BANKIE residents have been urged to apply for a share of £1 million to transform their area.

As part of the Your Community initiative, up to £25,000 is available for each of the 17 Your Community areas and both individuals and groups can bid for up to £2,000 each to invest in community projects to help improve West Dunbartonshire.

Applications opened last week and residents are promised the full support in completing their bids from the Communities Team and West Dunbartonshire Community Volunteer Services before applications close on October 23.

Residents will vote for their preferred bids for their community during community budgeting events which will be held in November and the successful bids will be announced at the events.

Your Community consultation events have already been held in six areas in the region and residents have been encouraged to identify key local priorities for action through surveys, drop-ins and conversation cafés.

The initiative has already led to joint working within the council to help residents with housing and recycling, while feedback from community days has led to partnership working with Police Scotland to address issues highlighted by residents.

Residents in Clydebank were asked for their views on developing the former St Eunan’s site in Clydebank with the majority keen to see the land transformed in to a biodiversity park.

The park would help protect wildlife and provide nature walks along well developed paths.

Suggestions have also been put forward from the community for allotments on the site or a space to display memorial artwork.

Convener of corporate services, Councillor Kath Ryall, said: “We have had a great response to our community days and gained further insight of what is important to residents at a local level and changes needed in our communities.

“I would encourage communities to get together and come up with ideas on how they could spend the money.

“We need the residents who are active in their communities and have a wealth of knowledge of ways to improve their area, to come forward.

“The Communities team is keen to get as much feedback as possible and will be on-hand to help with bids to ensure every area is represented.”