Scottish Canals wants to build more than 70 homes in Bowling and plans to hold a exhibition on the proposals next week.

The housing development is proposed as part of the Bowling Basin regeneration scheme but the village is said to be divided over the plans.

Jim Thomson, of Bowling and Milton Community Council, said members were shown the indicative plans at a recent community council meeting.

He said the they showed more than 70 houses, some of up to three storeys high, which would be built both sides of the canal to the east of the arches at the upper canal basin.

The homes on the south side will be built in woodland between the canal and the old railway line with an access road running over a new bridge.

The customs house at the lower basin would be made into business units and woodland trails would be created.

Scottish Canals also wants to upgrade the gateway area to the site by improving the entranceway and parking at the Dumbarton Road entrance.

Mr Thomson said: “There is a division of opinion within the village regarding the proposals – some are supportive, others feel the loss of the woodland will result in irreversible loss of the current environmental and social character of the village. There’s also growing concern about the inevitable increase in traffic flow through the village, potential parking problems (parking is already extremely tight for the residents in Dumbarton Road), and the potential lack of primary school places.

“Once the details of the plans are revealed we’ve asked for a copy – the community council will then be putting an information leaflet throughout the village and asking people to take part in an online survey to get a more accurate view of local opinion on the various proposals.

“We would ask local people to please take part to ensure we represent their aspirations for the future of the village.” Scottish Canals will hold a drop-in exhbition of the plan on Tuesday, October 6 at Bowling Village Hall, after which they will be submitted to West Dunbartonshire Council.

The event runs from 4-8pm and members of Scottish Canals and the design team will be on hand answer questions on the plans.

Planning and design manager Chris Breslin said: “There has been more than 18 months of consultation and engagement with the local community on these proposals so none of this should come as a huge surprise to anyone.

“We had a charette in 2014 and then held a exhibition of the masterplan proposals and we’ve got all the feedback from those.

“The proposals are still largely the same as they were before but it’s only fair to let people come and see what’s proposed.” He said a traffic assessment was one of several reports which would be included in support of the application and the number of primary school places had not been flagged up as a concern so far in discussion with local authority planners.

More information is available at www.bowlingbasin.com