Residents will get the chance to shape new Covid-19 memorial gardens in Dumbarton and Alexandria.
During a full meeting of West Dunbartonshire Council last week, members and officers confirmed that they will work with each community to identify what they feel would be appropriate.
Across the area 316 coronavirus-related deaths have been recorded since the first cases were reported locally in March 2020.
So far three locations that have been identified to feature a memorial: Levengrove Park in Dumbarton, Dalmuir Park in Clydebank and Christie Park in Alexandria.
The memorial gardens would include a natural stone memorial with a plaque, seating area, floral beds and will be located in an area of the park that is suitable for peace and reflection.
Officers have set up a small working group and have held a series of meetings to consider what would be an appropriate memorial.
The group will develop a consultation strategy that will allow all residents to have a say in the layout and development of the memorial gardens.
Communities will also be consulted on the wording for the memorial plaque and there is an opportunity to have further plaques on the benches within the seating area. And council leader Jonathan McColl hopes they will be fitting tributes to the impact the pandemic has had on local communities.
He said: “It has been a gargantuan effort from everyone.
“I think it is important that we have something in each of the three main towns in West Dunbartonshire and that we will now move forward to ask the community what shape they want it to take and what they want to be in those
spaces. Our communities have suffered terribly over the past two years and I would like to thank my colleagues that have brought forward motions and discussed ideas with officers over the last year or so.
“I think it is a very important thing that we have to do so that we don’t forget about the sacrifice that has been made by those who have been impacted and those who have worked so hard to try and minimise the impact on our communities to ensure they were as safe and well as they could be.”
Labour’s Gail Casey echoed Councillor McColl’s comments, adding: “We really appreciate the work that has been done on this and as the mover of one of the motions I want to thank the officers for the work they have put into
this. I look forward to seeing the results in time.”
