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

Applications opened on September 30 and residents will have full support in completing their bids from the council’s Communities Team and West Dunbartonshire Community Volunteer Services. The closing date for applications is 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 West Dunbartonshire and residents have been encouraged to identify key local priorities for action through surveys, drop-in and conversation café style events. Work is ongoing to develop community led actions plans in these areas based on the priorities identified. Also services are responding to issues raised and developing new ways of working to find solutions to longstanding issues in communities.

The Your Community initiative has already led to joint working within the council to help residents with housing and recycling. Feedback from Community Days has led to partnership working with Police Scotland to address issues highlighted by residents during the events.

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 for the community to display memorial artwork. Community action plans have also been developed led by Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park in two areas within West Dunbartonshire.

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 in their area to improve their community or invest it on projects that will be appreciated by all residents. 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 from residents as possible and will be on-hand to help with bids to ensure every area is represented. Only by working together we can share our ideas and start to transform our neighbourhoods.”

Depute convener for corporate services, Councillor Thomas Rainey, added: “We still have many areas to hold our community day events in and I would encourage residents in these areas to come along to the meetings and share their views on how we can work together to build stronger communities. We have seen from our past events how everyone benefits from strong views and strong communities.”