Controversial plans for a new sculpture in the centre of Dumbarton are set for a revamp.

Dunbritton Housing Association proposed the public art for the walkway near their recently-completed development of 150 new homes at Dumbarton Harbour overlooking Dumbarton Rock.

But the proposal sparked opposition from some residents and the plans have since been withdrawn.

Dunbritton said they pulled back in order to carry out more consultation, and will be resubmitting a planning application for the site.

The original design was for a giant, silver-grey oval hoop on a concrete plinth 4.25 metres high, 3.8m wide and 1.2m deep.

Initial responses from the public called the planned artwork “crazy” and “a waste of money”.

One said: “This structure is in no way in keeping with the surroundings.

"Not in keeping either with Dumbarton or for that matter Scotland.

“Locals and tourists alike will have no connection to this as part of local history.”

Another said: “It would be another blimp on the beautiful view and landscape.

"I’m all for having something there, I just think that this is not fitting.”

But there have also been three submissions to the council in favour.

One said: “I think this is a really good idea and would be great for the area.

"I would love to see this go ahead.”

A second said: “This would make a great focal and meeting point for the harbour.”

And a third said: “I’m pretty excited about this. We don’t make enough use of our views.

“We must be one of the only towns in the UK that don’t make a focal point of their rivers. Great to see this.”

The commissioned artist behind the work was Alan Potter, of East Kilbride, who called it the “Dumbarton Torc”.

He wrote in his proposal that “torcs were symbols of power and wealth in the world of the early Britons who first settled Dumbarton and established it as the capital of the north”.

Daniel Wilson, corporate services manager at Dunbritton, told the Reporter: “The application was withdrawn to allow us the opportunity to carry out a wider consultation process, which has now been concluded.

“We shall, on the back of this, be resubmitting the application to the council, and this shall include the feedback garnered from this consultation.”

West Dunbartonshire Council owns the site next to Dunbritton’s new social housing on the east shore of the River Leven.

The 150 homes replace the red brick tower of the former Ballantine’s distillery that was a focal point in the town for decades after being built on the site of the former McMillan shipyard.