Councillors have hit out at plans to radically redraw the Dumbarton Scottish Parliament constituency.
Formally submitting their opposition to proposals, deputy council leader Michelle McGinty said it was beggars belief that the changes were even being considered.
Currently the Dumbarton constituency, which has been served since its inception by Labour’s Jackie Baillie, covers Dumbarton, Alexandria and Helensburgh.
It also includes the smaller villages of Rhu, Garelochhead and Arrochar - and the Rosneath peninsula.
However new proposals revealed earlier this year would move areas west of Helensburgh into an enlarged Argyll and Bute seat, which would stretch as far as Tiree.
Helensburgh itself, as well as nearby Cardross, would form part of a renamed ‘Dumbarton and Helensburgh’ seat.
The seat would continue to include Alexandria, Balloch and Gartocharn, as well as the southern edge of Clydebank as far as the town’s station and town hall.
The plans have been met with cross-party opposition at Church Street, with members unanimously backing calls for the boundary to remain as it currently is.
Deputy council leader, Labour’s Michelle McGinty said: “We are all pretty settled on where the boundaries are here.
“We are six percent below the recommended population number they want to have.
“The changes would only change this by one percent.
“It seems like a lot of issues for only a one percent change.
“When you look at areas like Kilcreggan that they are planning on taking out, the residents there use the Vale of Leven Hospital because of a service level agreement we have with NHS Highland.
“The kids who go to St Joseph’s Primary go to Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School, and that’s been the case for a long time.
“In areas like Luss the residents go to a doctors’ surgery in Alexandria and their kids go to school in Alexandria a lot of the time. Historically we are linked with all parts of Helensburgh.
“When you look at previous electoral reviews, they went to an enquiry where it was decided that you should never look at splitting a ward. Which this would do.
“It’s beggars belief that this is being considered.
“I don’t think it makes sense to disrupt areas in the way being proposed for a one percent change.”
Whilst splitting Clydebank into two separate constituencies was a plan met with disgust by members for the town.
SNP member Sophie Traynor said: “The changes proposed provide no real benefit for the area.
“They would see large chunks of Clydebank split from the rest of the town and moved into a different Scottish Parliament constituency without and thought for the impact this might have. They would place the centre of Clydebank, including the town hall, in the Dumbarton and Helensburgh constituency.
“While the majority of the town would be in another constituency.
“The boundary commission have not take into account the importance of our town centre nor have they acknowledged the history of the area they are splitting up.”
The planned shakeup was also discussed by councillors in Argyll and Bute - who believe it could give the area a stronger voice at Holyrood.
Councillor Alastair Redman, policy lead for economic growth and communities, said: “Changes in the population translate into changes in the electorate. This can result in some MSPs representing considerably more or fewer constituents than others. The reviews carried out by Boundaries Scotland examine these and other issues and ensure electoral fairness.
“We note the proposed changes to the boundaries in Argyll and Bute. We want the area’s presence and voice to continue in the Scottish Parliament.”
