AMBITIOUS plans for road and rail bridges linking Helensburgh and the Rosneath peninsula to the Cowal area could take a small step forward later this week.

The Cowal Fixed Link Working Group has asked Argyll and Bute Council for funding of £3,000 to establish a constituted group and to help develop a feasibility study into their plans.

The group unveiled various options for fixed links last year, and says a series of road and rail crossings – one between Rhu and Rosneath, a second between Cove and Strone, and a third across the mouth of the Holy Loch near Dunoon – is one particularly worth considering.

Another option worth further examination, according to the group, would involve a new road and railway and a single shorter bridge across Loch Long, connecting to the existing road and rail network at Garelochhead.

A report to the council’s policy and resources committee, which will consider the group’s application at a meeting in Lochgilphead on Friday, states: “The options are ambitious and would require significant on shore infrastructure, in addition to the bridge or tunnel, in many cases.

“In some cases it is hard to see how they could be implemented without a major impact on local communities and individual property owners.

“If the project were to progress it would need to feature in the National Transport Review which is currently underway.

“It would then need to be included in the Strategic Transport Project Review and compete against other projects nationwide.”

The funding would be used to establish a formal constituted organisation.