Residents are being encouraged to have their say in future plans for Dumbarton’s Artizan Centre.
West Dunbartonshire Council is creating a masterplan to redevelop Dumbarton’s largely vacant shopping precinct following a three-month consultation with members of the community.
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. During a meeting last year, the council said it hoped to see the creation of a pedestrianised shopping precinct that can be used to provide recreational space, parking and other community resources.
A consultation event took place on Thursday within Auntie’s Tea Room in the Artizan Centre.
There is also an online survey which can be found on the council’s website.
Officers were on hand between 10am and 4pm to listen to feedback and give information on potential development opportunities for the centre.
Peter Hessett, chief officer for Regulatory and Regeneration, said: “We really value the input our residents give us, and encourage them to come along and let us know how they use the area, and what changes they would like to see.
“We want to make these enhancements work for our residents and will work with them closely as the project progresses.”
In November last year, the local authority agreed a £1.7million deal to buy the shopping centre to breathe new life into the town’s High Street.
Officers are now looking at potential development opportunities for the centre, which will be demolished and paid for by the Scottish Government’s Levelling Up Fund.
The council has received £20m from the fund which will also be used towards the development of Glencairn House as a museum and library, and into the creation of more than 5km of cycle and active travel improvements that link the town centre with Dumbarton Central Station.
In January, members of West Dunbartonshire Council’s tendering committee agreed to award Fourth Street Place Consultants Ltd a contract to create a design to redevelop the centre to a value of £68,196.
Damon Scott, Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce chief executive, previously said: “It is fantastic to see the plans for the ongoing regeneration of Dumbarton town centre progressing. Connecting the town centre more, coupled with the other improvements, will be vitally important to encourage our communities to use and support their local high street.”
