PLANS to demolish the former Play Drome in the town’s Abbotsford Road have been rubber stamped.

Members of the West Dunbartonshire infrastructure, regeneration and economic development committee (IRED) gave their blessing to the proposal at a meeting last Wednesday in the town hall.

A council report asked committee members to agree to allow the preferred developer Henry Boot Developments Limited permission to demolish the building, formerly known as the Play Drome, prior to conclusion of the sale of the whole site.

Back in December last year, the IRED committee agreed to conclude negotiations with Henry Boot Developments Limited for the sale of the Play Drome site for £3,918,300.

It’s understood the developers want to build a variety of retail outlets but they need to demolish the building in order to complete essential site investigation works.

The report added: “The existing building occupies 17 per cent of the site and in order to establish the extent of the cost of building and other costs HBD requires to demolish the building.”

It’s understood that the total cost of demolition is around £500,000, which the local authority has agreed to underwrite.

The Play Drome closed in March. The property currently is held by the West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust who are exempt from paying rates on operational properties.

However, the council will ultimately be required to take possession of the property and thereafter pay empty rates until the sale to HBD completes.

Should, however, a sale not complete, and the property is required to be re-marketed, the council will require to pay empty rates until another sale completes or the property is demolished.

Martin Rooney, the Labour opposition group leader, said at the meeting: “It’s a no-brainer, we need this recommendation.”

And Jim McAloon, the council’s strategic lead for regeneration, added: “It’s over 20 years old and with serious defects in its structure.”

It’s unclear when the building will be demolished.