DRUMRY residents have been urged to lend a hand to ensure the future of a local community hall.

Members of the Clydebank Good Causes group have launched a campaign for volunteers to help return Onslow Road Community Hall to the popular neighbourhood hotspot it once was.

The venue has already secured funding from West Dunbartonshire Council but is in desperate need of helpers to put the cash to good use.

Gerry MacWhirter has worked round the clock to keep the hall from the closure it faced last year and now hopes others will come forward to protect its future.

He said: “We didn’t want to (close the hall). There was only about four of us and we were putting ads up, shared them about, got interest but only from a couple of people.

“When we took over it was a constant battle but over the Christmas period we’ve just got right in and cleaned it up.”

The group has already put its DIY skills to good use on the bathrooms and are awaiting a “deep clean” team to get the kitchen up to scratch this weekend, getting them one step closer to reopening the hall’s internet cafe.

A mobile crèche, parties, ESOL and dance classes already use the hall but the group know it’s capable of doing even more for the area.

One volunteer, Boxer Toye said: “We are just really wanting to get people in and get the place up and running for the community.

“We’ve had a lot of feedback from the people in Clydebank. We’ve had people that are working full time that are willing to give their time and that’s great to hear.

“The most important thing is that it’s for the Drumry community. We’re all from different areas – I’m from Faifley – but the point is it’s Clydebank as a whole and we want to do that for Drumry.”

West Dunbartonshire Council leader Councillor Martin Rooney has already given his backing to the cause and hopes local residents will also make the pledge to help improve the hall.

He said: “The success of the centre is the result of past and current volunteers but it is vital that the committee encourage new members and volunteers to get involved as this is the best way to develop new ideas and initiatives to make sure that the local community is fully involved.

“I want to encourage local residents to show their support for the centre and to help shape its future.

“The council has already committed around £100,000 for improvements including a new play facility and I have requested that the community planning partnership manager provides help and support through the council’s Your Community team.”

Cllr John Mooney agreed: “I am very happy to give my full support to the Linnvale and Drumry Community Council and am pleased that volunteers want to get involved with the Community Centre in Onslow Road.”

Boxer added: “We’re only here to make the community better.

“Clydebank didn’t have a great year so we’re just hoping to get everybody together and uplifted again.”

To volunteer contact the hall on 0141 562 0188, email onslowrdhall@hotmail.com or via the group’s Facebook or Twitter page.