COUNCILLORS have removed the last potential hurdle to a new bridge from Clydebank to Renfrew.

Members of the infrastructure, regeneration and economic development (IRED) committee voted unanimously on Wednesday afternoon to formally drop their objections to the project by Renfrewshire Council.

But SNP councillors voiced their continuing concerns about how the bridge would affect Clydebank, especially on traffic and Clyde Shopping Centre.

The IRED committee had to look at the project because the roads infrastructure is separate to what's covered in the planning committee.

That committee previously voted against the bridge but last year the Scottish Government approved it so West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) said there was little they could do to stop it.

And any delay was forecast to cost Renfrewshire £180,000 a month, they claimed.

WDC admitted if they had maintained their formal objection, the bridge could have gone to a public inquiry and the council left with the legal bill.

The bridge will cost £67million within a £90m total development for the bridge and other works on the south side of the river.

WATCH: Council leader explains council's bridge concerns

Council leader Jonathan McColl said said it would be "counterproductive" to maintain our objection.

He told the meeting: "Given where we are with the planning decision from the Scottish Government, we don't really have a leg to stand on.

"I do think this is a waste of money - £90m that just takes seven minutes off the journey time.

"It's a bridge that's going to cause absolute traffic chaos.

"It's going to make development at Queens Quay much more difficult. It's going to make the roads department's job much harder.

"It's also a bridge that could be the final nail in the coffin of Clyde Shopping Centre."

He added: "I think Scottish Government planners have, not for the first time, made a huge mistake and it could be very harmful for us.

"But as a council, we will have to face the challenges and I'm sure we will make our case to the Scottish Government for support if and when we need it - especially as they created this problem for us."

Fellow SNP members Councillor Marie McNair and Provost William Hendrie echoed the sentiments and said they had always been against the bridge.

The provost said he "more than reluctantly" agreed to withdraw the council's objections.

Cllr McNair added, now that they were dropping the opposition: "I think we need to get behind the bridge and get the best deal we can. "

But Councillor Gail Casey repeated her support for the bridge, particularly for access to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, West College Scotland and shoppers travelling to the shopping centre.

She said: "I have been for the bridge from the beginning. I'm not going to say we will not have problems, but we can work with that.

"I think the issue of public transport is still to be ironed out. I don't believe there will not be public transport in the fullness of time."

Councillor Diane Docherty said she would focus on the potential positives in line with other massive infrastructure improvements to Clydebank.

The bridge involves WDC, Renfrewshire and Glasgow City councils but only WDC's planning and IRED committees have ever held public votes. Councillors at the other authorities have never had to make decisions for or against the bridge.

Wednesday's meeting also heard if WDC can't reach an agreement with Renfrewshire, the other council will be responsible for the roads on the north side of the bridge. But WDC would be responsible for the traffic management.