A public consultation is to be held in Dumbarton for residents to give views on how a shopping centre could be used.

We previously told that West Dunbartonshire Council was awarded £19.9m to buy and partly demolish the Artizan Centre as part of an award of £172m to councils across the UK from the Levelling Up Fund.

A range of preparatory work has been undertaken at the site, with the next steps including developing detailed designs and obtaining planning permission in principle.

Ahead of the formal submission of a planning application, views are being sought from the community about potential uses for the site.

As well as an online consultation running for seven weeks, two in-person public consultation events will be held to allow business owners, residents and other interested parties to share their views.

Feedback can also be submitted during two events being held in the Artizan unit at 48 High Street, Dumbarton on the following dates:

· Thursday, August 24, between 3pm and 7pm

· Thursday, September 28, between 3pm and 7pm

Any resident who cannot access the online consultation or attend the in-person events can submit written feedback to Magda Swider, Regeneration Team, 16 Church Street, Dumbarton, G82 1QL

Councillor David McBride, convener for Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development said: “The Levelling Up Funding has given us a fantastic opportunity to consider projects that will improve the look and feel of Dumbarton Town Centre for everyone.

“The Artizan Centre is a key element of the council’s plans to regenerate and transform the area, and we are looking at how it can be enhanced to introduce better links to the town centre as well as encourage future investment on the High Street.

“We want to ensure that residents’ opinions are gathered at an early stage of the project, and I would encourage all members of the community to participate in this consultation and share their feedback on how they believe this site would be best used."

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.

Councillor Lawrence O’Neill, vice convener for Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development, added: “In recent years we have completed a number of regeneration projects around West Dunbartonshire, including the Waterfront Path in Dumbarton.

“Each of these projects was delivered with input from the surrounding communities, taking on board the feedback that was received, and the plans for the Artizan Centre will be no different.

“We are getting ever closer to delivering our ambitious Levelling Up Fund projects, and I have no doubt that when the redevelopment of the Artizan Centre is complete, it will boost footfall in the town centre.

“We are committed to making these enhancements work for our residents and businesses and will work with them closely as this progresses.” 

The public consultation will run for seven weeks, starting today (August 24) and closing on Monday, October 9. For more information on the online consultation click here.