ANOTHER two years have been added to the projected delivery of the Helensburgh to Dumbarton cycle path – putting the scheduled completion date back to 2032.

An updated timetable for the project reveals that land negotiations for phase 1 (Helensburgh to Cardross) and phase 2 (Cardross to Dumbarton) are now not expected to conclude until early 2028.

The project first received official backing in the early 2000s from the Labour-led Scottish Executive, when Sarah Boyack was the country's transport minister.

Construction work on both phases now has an expected completion date of early 2032, as a separate report warns of “high” risks involving land acquisition and the timeline of the project.

Funding, and a feared loss of community support for the path, are also listed as risks, although the latter is thought to have a low risk.

Councillors are also being asked to decide how the path will be maintained in the future, including if there is a role for other organisations.

The two documents will go before Argyll and Bute Council’s Helensburgh and Lomond area committee at its meeting on Tuesday, June 11.

Council executive director Kirsty Flanagan said: “Sustrans have requested a written maintenance plan and confirmation of how this will be funded and delivered as a deliverable during the remaining design process.

“As such, members require to decide how the future maintenance of the cyclepath, including sections of route already in place, will be delivered.

“At present, the council does not receive any funding for the maintenance of cycle paths and none of the current external funding sources secured through competitive bidding for active travel include maintenance as an eligible cost.

“This anomaly has been repeatedly raised by officers with Transport Scotland officials and it is recognised to be inconsistent with the Scottish Government’s commitments regarding capital funding for active travel projects.

“The roads and infrastructure service are the single service within the council which includes infrastructure maintenance teams appropriately trained and qualified to undertake maintenance of cycle paths.

“However, it is acknowledged these teams are already near capacity delivering the roads and infrastructure service commitments.

"The roads and infrastructure service has previously stated they do not wish to adopt sections of cycle path remote from the public road.”

Ms Flanagan added: “Members may wish to consider if there is a role for other organisations and/or local community group volunteers to support the routine maintenance of the cycle path.

“While unlikely to be skilled or qualified for the less frequent ‘heavier’ technical maintenance of drainage or path surfacing, other groups may be able and willing to assist with the more routine elements of maintenance, for example cutting back vegetation or mowing the grass.

"Similar maintenance work is undertaken by community groups for cycle paths in other locations.”