That message was hammered home to a cynical audience by Falkirk Council officials when Bo'ness area forum met on Thursday. Around 60 residents were at the meeting in Kinneil Primary School.

Summing up after more than an hour's heated discussion, Councillor Linda Gow, leader of the Labour-led Falkirk Council, said: "It was at one stage the developer's intention to walk away.

"If they are still willing to go ahead we should be willing to work with them.

"Falkirk Council has paid for the best professional advice and ING is willing to stay at the table. But we are not going to impose a development on the people of Bo'ness if they do not want it."

Pete Reid, of the council's regeneration unit, added: "Independent assessors tell us that ING is the only developer who could progress this scheme at this time."

Local residents' hackles have been up since the news broke that ING wanted to rearrange the programme of works for the foreshore and harbour.

ING has claimed volatility of money markets means it cannot now risk commencing with the regeneration aspect of the £150 million scheme.

The Dutch developer figures it would cost up to £45 million to strengthen the dock, build the associated infrastructure and develop the marina and hotel which were included in the original submission to Falkirk Council in 2004.

It now says that is too big a risk to take and wants to
commence house building instead. It has drawn up a profit-sharing deal, with the council's share ringfenced for harbour and dock redevelopment which will commence some time in the future.

Mr Reid attempted to dispel fears ING would deliberately underprice the new homes to minimise the amount going into the harbour pot.

He said: "It is written into the agreement that ING cannot sell the properties at less than market value."

He also attempted to allay worries about the architecture.
Mr Reid said rumours of six-storey apartment blocks were unsubstantiated.

"It's true that two six-storey 'gateway' features have been mentioned but at the moment nothing has been decided.

"What we have agreed is only outline planning consent and such matters as whether or not a six-storey development is appropriate will be down to the planning process," he said.

But Gary Chapman insisted: "This is a land grab by ING with no guarantees for Bo'ness!"

Councillor John Constable won a round of applause when he criticised the council for not bringing an ING representative to the forum.

He said: "The big question is: 'Are we now to see a piecemeal development with housing given priority and will that generate enough income for a meaningful harbour development?' "

Douglas Duff, the council's head of economic development, told the meeting: "This application requires significant decisions for Bo'ness."

Further consultation is likely to include newsletters, display boards and, possibly, telephone canvassing.

editorial@journalandgazette.co.uk