Councillor Lawrence O’Neill and Councillor Clare Steel will join Liz Connolly, Principal of West College Scotland, who was appointed as Chair to steer the Board in the investment of £20million over the next decade.

Planners are praying that the new board will not go the way of its predecessors, Clydebank Rebuilt and Dunbartonshire Enterprise, both of which were unsuccessful and went bust.

One of their costly projects was to turn the iconic Titan Crane in the former John Brown’s shipyard, which built the great Cunarders at Queens Quay, into a tourism and visit venue.

Along with the Museum in Clydebank Town Hall, which has also turned out to be a flop and whose days and hours of opening were seriously cut back in the council’s recent annual budget report.

Now £20 million more of public money is to be channelled into Clydebank.

The town will be awarded funding – which equates to approximately £2million per year for the next 10 years – this year as part of the UK Government’s Long Term Plan for Towns initiative.

This is a similar sum to what the council was awarded to regenerate Dumbarton Town Centre but has become involved in criticism and controversy for the way it has been spending that money, including installing Atlas-type concrete boulders in Station Road and painting the street outside Central Station in a rainbow of bold primary colours.

But, according to the council, things will be different in Clydebank where West Dunbartonshire Council will work closely with the Town Board to develop plans for use of the endowment-style funding, taking long-term action to enhance the town in a place-centred approach.

West Dunbartonshire councillors David McBride, Lawrence O’Neill and Clare Steel — “determined to promote real change across Clydebank over the next decade.

There is no reference in the statement as to how much these meetings will cost to stage of if new staff will be required to run them or whether councillors will receive attendance allowance for being there.

The funding spend will be guided by a Long Term Plan which will be developed later this year and subject to approval from the UK Government’s Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, says the statement which makes the project sound like levelling up only under another name, says the media release.

It adds: “The plan is set to build on the the Clydebank Town Centre Development Framework which was approved in 2021 and includes a 15-year vision for transformation of the town centre into a vibrant and attractive place.”

Councillor David McBride, Convener of Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “I am delighted that steps are being taken to move forward with the formation of a Town Board who will help drive forward this programme which is determined to promote real change across Clydebank over the next decade.

“I look forward to seeing what can be achieved and how we can build on the excellent, progressive work which is already ongoing in the town.”

Councillor Lawrence O’Neill added: “It is a privilege to be appointed to the Clydebank Town Board, representing the people of Clydebank and driving forward a programme of change which will benefit those who live and work here.”

Councillor Clare Steel said: “As Councillor for Clydebank Central, I am delighted to be appointed onto the newly formed Town Board. I look forward to getting started and ensuring this funding can be maximised in order to deliver for our town.”

• There is to be a council by-election soon in Clydebank to replace Cllr Craig Edward, the former Labour/Independent councillor, who was jailed for 28 months at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week by Sheriff William Gallacher.  Edward pleaded guilty to taking indecent photographs of children.

Top picture: West College Clydebank from the Titan Crane on Queens Quay. Picture by Bill Heaney