Arrangements to re-open Clydebank Town Hall for a trial period of six months in a bid to improve the well-being of residents are being finalised.
The decision to open the hall for six months in the upcoming financial year was made during a cultural committee meeting in December last year.
READ MORE: Glasgow risks public health disaster as rats and foxes 'run riot' in West End
An update on the proposals was brought before members of the committee this morning where it was confirmed that the Town Hall would still open between April 2022 and April 2023.
West Dunbartonshire Council is in ongoing talks with trade unions and staff about proposals to open the venue on a Sunday and recently confirmed that there will be no compulsory redundancies to accommodate this.
The Town Hall, which closed in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, still remains shut.
Chairman Baillie Dennis Agnew said: “We want to re-open the Town Hall for the benefit of Clydebank citizens but I think we should continue discussions on weekend opening arrangements.”
Baillie Agnew also reiterated that there would be no compulsory redundancies following concerns from trade union representatives.
He added: “I think this is important [to clarify this] because the nature of discussions when you are starting to re-open a facility will lead to a lot of confusion.
“Officers will continue discussions to open the Town Hall which will in turn benefit the well-being of Clydebank citizens.”
Council leader Jonathon McColl said that he did not think that it was the committee’s intention to ever put staff jobs in jeopardy.
He added: “I do understand how that conclusion could have been drawn given the conversations that were having to be had around it and proposals that the committee were putting forward.
“I think that clarity has been incredibly helpful and will hopefully put staff’s mind at ease and we can move forward and get on with this trial once we get the approval of the committee.”
