A planned new cycle track from Helensburgh to Garelochhead would not be intended to use the main A814 road, a council official has said.
And funding could be available for the £10m project – if design work is complete and ready.
Proposals for the route were scrutinised by councillors at a meeting, with Argyll and Bute Council’s deputy leader querying what would happen in the event of cars parking on a stretch of the road.
Part of West Clyde Street, from William Street to Suffolk Street, has been used by parked cars on the westbound carriageway during recent years.
Cllr Gary Mulvaney raised the matter, but was informed by Colin Young, the council’s strategic transportation delivery officer, that the aim was not to use the main road.
Cllr Mulvaney told the authority’s Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee on Tuesday: “People park on the left hand side of the road, which is a cycleway. That never used to happen, but it has in the last couple of years, and we have now ended up with it being a place for parking.
“Are we going to be able to enforce that not being used as parking and if we are, what are the things we need to do? It is an issue we need to pick up on one way or another.”
Mr Young responded: “In terms of what is there, it is an advisory cycle lane. In terms of restrictions, I do not know what these are; it falls under somebody else’s remit.
“In terms of the proposal for the new route, the plan is that it will not be on road. The plan for active travel is to avoid on-road travel except in very quiet areas, which clearly the A814 does not fit into.
“It could be an upstanding kerb between it and the road, or it will be removed from the road.”
Cllr Mulvaney then said: “That was the bit I could not work out. Looking at the graphic, it is not clear whether that will eat into the road or be segregated, like you see in Glasgow, or any other alternative which would eat into the grass verge.
“At the water side we have a pretty low wall and I do not know if I would be that keen on cycling along there.”
Cllr Maurice Corry then said: “It is interesting what you have come up with and I am delighted to see some progress on this. Are you talking about the water side of the road?”
Mr Young said: “The route, as identified, falls on the water side of the road from the waterfront right along the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club.
“Then it has to find a route through that site, and cross the road into the grass verge towards the bottom of the hill.
“Once we have the space, rather than using the road, the plan is for a new segregated path.
“We need to figure out what space we are using after the peace camp. The road is quite wide so we could look at taking some of the carriageway away, or another option is through the grounds of St Andrew’s House.
“The intention would be to stay on the inland side right up until the north gate of Faslane, and then we would need future phases.”
Cllr Fiona said: “At the moment, the cycle path from Rhu to Garelochhead is not used by cyclists, who go on to the main road instead.
“They say it is because the track, as it is now, is not fit for cycling on. Are there any plans to upgrade that?”
Mr Young replied: “The focus will be on a new, high-quality route. The funding we can secure requires us to do things to new standards, rather than look at old things.
A report states that the total route could cost £10m, and a report in advance of the meeting said that £200,000 had already been secured from Transport Scotland’s ‘highly competitive’ Places for Everyone fund.
Cllr Mulvaney said: “I probably did not add all the finances together and that, to me, is the scary thing. I suppose the question is, bearing in mind your time and consultants’ time, what is the likelihood that we get anything with seven figures attached to it for any of those sections?
“There is a bit of an expectation gap if we spend all this time and energy, but nobody can fund it. I am not saying we should not be ambitious or aspirational, but there needs to be a reality check.”
Mr Young replied: “It is driven by design standards. In terms of funding, the main source is Places for Everyone. The way that currently works, they will fund up to 70% of the construction. We also have funding from SPT’s capital programme.
“There are a number of things going on quite quickly, so Transport Scotland is taking a look at how active travel is being funded going forward.
“I don’t know how that will go, but there is a lot of money coming into active travel. Where there are underspends we will often get a message from Transport Scotland saying that there is funding available, and if we have something shovel-ready we have potentially got funding.
“By getting all the designs lined up, there may be potential to get a large percentage of funding. It may have to be done in phases, but until we get the designs, unfortunately we are not in a position to do anything.”
Meanwhile, another councillor called for the design of the route to incorporate traffic lights at a potentially dangerous crossing point on the route.
Math Campbell-Sturgess made the request for the A814 at the bottom of the hill at Rhu, with Mr Young stating a pedestrian crossing would be planned.
Cllr Campbell-Sturgess said: “Are the plans going to be for traffic light crossings, particularly at the bottom of the hill at Rhu, which is a transition from 30mph to 50mph?
“A lot of people will be starting to speed up at that point, and I would not want to cross there without some lights in place.”
Mr Young said: “What we are asking the design team to develop, and we have agreed in principle, is that that will be signalled with a pedestrian crossing.
“In terms of very minor side roads, that is to be determined, but they probably would not put in in crossings at those positions. We try to keep it away from as many crossings as possible.”
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