Residents are being encouraged to have their say in future plans for Dumbarton’s Artizan Centre.
Consideration is being given to how the area can be enhanced to create a better link to the town centre and encourage future investment on the High Street.
A consultation event is taking place on Thursday, April 7, within Auntie’s Tea Room in the Artizan Centre.
Council officers will be on hand between 10am and 4pm to listen to feedback and give information on potential development opportunities for the centre.
Feedback can also be provided through an online survey by visiting: Artizan Centre Redevelopment Survey. I would encourage Dumbarton residents and others to share their views using the survey.
We need to hear the views of businesses, workers and shoppers so that we best reflect the local priorities in the regeneration plans.
We have an opportunity to make a big improvement in our town and to make it more welcoming and attractive to set up business, for leisure activities and as a place to meet family and friends.
It’s important that when giving your feedback that you don’t just tick the different boxes to identify preferences but you add in comments whether it’s about protecting retail and jobs, creating areas that are protected from the west of Scotland weather or to create some sustainable public spaces where you can interact with others.
The redevelopment of the Artizan Centre is part of a £22m project funded by the UK Government and the council.
It includes three projects, the redevelopment of Glencairn into a public library, events and meeting place; road improvements and improvements to pathways and for cyclists to better connect the town centre and Dumbarton Central railway; and the redevelopment of the Artizan Centre.
The road improvements were to be part funded by Sustrans but they withdrew their funding support leaving the council to fund the shortfall from its own resources.
The Glencairn House plans had been developed previously and when the UK Government announced its levelling up fund, this meant that the proposal could be fully funded.
The redevelopment of the Artizan Centre is a relatively new element of the regeneration activity for the town.
There is some unused retail capacity and the initial plans included demolishing some retail units and creating a public space at the top of the Artizan Centre.
The council purchased the Artizan Centre from the
previous owners and this showed that there is a good income from the existing retail units.
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