Councillors have said they will ramp up pressure on Lidl to demolish Alexandria’s eyesore Mitchell Way shopping precinct.
Last year members of West Dunbartonshire Council’s Labour administration approved plans to hand over the long-condemned structure in the heart of the Vale to the budget supermarket giant, with demolition work due to start at the end of 2022.
However, six months later it remains in place, with residents expressing concerns over the presence of rats in the area, as well as leaks from the crumbling former shops and flats.
The issue was raised at a meeting of the local authority’s infrastructure, regeneration and economic development (IRED) committee last week, where members warned that residents were losing patience with the council over the project.
Demolishing Mitchell Way is a key component of £12m plans to transform the Vale which will also overhaul the rundown Main Street and refurbish the iconic Smollett Fountain.
However, deputy council leader Michelle McGinty fears that the local authority could be losing the trust of locals in Alexandria.
The Leven councillor said: “How long do we have to give Lidl before we decide that they are not going to go ahead with the demolition?
“I’ve been meeting with Alexandria traders and residents over the past few weeks talking about the Smollett Fountain and the works going on there.
“They are absolutely delighted to have a part to play in that.
“And if the disruption is going to be too big then it wouldn’t go ahead.
“We are now getting comments that they feel listened to and part of the process. And I would like that reassurance as we go forward as there has been a lot of negativity about the work going on in Alexandria.
“I would like reassurance that we are continuing to take the community along with us on any decisions that are made.
“We don’t want this to be on the never never. The community is getting more and more upset that nothing seems to be done.
“We’re seeing a lot of issues with water leakage and we’re hearing comments about rats being in the area.
“I’m not saying that action is being taken, but the longer it lies without demolition work taking place the more negative the story becomes.
“It’s the council who is het for it. Not Lidl.
“The public believe that this is the council’s problem to solve. And we have to have a clear idea of when to say enough is enough.”
Councillor McGinty’s queries about the action that could be taken by WDC were echoed by Lomond SNP member Jonathan McColl, who added: “It would be great if the administration and officers could agree a way to get the thing demolished. There certainly wouldn’t be any objection from this side of the chamber.”
In response, WDC’s legal officer Alan Douglas said that no work could be undertaken without a change to the contract between Lidl and the local authority, but added that pressure was being applied to Lidl.
IRED committee chair David McBride commented: “I think it’s clear that there’s a level of frustration with regards to the project.
“Many of us know that there have been obstacles put in place; and to be fair some of those have been added by the council.
“But there is a determination from the administration that we go ahead as soon as possible.”
