DALMUIR high flats would save money on vandalism costs if they had concierge services, claim campaigners

New figures from West Dunbartonshire Council suggest the cost of setting up and running a new package for the six buildings would cost around £320,000.

Dalmuir and Mountblow community councillors argued last week that this cost would easily dwarf the bill for repairs to vandalism.

But council bosses said repairs have only amounted to less than £40,000 total for six buildings over three years - a figure the community council has branded "hogwash".

In response to a question from the community council, the local authority said each concierge costs £21-23,000 a year, with a supervisor making £25-27,000. There would be a £150,000 set-up for the cameras, rewiring and linking intercoms, and £20,000 per year in maintenance.

The council told the Dalmuir and Mountblow activists: "There is no current budget for concierge within the HRA [housing revenue account]."

Danny Lennie, newly elected chairman of the community council, said he calculated a £320,000 cost for the first year based on three concierges and two supervisors across the six buildings.

He said: "If you look back at the damage, that would pay for itself within three years. To be honest, I was expecting it would cost £1.5 million."

The community council had formally asked for vandalism costs to the buildings but were told the council system doesn't flag repairs as "vandalism only" and each record would have to be checked manually.

But a West Dunbartonshire Council spokesman told the Post: “The total cost of repairs at all six multi-storey flats in Dalmuir is less than £40,000 over the last three years, which is significantly less than the estimated cost of providing a concierge service.

"We will continue to work with our tenants and residents to deal with the issues raised, and our Public Reassurance Team also regularly patrols the area to combat any instances of anti-social behaviour.”

Mr Lennie dismissed the low figure, claiming there was "no way" vandalism repairs cost only £2,200 per building per year.

He blasted: "Absolute hogwash. I don't know how they're counting that. We live in the high flats. They're playing with figures here."

Mr Lennie added that activists would pursue questioning the costs for the flats.