A BRIDGE from Clydebank to Renfrew looks set to be scrapped in a shock turnaround.

Years in the making, the Clyde bridge now looks set to be swapped for two over the White Cart Water instead, leaving West Dunbartonshire with the existing Clyde Tunnel and Erskine Bridge routes.

Renfrewshire Council's leadership board yesterday backed a proposal for the region-wide City Deal cabinet to revise their plans and drop the bridge.

West Dunbartonshire councillors weren’t told of the Renfrewshire plans until contacted by the Post on Tuesday. All they knew was there was an emergency planning committee meeting slotted for Clydebank Town Hall on Monday about the bridge.

The bridge project has been almost entirely out of the hands of elected representatives in Clydebank - there has never been a vote at committee or full council level and last year the Scottish Government called in the application after Renfrewshire said it would be better to be decided by them.

Only now does the planning committee look set to formally object to the bridge, with assessments warning of traffic nearly doubling in some streets and job losses in the shopping centre.

Provost William Hendrie, when told about the change of heart by Renfrewshire, said he was “delighted”.

Speaking ahead of their meeting, he told the Post: “I have always said it would attract people more to Braehead and it could be to the detriment to our little shopping centre. In this climate, it would be very vulnerable.

“I would be delighted if this bridge doesn’t go ahead because I don’t think to would be to the benefit of people in Clydebank.”

The Clydebank Waterfront councillor pointed to the increased traffic and lack of capacity at Dock Street, where the bridge would link to, as a central concern.

He added: “To me, it seemed like Renfrewshire thought it was a good idea but to no benefit to Clydebank. I’m definitely glad it’s being re-examined.”

Fellow Waterfront councillor Gail Casey said: “It’s causing huge complications and everybody was involved in discussing and debating it. There has been a lot of controversy over the bridge – a lot of people want it and a lot of people don’t want it.

"I’m open minded to whatever changes Renfrewshire make. I’m quite keen to see what changes they want to make.”

MSP Gil Paterson told the Post: “If this is accurate, I would be interested to know what this City Deal offers the people of Clydebank. My expectation is that Clydebank should get its proper share of the benefits of the City Deal.”

Damon Scott, chief executive of Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce, remained upbeat despite the change.

He said: “As a chamber our central role is to support the businesses in Dunbartonshire and promote a healthy local economy. Whatever the outcome of these discussions we stand ready to work with our partners in the area to ensure that any opportunities for Dunbartonshire businesses are maximised.

“Renfrewshire is a close and important neighbour and the two chambers are already closely aligned with shared interests and activities. The National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland will offer new opportunities for Dunbartonshire businesses with or without a new bridge as will developments at Glasgow airport.”

Renfrewshire Council’s leadership board met on Wednesday to discuss diverting funds for the £78m bridge to boost creation of a £40m Glasgow Airport business hub, an expanded West College Scotland and a new £65m National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland, which will be built in Inchinnan.

The bridge was to be Renfrewshire’s signature project within the £1 billion City Deal investments. If the bridge is scrapped, the regional cabinet of councillors from each authority would then take a decision in April.

West Dunbartonshire Council's planners are recommending councillors formally object to the bridge.

They conclude: "The likely absence of public transport over the bridge and its regular closure to traffic at unpredictable times both mitigate against the probability of economic and social benefits for West Dunbartonshire."

Concerns were so high for the effects on traffic they called in an external assessment and that was only to be completed today, so the results remain unknown.

Although hopes were high the bridge could help transport to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, SPT said it would have minimal affect on journeys.

They said: "SPT consider that due to the nature of the wing bridge (with its lengthy and unpredictable closures to traffic) it is extremely unlikely to be suitable for use as a bus route. Nevertheless, road infrastructure should be designed to allow such use in the future. "The traffic modelling indicates that the bridge should have minimal impact on existing bus journey times, however some clarification of the methodology of the trip modelling is required."

Other objections, including from Clyde Shopping Centre's owners, said the bridge would enable Braehead to have the "same impact on Clydebank town centre that it has already had on Paisley town centre".

The shopping centre predicted shop closures and job losses.

Traffic estimates for peak times on Yoker Mill Road would see a 48 per cent increase, with 20 per cent on Dumbarton Road in Yoker, 18 per cent on Alderman Road in Knightswood and 14 per cent on Glasgow Road.

The committee meets in Clydebank on Monday.