A PLANNED new active travel route from Helensburgh to Garelochhead would not be intended to use the main A814 road, a council official has said.

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.

Helensburgh Central Conservative Councillor 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.

The discussion took place at a meeting of the authority’s Helensburgh and Lomond area committee on Tuesday, December 13.

Councillor Mulvaney said: “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.”

Councillor 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.”

Provost Maurice Corry (Conservative, Lomond North) 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.”

Councillor Fiona Howard (Labour, Helensburgh Central) 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.

"The amount of work we could do to the existing route would be minimal without investing substantial sums of money.”