BOSSES at West Dunbartonshire Council say the authority should give up its long-running opposition to controversial plans to build houses on green belt land in Duntocher.

Councillors will decide this week what to do about the latest attempt to block a bid for 99 new homes at Duntiglennan Fields.

The Court of Session ruled against West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) who had appealed against a Scottish Government planning reporter decision to back plans by Barratt Homes.

There has been unanimous political opposition for years to building on the site, off Farm Road, but the Court of Session said last month that the short-term demand for private housing in the wider area meant the homes should go ahead.

After the shock court ruling, councillors from both the SNP-led administration and the Labour opposition group floated the possibility of an appeal to the UK Supreme Court.

But now council officials are warning it's not worth the potential legal bill of £150,000.

The QC for the local authority told them there was a potential they could win the case, but, as with the Court of Session, the will of the community and its elected leaders would have no bearing on the final outcome.

A report prepared ahead of a full WDC meeting on October 27 states: "Our QC is of the view that, if the council could get the matter to the Supreme Court, there would be reasonable prospects of success.

"However, the Supreme Court would only consider the narrow and technical point of law.

"It would not consider the merits of the planning application, any issues of local democracy, or the fact that elected members were consistent and unanimous in refusing the application."

It continues: "The cost of an appeal to the Supreme Court is difficult to predict with any degree of accuracy.

"However, the costs incurred by the council if the appeal went to a hearing in the Supreme Court might amount to about £80,000.

"If the council were to be successful, it is likely that the majority of these costs would be recoverable from the Scottish Ministers.

"However, if unsuccessful, it is likely that the council would have to pay the majority of the costs incurred by the Scottish Ministers.

"The total cost could therefore be in the order of £150,000.

"Given the significant costs involved in any appeal, together with uncertainty over success, officers would not recommend proceeding further with the appeal process."