It will be a tartan version of Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, with a cast list that could range from medical pioneer Sir Joseph Lister to rock

guitarist Angus Young, or from Prime Minister Gordon Brown to football boss Sir Alex Ferguson. But, instead of the sidewalks of Tinseltown, the celebration of Scots who have made their mark on the world will adorn the riverside in the nation’s biggest city.

Tomorrow the go-ahead is expected for Glasgow’s Greats – a tribute to those Glaswegians and adopted Glaswegians who have made a contribution to Scottish success and ingenuity in all walks of life.

The idea is drawn from the Walk of Fame – the three-and-a-half-mile walk along Hollywood Boulevard embedded with more than 2000 stars featuring the names of celebrities and fictional characters.

The Glasgow scheme will see a series of plaques embedded within the public realm, such as pavements. Each one is to be specially commissioned and designed to relate to the individual whose achievement was being marked.

The organisers say this will deliver a “unique cultural attraction”.

A selection panel of people from a wide cross-section of Scottish life will select candidates for the plaques – including names from the worlds of literature, art, engineering, design, science, business, sport, entertainment, and education, as well as representatives from the city council and trades union movement.

Glasgow residents will also be invited to get involved in the selection process.

Names bandied around yesterday as potential candidates included artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh; anti-slavery campaigner James Oswald MP; Robert Stewart, the man who brought Loch Katrine water to Glasgow; Scotland’s inaugural First Minister Donald Dewar; businesswoman Michelle Mone; Billy Connolly; Lulu; Kenny Dalglish and Jock Stein. Or those who did their greatest work in Glasgow such as Lister, James Watt and Lord Kelvin.

First moot-ed by the SNP opposition in the city two years ago, the estimated cost for Glasgow’s Greats is an initial £120,000, while sponsorship will be sought for plaques from organisations or businesses.

Built to a maximum size of 2ft by 2ft and using a range of materials to give them robustness and durability, the intention would be for the trail of plaques to begin at Glasgow Green and extend along the River Clyde Walkway to the SECC.

An initial 20 plaques would be installed within Glasgow Green with additional plaques being added. There would be an accompanying leaflet to promote the trail and explain each plaque.

It would help transform the River Clyde to become part of the city’s tourism trail and play a role in the promotion of the city in the run-up to the Commonwealth Games.

Councillor George Ryan, executive member for development and regeneration at the council, said: “Glaswegians have made a huge impact on the world, and the project would celebrate the achievements of people in all walks of life who have contributed to the success and renown of the city and Scotland.”

James Dornan, SNP group leader, added: “The news that the Council is taking up the long-standing SNP proposal to celebrate the lives and achievements of Glasgow’s Greats is to be welcomed.

“The original idea came from Councillor Patricia Gibson. I hope that Councillor Gibson will be invited to be a member of the panel.”