Community councillors in Alexandria have written to ward councillors to ask why the eyesore Mitchell Way shopping centre still hasn’t been demolished.
The dilapidated structure is due to be torn down as part of a £12m masterplan to transform the heart of the Vale.
Locals have been calling for its demolition for well over a decade, with plans finally given the green-light in December.
However little action has been taken, with Alexandria Community Council discussing the issue at a meeting last week.
Community councillors were told that contractors were still awaiting a start date for full demolition work, but that soft stripping tasks had been completed.
Minutes from the meeting however expressed concern over the eyesore’s current state, reading: “Alexandria CC are very unhappy with the lack of communication and progress on this issue as well as regards of health and safety of what is a live site surrounding the derelict buildings.
“Our secretary Harry McCormack is to send a letter to all WDC councillors on the CC’s behalf to outline these frustrations and ask for improved communication and action on the matter.”
Hitting out at the lack of action, and a decision last year to remove a social housing element of the redevelopment plans, Jim Bollan of the Community Party said: “The council leader said in June 2022 that the main reason Labour decided to drop the 25 new build properties for rent in this location was to speed up the demolition and development of the site.
“We are almost a year in from this promise and not a brick has been removed.
“It is time Labour stepped up to the plate and made this demolition and development a priority.”
The SNP's Ian Dickson added: "It's incredibly frustrating to see Mitchell Way in its current state, especially as it should have been demolished almost a year ago.
“The Alexandria Town Centre forum, was a place where local people, traders, charities and community groups met regularly with Councillors and Council staff to be updated on work in the town, but Labour scrapped it as soon as they took over the Council.
“There was little scrutiny of their gift of £1m of land to Lidl and they've allowed their planning officers to delay the demolition of Mitchell Way indefinitely.
“With this and the decimation of budgets linked to much needed capital works, it is clear to me and the public that regeneration in Alexandria is not a priority for the Labour Party.
“I alongside my SNP colleagues and the local community will continue to call on Labour to step up, do their job, and continue the much needed redevelopment and improvement of our town centre.”
West Dunbartonshire Council say they are committed to the regeneration of Alexandria, with a spokeswoman saying: “The buildings have been stripped in preparation for demolition and we await a date from the contractor to start work.”
