Iain Maclaren: Last News

On May 5 West Dunbartonshire will go to the polls to decide who will make up the new council administration.

Controversial plans for a Dumbarton housing development are being recommended for approval – despite more than 200 objections from the community.

Woodland trees at the centre of a community campaign against a Dumbarton housing development look set to be given protected status.

Scots play park after 'heinous' firebugs torched it. Dramatic pictures showed the inferno taking root at Silverton play park in Dumbarton last weekend with flames leaping from the burning park.

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.An extremely rare species of spider has been found in Dumbarton.The Six-spot Comb-foot spider (Rugathodes sexpunctatus), was discovered in Havoc Meadows on Christmas Eve and again on New Year’s Day.Recorded at only two other British locations (both in Scotland), it is closely related to the widow spiders, but at less than 3mm in body length, it is harmless to humans as it cannot pierce human skin.The spiders were found by local ecologist Zoe Weir and her husband Iain McLaren.Zoe said: “We were examining larger spiders and almost overlooked this small one. When we realised their importance and went looking for more, we found them all over.

www.dumbartonloveslocal.co.uk and www.valeloveslocal.co.uk and to share, like and comment using the hashtags #dumbartonloveslocal #clydebankloveslocal #valeloveslocal along with #ThinkLocalFirst and #ScotlandLovesLocal.” Support offered to businesses includes a toolkit with posters, loyalty cards, social media banners, window and floor vinyls to ensure physical distancing in stores. Infrastructure, regeneration and economic development convener, Councillor Iain McLaren said: “This campaign is vital to show how much we appreciate the effort our local business owners made to ensure communities had what they needed during one of the most challenging times in recent history.