But it took the casting vote of Provost Pat Reid to ensure the £175 million scheme goes ahead.

A vote was tied 15-15 on Wednesday after Tory Malcolm Nicol broke ranks and sided with the SNP and Councillor Robert Spears (Independent) who opposed ING's decision to begin with house-building.

The Dutch-based financial giant had initially offered to redevelop the town's harbour and dock as a marina and leisure development before starting work on a 700-home development.

But when the credit crunch hit, it said paying £40 million to install the infrastructure needed for the development was too risky and the alternative was proposed.

After the vote, Provost Reid praised the Bo'ness regeneration working group which laid the ground for the ING scheme, singling out Councillors John and Harry Constable.

But he warned: "If this scheme does not go ahead it will leave us in a vacuum, and I can't see anything which would fill that vacuum.
He then used his casting vote to support the go-ahead.

It ended a two-hour debate in which the SNP sought to bring ING back to the drawing board.

The group wanted ING told the harbour regeneration was crucial to its involvement with Falkirk Council and Bo'ness.

Councillor John Constable slammed the consultation by the council. He said the go ahead was an insult to democracy.

He said: "The Bo'ness people have spoken and, by a slender majority, have said 'no' to the revised harbour proposals.

"The report is saying you may have won the vote but we're going to do what we wanted to do in the first place whether Bo'ness likes it or not. But should we be surprised given that the consultation had to be wrung out of the council in the first place?"

The council hosted meetings and put out a newsletter with ING's revised proposals. It also let the public vote online. But there were problems with the technology and distribution of the newsletter was erratic.

Labour councillor Adrian Mahoney said: "People naturally feel disappointed the scheme won't progress as planned. At a time when harbour projects are being cancelled, we have a scheme that still offers a chance of success for Bo'ness. I think we have to take that opportunity."

Bruce Henderson, secretary of Bo'ness Means Business, said: "Most of Bo'ness will be celebrating."

Community Council con-vener Madelene Hunt said: "The community council supported the revised plans after extensive consultation. The decision has now been made and we must move on and support the future development of the foreshore and, ultimately, our town."

Hamish Calder, director of project management at ING Real Estate Development UK Ltd said: "We are delighted with the decision and look forward to working with the council, the local community and our other partners to take this exciting project forward."