Published: Wednesday, 28th October, 2009 4:00pm

New heart for Clydebank

by Jamie Borthwick

THE historic Town Hall is at the heart of a multi-million pound plan to create a cultural centre for Clydebank.

The hall, which is in urgent need of repair to guard the roof and prevent damp, is the focus of the Civic Quarter project formulated by West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) and Clydebank Rebuilt.

Along with the Bruce Street swimming baths and the library, it is hoped the Civic Quarter will become a key link between the existing retail area to the north, and the proposed development to the south on Queens Quay.

Page Park Architects was commissioned to produce detailed plans and the options have been published to be discussed at a meeting of WDC's Housing, Environment and Economic Development committee next Wednesday (November 4).

Of the seven options for redevelopment - ranging in price from £1.8m to nearly £11m - the council will be recommended to approve one costing £3.17m.

This would see the main and lesser halls of the Town Hall refurbished to hold bigger events and the Hall Street entrance landscaped to become the main door to the building.

A new museum would be created within the rooms vacated by the district court.

The option recommended to the council would see the baths on Bruce Street retained and used as a gallery space, while the rest of the building would be demolished to make way to create a walkway link to the museum and improved toilet facilities.

Funding of £3.3m for the exciting project will come from Clydebank Rebuilt's allocation from the Scottish Government - which it must spend by 2011 - and also from WDC and outside sources.

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