Business and building owners in Dumbarton are being urged to share ideas on how to boost footfall in the town centre.

West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) is holding a drop-in consultation event next week and is calling on retailers to come along.

It is all part of the local authority’s regeneration plans for the town – which are already in full swing with the ongoing construction of new homes, a Lidl supermarket and a waterfront path, which will link the town with Dumbarton Castle.

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It will be further boosted with up to £859,000 of government funding, which will be shared between Dumbarton and Alexandria.

The Lennox Herald told last month how the Scottish Government Town Centre Fund will dish the cash out and it could include the repurposing of empty buildings for housing or social and community enterprises.

A spokeswoman for the local authority said: “WDC is committed to regenerating our town centres and was proactively planning the consultations before the additional town centre funding was announced.

“We are keen to raise awareness of the continued development within Dumbarton town centre including the waterfront path and housing developments by Cullross and Turnberry.

“In addition, the council is keen to hear the views of business on suggestions they may have to help increase footfall.

“We would encourage businesses and retailers to attend the event and share their ideas and vision to bring more people back to our town centres and local businesses.”

The drop-in takes place on Tuesday, March 26 at St Augustine’s Church community hall between 5pm and 7.30pm.

Damon Scott, chief executive of Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce said he welcomed the move.

He told how the relocation of the new council offices to the town centre will especially have an impact.

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He said: “It is positive that there is continued development within Dumbarton town centre and the Chamber has for many years supported the idea of developing the waterfront to make the most of a key asset within the town.

“The relocation of the council offices to the Church Street site will continue to make an impact with the hundreds of jobs being brought into the town centre and the spend that brings with it.

“New housing developments will add to this if the retail and leisure mix is right.

“Continued efforts to attract good quality businesses and anchor tenants to Dumbarton are needed.

“The key will be to create a critical mass through a strong, mixed offer with a variety of compelling reasons to shop, eat and spend leisure time in the town.

“Positioning strategy will also be vital to the success to ensure that supply is aligned with demand and it is important that businesses and business organisations play a key part in shaping and delivering this.

“We have active involvement in a number of town centres in Dunbartonshire and there are some exciting ideas to help revitalise the high street including alternative use of retail units, pop-up shops and creating more of an experiential offering.”

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