Editing West Dunbartonshire

{{Short description|Council area of Scotland}}
{{For|the constituency|West Dunbartonshire (UK Parliament constituency)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = West Dunbartonshire
| native_name             = {{Unbulleted list
 |{{native name|gd|Siorrachd Dhùn Breatann an Iar}}
 |{{native name|sco|Wast Dunbairtonshire}}
 }}
| settlement_type         = [[Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas|Council area]]
| image_skyline           = 
| imagesize               = 
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = 
| image_flag              = 
| flag_alt                = 
| image_shield            = Coat_of_arms_of_West_Dunbartonshire.svg
| shield_alt              = 
| shield_link             = 
| image_blank_emblem      = 
| blank_emblem_size       = 
| blank_emblem_type       = 
| blank_emblem_link       = 
| etymology               = 
| nickname                = 
| motto                   = 
| image_map               = West Dunbartonshire UK location map.svg
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = West Dunbartonshire shown within [[Scotland]]
| coordinates             = {{coord|55|59|24|N|4|30|54|W|region:GB_type:adm2nd|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type        = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name        = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Country]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Scotland]]
| subdivision_type2       = 
| subdivision_name2       = 
| subdivision_type3       = [[Lieutenancy areas of Scotland|Lieutenancy area]]
| subdivision_name3       = [[Dunbartonshire]]
| subdivision_type4       = 
| subdivision_name4       = 
| established_title       = Unitary authority
| established_date        = [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|1 April 1996]]
| established_title1      = 
| established_date1       = 
| established_title2      = 
| established_date2       = 
| named_for               = 
| seat_type               = Administrative{{nbsp}}HQ
| seat                    = [[Dumbarton Burgh Hall]]
| parts_type              = 
| parts                   = 
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes    = <ref name="Council leadership">{{cite web |url=https://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/council/ |title=Your Council |website=West Dunbartonshire Council |access-date=22 December 2024}}</ref>
| government_type         = [[Local government in Scotland|Council]]
| governing_body          = [[West Dunbartonshire Council]]
| leader_title            = [[Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom|Control]]
| leader_name             = {{UK council control|GSS=S12000039}}
| leader_title1           = 
| leader_name1            = 
| leader_title2           = 
| leader_name2            = 
| leader_title3           = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MPs]]
| leader_name3            = [[Douglas McAllister]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
| leader_title4           = [[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSPs]]
| leader_name4            = {{Collapsible list |title=2 MSPs
 |[[Jackie Baillie]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
 |[[Marie McNair]] ([[Scottish National Party|SNP]])
 }}
<!-- Area -->
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="popstats">{{UK subdivision statistics citation}}</ref>
| area_total_km2          = {{UK subdivision area|GSS=S12000039}}
| area_land_km2           = 
| area_water_km2          = 
| area_rank               = [[Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas|{{Scottish council area rank|GSS=S12000039}}]]
<!-- Population -->
| population_footnotes    = <ref name="popstats" />
| population_as_of        = {{UK subdivision statistics year}}
| population_total        = {{UK subdivision population|GSS=S12000039}}
| population_rank         = [[Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas|{{Scottish council population rank|GSS=S12000039}}]]
| population_density_km2  = {{UK subdivision density|GSS=S12000039}}
| population_demonym      = 
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1      = 
| demographics1_footnotes = 
| demographics1_title1    = 
| demographics1_info1     = 
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2      = 
| demographics2_footnotes = 
| demographics2_title1    = 
| demographics2_info1     = 
| timezone1               = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset1             = +0
| timezone1_DST           = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = +1
<!-- Codes -->
| postal_code_type        = [[Postcodes in the United Kingdom|Postcode areas]]
| postal_code             = 
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom|Dialling codes]]
| area_code               = 
| iso_code                = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|GB-WDU]]
| blank1_name             = [[GSS coding system|GSS code]]
| blank1_info             = S12000039
| website                 = {{URL|west-dunbarton.gov.uk}}
}}

'''West Dunbartonshire''' ({{langx|sco|Wast Dunbairtonshire}}; {{langx|gd|Siorrachd Dhùn Breatann an Iar}}, {{IPA|gd|ˈʃirˠəxk ɣum ˈpɾʲɛht̪ən̪ˠ əɲ ˈiəɾ|pron}}) is one of the 32 [[Local government in Scotland|local government]] [[council areas]] of [[Scotland]]. The area lies to the north-west of the [[Glasgow City council area]] and contains many of Glasgow's [[commuter town]]s and villages. West Dunbartonshire also borders [[Argyll and Bute]], [[East Dunbartonshire]], [[Renfrewshire]] and [[Stirling (council area)|Stirling]].

The council area was formed in 1996 from the former [[Clydebank (district)|Clydebank district]] and the eastern part of [[Dumbarton (district)|Dumbarton district]], which had both been part of [[Strathclyde]] [[Regions and districts of Scotland#Regions|Region]].

West Dunbartonshire has three main urban areas: [[Clydebank]], [[Dumbarton]] and the [[Vale of Leven]]. The area also includes the intervening rural areas, including the [[Kilpatrick Hills]] and the south-eastern bank of [[Loch Lomond]]. The council is based at [[Dumbarton Burgh Hall|16 Church Street]] in Dumbarton, although Clydebank is the largest town.

==History==
West Dunbartonshire was created in 1996 under the [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994]], which abolished the [[Local government areas of Scotland (1975–1996)|regions and districts]] which had been created in 1975, replacing them with unitary [[council area]]s. West Dunbartonshire covered the area of the abolished [[Clydebank (district)|Clydebank district]] and the eastern part of [[Dumbarton (district)|Dumbarton district]]. In a referendum in 1994 the largely rural western part of the old Dumbarton district, including the town of [[Helensburgh]], had voted to join [[Argyll and Bute]] rather than stay with Dumbarton.<ref>{{cite news |title=Was Argyll and Bute move right decision? |url=https://www.helensburghadvertiser.co.uk/news/13979842.was-argyll-and-bute-move-right-decision/ |access-date=20 February 2023 |work=Helensburgh Advertiser |date=15 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|year=1994|chapter=39|accessdate=21 February 2023}}</ref>

The 1994 act originally named the new district "Dumbarton and Clydebank", but the shadow authority elected in 1995 requested a change of name to "West Dunbartonshire", which was agreed by the government before the new council area came into force.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|year=1994|chapter=39|accessdate=17 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Historical information from 1973 onwards |url=https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ordnancesurvey.co.uk%2Fdocuments%2Fboundary-legislation-changes-from-1973.xls&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK |website=Boundary-Line support |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=17 February 2023}}</ref>

==Communities==
The area is divided into 17 [[list of community council areas in Scotland|community council areas]], 10 of which have [[community council]]s as at 2023 (being those with asterisks in the list below):<ref>{{cite web |title=Active Community Councils |url=https://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/community/community-planning-west-dunbartonshire/communities/community-councils/active-community-councils/ |website=West Dunbartonshire Council |access-date=21 February 2023}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire|Alexandria]]*
*[[Balloch, West Dunbartonshire|Balloch and Haldane]]
*[[Bonhill|Bonhill and Dalmonach]]*
*[[Bowling, West Dunbartonshire|Bowling]] and [[Milton, West Dunbartonshire|Milton]]*
*[[Clydebank]] East*
*[[Dalmuir]] and [[Mountblow]]
*[[Dumbarton]] East and Central*
*Dumbarton North
*Dumbarton West
*[[Duntocher]] and [[Hardgate]]
*[[Faifley]]*
*[[Kilmaronock]]*
*[[Linnvale]] and [[Drumry]]
*[[Old Kilpatrick]]*
*Parkhall, North [[Kilbowie]] and Central*
*[[Renton, West Dunbartonshire|Renton]]
*[[Silverton, Dumbarton|Silverton]] and Overtoun*
{{div col end}}

==Governance==
{{Infobox legislature
| name               = West Dunbartonshire
| native_name        =
| transcription_name =
| legislature        = 
| coa_pic            = West Dunbartonshire Council.svg
| coa_res            = 150px
| house_type         =
| body               =
| houses             =
| leader1_type       = [[Provost (civil)|Provost]]
| leader1            = Karen Murray Conaghan 
| party1             = <br>[[Scottish National Party|SNP]]
| election1          = 28 August 2024 <ref>{{cite news |title=First female Provost of West Dunbartonshire has been elected |url=https://www.clydebankpost.co.uk/news/24548008.first-female-west-dunbartonshire-provost-elected/#:~:text=Councillor%20Karen%20Murray%20Conaghan%20has,council's%20history%20to%20do%20so. |access-date=28 August 2024 |work=Clydebank Post |date=28 August 2024}}</ref>
| leader2_type       = [[Local government in Scotland#Leader of the Council|Leader]]
| leader2            = Martin Rooney
| party2             = <br>Labour
| election2          = 18 May 2022
| leader3_type       = [[Chief Executive]]
| leader3            = Peter Hessett
| party3             = <!--Non political role-->
| election3          = 2022<ref>{{cite news |title=West Dunbartonshire Council: Peter Hessett is new chief executive |url=https://www.clydebankpost.co.uk/news/20182249.peter-hesset-announced-new-chief-executive-west-dunbartonshire-council/ |access-date=21 February 2023 |work=Clydebank Post |date=1 June 2022}}</ref>
| members            = 22 councillors
| house1             =
| house2             =
| structure1         = United Kingdom West Dunbartonshire -Council 2024.svg
| structure1_res     = 250px
| political_groups1  =
;Administration (10)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Scottish Labour Party|Labour]] (10)
;Other parties (12)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Scottish National Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[Scottish National Party|SNP]] (7)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}|border=darkgray}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (4)
: {{Color box|{{party color|West Dunbartonshire Community Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[West Dunbartonshire Community Party|WDCP]] (1)
| committees1        =
| committees2        =
| joint_committees   =
| voting_system1     = [[Single transferable vote]]
| voting_system2     =
| last_election1     = [[2022 West Dunbartonshire Council election|5 May 2022]]
| next_election1     = 6 May 2027
| session_room       = The Old Burgh Hall (geograph 5785538).jpg
| session_res        =
| meeting_place      = [[Dumbarton Burgh Hall|Burgh Hall]], 16 Church Street, [[Dumbarton]], G82{{nbsp}}1QL
| website            = {{URL|www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk}}
| footnotes          =
}}

The council comprises 22 councillors elected from 6 wards.<ref>{{cite web|title=West Dunbartonshire Council May 2007 to present|url=http://wdccmis.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/CMISWebPublic/CommitteeDetails.aspx?committeeID=98|publisher=Enline pic|access-date=31 July 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070731073231/http://wdccmis.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/CMISWebPublic/CommitteeDetails.aspx?committeeID=98|archive-date=31 July 2007}}</ref>

===Political control===
The first election was held in 1995, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new system came into force on 1 April 1996. Political control of West Dunbartonshire Council since 1996 has been as follows:<ref name=compositions>{{cite web |title=Compositions calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/?page_id=3825 |website=The Elections Centre |access-date=21 February 2023}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2"|Party in control!!Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || 1996–2007
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2007–2012
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || 2012–2017
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2017–2022
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || 2022–2022
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2022–2024
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || 2024–2024
|-
|{{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2024-present
|}

===Leadership===
The [[leader of the council|leaders of the council]] since 1996 have been:<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes |url=https://wdccmis.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/cmis5/Home.aspx |website=West Dunbartonshire Council |access-date=21 February 2023}}</ref>

{| class=wikitable
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To
|-
| Mary Campbell || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|1 Apr 1996 || align=right|Jun 1997
|-
| Andy White || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|Jun 1997 || align=right|20 Dec 2006
|-
| Martin Rooney || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|20 Dec 2006 || align=right|12 Mar 2007
|-
| Denis Agnew || {{party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=right|12 Mar 2007 || align=right|May 2007
|-
| Iain Robertson || {{party name with colour|Scottish National Party}} || align=right|16 May 2007 || align=right|26 May 2010
|-
| Ronnie McColl || {{party name with colour|Scottish National Party}} || align=right|26 May 2010 || align=right|3 May 2012
|-
| Martin Rooney || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|16 May 2012 || align=right|May 2017
|-
| Jonathan McColl || {{party name with colour|Scottish National Party}} || align=right|17 May 2017 || align=right|May 2022
|-
| Martin Rooney || {{party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=right|18 May 2022 || align=right|
|}

===Composition===
Following the [[2022 West Dunbartonshire Council election|2022 election]] and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to August 2024, the composition of the council was:<ref>{{cite web |title=West Dunbartonshire |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=west_dunbartonshire |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=31 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Grant |first1=Tom |title=Craig Edward: Court accused councillor sits as Independent |url=https://www.clydebankpost.co.uk/news/23150455.craig-edward-former-labour-councillor-now-sitting-independent/ |access-date=21 February 2023 |work=Clydebank Post |date=25 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=David |title=SNP councillor and sister of MP resigns from party over gender reform stance |url=https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-councillor-sister-mp-resigns-28988899 |access-date=21 February 2023 |work=Scottish Daily Express |date=18 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Clarke |first=Fraser |date=28 August 2024 |title=Two West Dunbartonshire councillors quit Labour group ahead of Provost decision |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/two-west-dunbartonshire-councillors-quit-33554071 |access-date=28 August 2024 |work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)]]}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2| Party
! Councillors
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish Labour}} || align=center|10
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish National Party|full=yes}} || align=center|7
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} 
| align="center" |4
|-
| {{Party name with colour|West Dunbartonshire Community Party|full=yes}} || align=center|1
|-
! colspan=2|Total
! align=center|22
|}

The next election is due in 2027.

===Premises===
The council is based at the former [[Dumbarton Burgh Hall|Burgh Hall]] at 16 Church Street in Dumbarton. It also has an area office  in the main shopping centre in Clydebank.<ref>{{cite web |title=Council Offices |url=https://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/contact-us/council-offices/ |website=West Dunbartonshire Council |access-date=21 February 2023}}</ref>

When the council was created in 1996, it inherited several buildings from its predecessors, including [[Municipal Buildings, Dumbarton|Municipal Buildings]] and Crosslet House from [[Dumbarton (district)|Dumbarton District Council]], [[Clydebank Town Hall]] and the nearby Council Offices on Rosebery Place from [[Clydebank (district)|Clydebank District Council]], and the [[County Buildings, Dumbarton]] from [[Strathclyde]] Regional Council.

The council gradually consolidated its offices, with Crosslet House being demolished in 2015,<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.dumbartonreporter.co.uk/news/13963110.historic-crosslet-house-knocked-down-for-pound10million-super-care-home/ |title= Historic Crosslet House knocked down for £10million 'super' care home|date=16 September 2015|newspaper=Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter| access-date=1 August 2022}}</ref> the Rosebery Place offices being demolished in 2017,<ref>{{cite web |title=Former West Dunbartonshire Council offices |url=https://www.alamy.com/stock-image-former-west-dunbartonshire-council-offices-and-one-stop-shop-clydebank-161868622.html |website=Alamy |access-date=19 February 2023}}</ref> and the County Buildings being demolished in 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/demolition-former-dumbarton-council-offices-16500952 |title= Demolition of former Dumbarton council offices blamed for rat infestation|date=11 June 2019| newspaper=Daily Record| access-date=17 December 2022}}</ref>

In 2018 the council consolidated most of its offices to Burgh Hall, which had been vacant for some years. The front part of the 1866 building was retained and a modern office complex built to the rear.<ref name=realm>{{cite news|url=https://www.urbanrealm.com/news/7580/West_Dunbartonshire_Council_settles_into_flagship_HQ.html  |title= West Dunbartonshire Council settles into flagship HQ|date=31 July 2018|newspaper=Urban Realm| access-date=3 June 2021}}</ref> The Municipal Buildings in Dumbarton are still used by the council as a [[register office]], whilst Clydebank Town Hall is now primarily an events venue.

==Elections==
Since 2007 elections have been held every five years under the [[single transferable vote]] system, introduced by the [[Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004]]. Election results since 1995 have been as follows:<ref name=compositions/>

{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center
!rowspan=2|'''Year'''
!rowspan=2|'''Seats'''
!width="80"|[[Scottish Labour|'''Labour''']]
!width="80"|[[Scottish National Party|'''SNP''']]
!width="80"|[[Scottish Conservatives|'''Conservative''']]
!width="80"|[[Independent politician|'''Independent / Other''']]
!rowspan=2|'''Notes'''
|-
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Labour}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish National Party}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Conservatives}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}}; width: 3px;" |
|-
| [[1995 West Dunbartonshire Council election|1995]] || 22 || 14 || 7 || 0 || 1 || align=left|
|-
| [[1999 West Dunbartonshire Council election|1999]] || 22 || 14 || 7 || 0 || 1 || align=left|New ward boundaries.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The West Dunbartonshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1998|year=1998|number=3075|accessdate=21 February 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2003 West Dunbartonshire Council election|2003]] || 22 || 17 || 3 || 0 || 2{{efn|1 [[Scottish Socialist Party|Scottish Socialist]]}} || align=left|
|-
| [[2007 West Dunbartonshire Council election|2007]] || 22 || 10 || 9 || 0 || 3{{efn|1 Scottish Socialist}}|| align=left|New ward boundaries.<ref>{{cite legislation Scotland|type=ssi|ssi=The West Dunbartonshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2006|year=2006|number=547|accessdate=21 February 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2012 West Dunbartonshire Council election|2012]] || 22 || 12 || 6 || 0 || 4{{efn|1 Scottish Socialist}} || align=left|
|-
| [[2017 West Dunbartonshire Council election|2017]] || 22 || 8 || 10 || 2 || 2{{efn|1 [[West Dunbartonshire Community Party]]}} || align=left|New ward boundaries.<ref>{{cite legislation Scotland|type=ssi|ssi=The West Dunbartonshire (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2016|year=2016|number=289|accessdate=21 February 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[2022 West Dunbartonshire Council election|2022]] || 22 || 12 || 9 || 0 || 1{{efn|1 West Dunbartonshire Community Party}} || align=left|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/council/voting-and-elections/election-results/council-election-results/local-elections-2017/|title=4 May 2017 Council Election Results|website=www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk}}</ref>
|-
!
!
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Labour}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish National Party}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Scottish Conservatives}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}}; width: 3px;" |
!
|}
{{notelist}}

===Wards===
[[File:West Dunbartonshire UK ward map 2017 (blank).svg|thumb|Map of the area's wards (2017 configuration)]]
Six multi-member wards were created for the 2007 election, replacing 22 single-member wards which had been in place since the creation of the council in 1995:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/scotland/wards/|title=United Kingdom: Scotland {{!}} Council Areas and Electoral Wards|website=City Population|date=30 June 2019|access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Ward number
! Ward
! Location
! Largest settlement
! Additional settlements
! Seats
|-
|1
|[[Lomond (ward)|Lomond]]
|[[File:Lomond.svg|100px]]
| [[Balloch, West Dunbartonshire|Balloch]]
| [[Gartocharn]], [[Jamestown, West Dunbartonshire|Jamestown]], [[Levenvale]], [[Mill of Haldane]]
|3
|-
|2
|[[Leven (ward)|Leven]]
|[[File:Leven.svg|100px]]
| [[Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire|Alexandria]]
| [[Bonhill]], [[Dalmonach]], [[Renton, West Dunbartonshire|Renton]], [[Dumbarton]] (northern parts)
|4
|-
|3
|[[Dumbarton (ward)|Dumbarton]]
|[[File:Dumbarton.svg|100px]]
| [[Dumbarton]]
| [[Milton, West Dunbartonshire|Milton]], [[Bowling, West Dunbartonshire|Bowling]]
|4
|-
|4
|[[Kilpatrick (ward)|Kilpatrick]]
|[[File:Kilpatrick.svg|100px]]
| [[Duntocher]]
| [[Faifley]], [[Hardgate]]
|3
|-
|5
|[[Clydebank Central (ward)|Clydebank Central]]
|[[File:Clydebank_Central.svg|100px]]
| [[Clydebank]]
|
|4
|-
|6
|[[Clydebank Waterfront (ward)|Clydebank Waterfront]] 
|[[File:Clydebank_Waterfront.svg|100px]]
| [[Clydebank]]
| [[Old Kilpatrick]]
|4
|-
|}

==Wider politics==
===Independence referendum===
On 18 September 2014, West Dunbartonshire was one of the four council areas which had a majority "Yes" vote in the [[Scottish Independence Referendum]] at 54% with an 87.9% turnout rate.<ref>{{cite web|title=Indyref|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/events/scotland-decides/live|website=BBC|access-date=19 September 2014}}</ref>

==Settlements==
{{Location map+|Scotland West Dunbartonshire
 |caption={{left|The largest settlements in West Dunbartonshire.}}
 |float=right
 |width=500
 |places =
  {{Location map~|Scotland West Dunbartonshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.8997|-4.4006}}|position=left|label='''[[Clydebank]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland West Dunbartonshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.95|-4.566667}}|position=right|label='''[[Dumbarton]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland West Dunbartonshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.983|-4.567}}|position=top|label='''[[Bonhill]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland West Dunbartonshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.98|-04.58}}|position=left|label='''[[Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire|Alexandria]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland West Dunbartonshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.924|-4.417}}|position=bottom|label='''[[Duntocher]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland West Dunbartonshire|coordinates = {{coord|56.002|-4.580}}|position=top|label='''[[Balloch, West Dunbartonshire|Balloch]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland West Dunbartonshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.929719|-4.392313}}|position=left|label='''[[Faifley]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland West Dunbartonshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.9250|-4.4593}}|position=bottom|label='''[[Old Kilpatrick]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland West Dunbartonshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.971|-04.584}}|position=right|label='''[[Renton, West Dunbartonshire|Renton]]'''|label_size=}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland West Dunbartonshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.932|-4.494}}|position=top|label='''[[Bowling, West Dunbartonshire|Bowling]]'''|label_size=}}

<!-- Bordering council areas -->
  {{Location map~|Scotland West Dunbartonshire|coordinates = {{coord|56.012|-4.43|}}|position=left|label=''[[Stirling_(council_area)#Settlements|Stirling]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland West Dunbartonshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.95|-4.386|}}|position=right|label=''[[East Dunbartonshire#Settlements|East<br>Dunb.]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland West Dunbartonshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.911|-4.3883|}}|position=right|label=''[[Glasgow_City_council_area#Settlements|Glasg.]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland West Dunbartonshire|coordinates = {{coord|55.90|-4.51|}}|position=left|label=''[[Renfrewshire#Settlements|Renfrewshire]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}
  {{Location map~|Scotland West Dunbartonshire|coordinates = {{coord|56.018|-4.624|}}|position=left|label=''[[Argyll_and_Bute#Settlements|Argyll and Bute]]''|marksize=0|label_size=120}}

}}

Largest settlements by population:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Settlement
!Population ({{Scottish settlement population citation|year}})<ref>{{Scottish settlement population citation}}</ref>
|-
|[[Clydebank]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Clydebank}}
|-
|[[Dumbarton]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Dumbarton}}
|-
|[[Bonhill]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Bonhill}}
|-
|[[Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire|Alexandria]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Alexandria}}
|-
|[[Duntocher]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Duntocher and Hardgate}}
|-
|[[Balloch, West Dunbartonshire|Balloch]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Balloch and Haldane}}
|-
|[[Faifley]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Faifley}}
|-
|[[Old Kilpatrick]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Old Kilpatrick}}
|-
|[[Renton, West Dunbartonshire|Renton]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Renton}}
|-
|[[Bowling, West Dunbartonshire|Bowling]]
|{{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Bowling}}
|-
|}

==Main sights==
* [[Erskine Bridge]]
* [[Dumbarton Castle]]
* [[Inchmurrin]], the largest freshwater island in the British Isles
* [[Kilpatrick Hills]]
* [[Loch Lomond]]
* [[Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park]]
* [[Overtoun Bridge]]
* [[River Leven, Dunbartonshire|River Leven]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

{{Navboxes
|title = West Dunbartonshire
|list =
{{West Dunbartonshire Settlements}}
{{West Dunbartonshire Schools}}
{{Rugby union in West Dunbartonshire}}
{{West Dunbartonshire elections}}
{{Wards of West Dunbartonshire}}
}}

{{Scotland subdivisions}}
{{Portal bar|Scotland}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Council areas of Scotland]]
[[Category:West Dunbartonshire| ]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1996]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in Scotland]]