A GIANT woodland park is planned for the banks of the Clyde as part of a multi-million pound blueprint to regenerate Rutherglen and Glasgow's East End.

And it could help kick-start the creation of another two new bridges across the river to help attract much needed jobs.

Plans to develop an existing wooded area into a park will lead to the creation of a new footbridge over the river, linking the old Royal Burgh with Dalmarnock, which is set to play a pivotal role in the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The project partners, Clyde Gateway, South Lanarkshire Council and the Forestry Commission Scotland, want to create a 40-acre woodland park.

It would be located on a landmark bend on the Clyde, Cuningar Loop, on the the south bank. The Loop covers more than 74 acres of unused land in Rutherglen, which will be accessed from Downiebrae Road, but only half the area would be planted with trees.

The new woodland would have a network of paths for walkers as well as recreational facilities for outdoor enthusiasts.

The park lies within the boundaries of what was once the Royal Burgh of Rutherglen, which is now part of South Lanarkshire. Clyde Gateway not only has the responsibility to bring jobs and investment to Glasgow's East End, but to Rutherglen too.

And the proposed wood is seen as an important feature to help boost the quality of life in the area, and officials are anxious that as many people as possible benefit.

They want to open up the park and plan a footbridge linking the site to the Athletes' Villege in Dalmarnock, currently being built for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

When the curtain comes down on the Games, the accommodation used to house 6500 competitors and officials from around the world will be used to create a new East End community.

The park plan has the backing of Dalmarnock community activist and newly elected Labour councillor Yvonne Kucuk.

She said: "It is wonderful news.

"It will bring back life to this part of the Clyde. Locals have very fond memories of the Cuningar Loop. It is a beautiful area of woodland and it's on our doorstep."

The proposed park and pedestrian bridge is to be the subject of a new round of public consultations ahead of any planning application. Locals can find out more details and comment on the plans at:

l Tesco, Dalmarnock Road, this Thursday between 2pm-8pm.

l Asda, Parkhead Forge, next Monday between 2pm-8pm.

l Dalmarnock Centre, Lily Street, next Tuesday between 2pm-8pm.

A spokeswoman for the project partners said: "A planning application for the park is going to be submitted to the local councils and we would now like to discuss plans for the future of the site as a woodland park."

She added: "The purpose of the consultations is to obtain feedback prior to the submission of a planning application.

"We hope that people come along to one of the events. However, if they would like further information or details then they can contact Tom Wallace, Cuningar Loop project manager on 0141 276 1573 or e-mail tom.wallace@clydegateway.com

"Written comments will be accepted by post to Clyde Gateway, 11 Bridgeton Cross, Glasgow, G40 1BN, until July 6."

The park and bridge plan comes after the go-ahead was given to build a £4.75m footbridge over the Clyde linking Dalmarnock to Shawfield, where a new business district is to be developed by Clyde Gateway to bring much needed jobs not just to the East End but the south bank of the river.

Tens of millions of pounds are to be spent creating a range of business facilities, including new offices, manufacturing sites, workshops, depots and warehousing.

Improving access to the area is a key factor and the new bridge will play a part. Regeneration chiefs say workers will be able to walk to Shawfield from the new £11m Dalmarnock Railway Station in less than 10 minutes.

Currently, the same journey takes at least twice as long. The footbridge is expected to be built further down river, to link Shawfield with the southern part of Dalmarnock.

Almost half the cost of the walkway – £1.9m – is being met from the European Regional Development Fund.

Clyde Gateway's chief executive, Ian Manson, said: "The redevelopment of the Shawfield area is every bit as important as our work to deliver physical, social and economic change in the East End of Glasgow.

"There are big chunks of land in Shawfield that require substantial investment to remove contamination, and, since day one of Clyde Gateway, delivering on this has been a priority."

He added: "Shawfield, with its superb location on the south bank of the River Clyde, not far from the city centre or the historic Burgh of Rutherglen, is an area of enormous potential.

"We want to establish a newly designated national business district, adjacent to the completed M74, as a location more than capable of being the home to thousands of new jobs in years to come.

"The new bridge is part of a vision and strategy to deliver infrastructure and development within Shawfield and Dalmarnock."

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk