A NEW health centre WILL be built in Clydebank after funding was approved, the Post can reveal.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney, pictured, will today (Wednesday) announce that new medical centres have been given the go ahead in both Clydebank and Greenock.

Health chiefs had stated in February that only Greenock would benefit from a cash investment, but Mr Swinney will confirm that the £19 million first made available to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has now been doubled.

Cross party campaigners in West Dunbartonshire have been fighting for a new health centre to replace the current 40-year-old building based in Kilbowie Road.

Queens Quay has been earmarked as the new site and there are plans that the health centre would operate in tandem with a £10 million care home already approved for Queens Quay.

Council leader Martin Rooney said: “This is fantastic news and I am absolutely delighted that over 40,000 residents in Clydebank will be getting the brand new health centre that they deserve.

“This is the last part of the planned public investment required for the Queens Quay site. West Dunbartonshire Council has already moved 280 staff into Aurora House which we secured last year from Clydebank Property Company.

“We started the construction of the new Clydebank Leisure Centre on the Queens Quay site two weeks ago. We have committed £11m for a new 84 bed residential care home and day care centre.

“Queens Quay is West Dunbartonshire Council’s flagship regeneration project and the additional investment from the Scottish Government for the new Clydebank Health Centre will significantly boost investors’ confidence and guarantees its success.” There are plans for more than 1,000 new homes on the Queens Quay site, including at least 180 social rented properties.

It is understood Clydebank Housing Association may invest in social housing at Queens Quay if the Scottish Government can provide additional support.

There are expected to be around 2,500 residents on the site in 10 years. A new hotel and a pub are included in the masterplan.

The site will also have a number of business units.