Jackie Baillie has welcomed more than half a million pounds of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) funding for local travel projects across Dumbarton, Balloch, the Vale of Leven, Helensburgh and Lomond over the coming year.

The projects include £50,000 for a park and ride facility at Balloch station and £290,000 for cycle routes across Helensburgh and Lomond including in Rosneath.

The cash investment also involves improvements which will benefit local bus services throughout Ms Baillie’s Dumbarton constituency.

It is part of SPT’s 2023/24 Capital Plan with the organisation working in partnership with councils and other authorities to deliver the projects.

Jackie Baillie said: “I am pleased that there is set to be investment to the tune of almost £565,000 which will benefit residents across my constituency.

“Bus services in particular are a lifeline to the communities across West Dunbartonshire, Helensburgh and Lomond and significant funding to improve these is welcomed.

“It is imperative, given the climate emergency that sustainable travel is improved so I am pleased that there is an emphasis on improving cycle paths as well as encouraging people to use the train to get to and from Balloch. Perhaps we will finally see the cycle path from Cardross to Helensburgh, which has been on the cards for more than 20 years, realised.”