A NEW £10 million road is being planned to help ease congestion on one of the area’s busiest routes.

Last week, the council announced the new relief road would be built at the former Exxon site in Bowling to allow heavy traffic on the A82 to bypass Milton.

The funding for the new relief road is part of a £1.3 billion City Deal investment in the Greater Glasgow region across eight participating local authorities, including West Dunbartonshire Council.

The council has identified the 81-acre site at Bowling as a key project that would require around £27.9 million investment to pay for the future development of the site for, we understand, offices and/or warehouses.

Exxon is currently in the process of decontaminating the site through a procedure known as bioremediation, as it was used as a petrochemical plant for a number of years.

Speaking to the Reporter, Jim Thomson — planning convener of Bowling and Milton Community Council (BMCC) says the road has been needed for a number of years. He said: “This is something we have been very supportive of all along. We feel there is a need for it, particularly when ambulances need to come through.

“It could also be invaluable for the future of Dunglass House and castle, it would open up the opportunity for a tourist centre because of the associations with Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

“Finally, it could also open up the opportunity for family housing at the former Scott’s Yard in the village.” Martin Rooney, council leader, was quick to welcome the new funding stream that is also expected to provide a massive shot in the arm to the Greater Glasgow economy with the resurrection of a rail project linking the city to Glasgow Airport also being considered.

Cllr Rooney said: “I really welcome this announcement and believe the offer made by the UK Government is a fantastic opportunity for West Dunbartonshire and neighbouring authorities to grow the economy of this region.

“We obviously need to take time to consider the details, and hear what the Scottish Government have to say, but the chance to bring £500 million worth of funding to the area is one that I think most people would be excited about. We have always stated that regeneration and jobs are our priorities and the City Deal would seem to support these ambitions for the next 20 years.” The UK Government and Scottish Government will each give the City Region £500 million in grant funding while the local authorities involved, including WDC, will borrow a further £130 million as part of a scheme that is expected to give the region an uplift of £2.2billion per year and unlock private sector investment of £3.3 billion.

The creation of 15,000 construction jobs during the construction period is also predicted as well as a further 28,000 permanent additional jobs once construction is complete.

Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “It will help us to move to the next level in terms of economic growth for the city region. We have been working closely together with the UK Government on this project for some time, and I am delighted to say it has borne fruit.” Last week, speaking ahead of a speech on the referendum in Perth, Prime Minister David Cameron said the money would help pay for roads, bus services, employment programmes and an airport rail link.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon later confirmed the Scottish Government had promised to contribute £500m to the scheme.

It was announced last year that Glasgow would be the first city in Scotland to benefit from City Deal status while similar deals are already in place in Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool.

Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: “This City Deal has the potential to deliver significant economic and jobs growth across the Glasgow metropolitan region. The model has a proven track record in England, boosting the economies of many of our competitor cities.” Officers will begin work on a master-plan for the future of the Bowling site, which it is expected will be complete in six months to a year’s time.