Published: Wednesday, 10th February, 2010 1:00pm

Cash cut could close Antonine

FEARS for the future of one of the few sports centres in Clydebank have grown after a funding cut.

The Antonine Centre, in Duntocher, will lose 20 per cent of a vital grant after West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) slashed £10,000 from the facility in this year's budget.

Staff at the sports centre held an emergency meeting last week to discuss WDC's decision to reduce the grant to £40,000.

The SNP, which is responsible for the cut, said the centre had been warned its grant would be reduced in the coming years.

A statement released by the Antonine - which has gym, football, tennis and badminton facilities - said staff were "very concerned" about the "substantial cut".

Councillor Douglas McAllister, Labour representative for Duntocher, said the cut was "shocking".

He told the Post: "I doubt if the centre can survive it.

"I have discussed this terrible cut with the manager and I understand they have genuine fears for the future of the facility.

"It is a disgrace that the SNP has endangered the future of this service which is vital to the north of Clydebank."

Councillor Craig McLaughlin, SNP, who prepared the budget which will remove £10,000 from the centre, defended the move and said the Antonine was given time to build up reserves to cope with the grant reduction.

Councillor McLaughlin said: "Some years ago we gave an increase in the grant to the Antonine Sports Centre in order to build up reserves for the future, on the assumption that the grant would decrease over time.

"We are now honouring that commitment.

"No element of the public finance sector is safe from funding shortages just now."