Councillors could be ‘in boxes’ by the time the planned Helensburgh to Dumbarton cycle path is complete, one of them has said.
George Freeman asked Argyll and Bute Council officials for an update on when the proposed route was likely to be finished.
A timetable has previously been published indicating early 2027 as a completion date, and council strategic transportation delivery officer Colin Young reiterated that this was the case.
Mr Young also said the project had gone on for so long that almost all staff involved in it initially have now retired.
Cllr Freeman asked the council’s Helensburgh and Lomond area committee: “Can officers confirm when this project actually started and give an approximate timescale for when we will actually see this completed?
“Because a few of us may be in boxes before this project is completed, if not all of us.”
Mr Young responded: “It was long before my time with the council, and I have been here for three and a half years.
“It started in the early 2000s, and effectively everybody involved at the time has long since retired from the council.
“In terms of progressing, due to external funding criteria we had to re-examine the route from Helensburgh to Cardross in 2019. This also allowed us to identify the route from Cardross to Dumbarton.
“In terms of completion, appendix one (the projected timetable) provides details of the programme as it stands at the moment.”
Cllr David Kinniburgh also sought clarity on the community engagement process on the path which is set to take place in the coming weeks.
A report in advance of the meeting said that the engagement process was due to take place in late March or early April.
He said: “What sort of things are you engaging with the community on, if design work will not be completed until the summer?
“Also, a section of the report states the funding we have is to secure design work for the remainder of the route and covers 100% of costs.
“But another section says that funding we are applying for this year will cover completion of design work for the rest of the route. Is there any more funding needed?”
Mr Young said: “In terms of community engagement, that is planned to be online, simply because of Covid. We will be engaging on a bit more detail of the design element.
“This was decided in spring 2019; this will be more about how it will look. The reason for doing it before the design work is completed is because we want to influence the design work, rather than say ‘Here is the design, what do you think?’.
“On funding, the first part refers specifically to ongoing work by WSP. The second refers to £100,000 from SPT which is focused on completion of construction work.
“However, SPT are quite flexible with funding and are happy to split it between capital construction and design work if required.”
Total waste of money for a white elephant that will never be used. Spend the money on accessible sports facilities for kids.
Part of the funding is from the Sustans if it is not used for the path then it will be taken away and used elsewhere. Why is it a waste of money? if the path had been there then the guy who was killed a few months ago might have still been here.