these plans, which we are confident will bring real change to Balloch.”

Stuart Mearns, head of planning and rural development at Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority said: “A huge amount of work has gone into working with and taking on board the ideas of the local community and businesses throughout this project so it is great to see the outline of designs really taking shape.

“I would encourage everyone to come along to the exhibition, even if you haven’t been involved before, to have a look at what is being presented and hear about the next steps.”

Visit the project website https://ballochproposals.commonplace.is/ for more information and to view the outline designs.