Clydebank Town Hall is to be “open for business” again as the council agreed on a reversal of the “bizarre” decisions of the previous administration.

In a meeting of the cultural committee on Wednesday, councillors unanimously passed a motion on a number of changes to the operation of the building, such as its opening hours and the removal of current restrictions limiting bookings for events such as weddings.

It was also decided not to proceed with the development of a standalone West Dunbartonshire website that would cost the council approximately £100,000 and instead look to enhance the current offering.

Labour Councillor Craig Edward, who attended the meeting, said afterwards: “I was genuinely pleased to move the recommendations which will see Clydebank Town Hall ‘open for business’ for residents. 

"As a Clydebank councillor, I know the town hall is Clydebank’s jewel in the crown and many Bankies have fond memories of this building from attending events such as weddings here.

“Today’s committee has reversed the decisions of the previous SNP-led administration, which were bizarre. The town hall should be available for the public to use more frequently and that will now happen. This decision will also generate income for the council which is really important.”

The committee was set up and led over the past five years by independent councillor Bailie Denis Agnew, who backed the SNP to form a council administration.

In August 2021, elected members agreed for a report to be brought back to a future cultural committee that would see the town hall move away from being a commercial venue, open for seven days a week and look at reimplementing a coffee shop in the building.

And in March 2022, the same committee agreed to earmark £103,650 to finance the development of a visit West Dunbartonshire website.

The decision to operate the town hall mainly as a civic centre meant limiting external bookings and restricting the period in advance at which bookings could be taken. This meant a backlog of more than 100 live booking enquiries for 2023/24 and 2024/25 which could not be progressed further as they were for events more than six months in advance.

As well as this, it was recommended to open the town hall for seven days a week. The meeting heard that it costs circa £260,000 to run the building annually with very little footfall received on a Sunday. The decision was made to revert to a six-day opening week.

All decisions have now been reversed alongside an agreement to install a permanent Blitz Museum in the basement of Clydebank Library, as reported by the Post on Tuesday.

“It was particularly humbling to also approve a permanent museum exhibition telling the story of the Clydebank Blitz within Clydebank Library. This will include a roll of honour of those killed as a result of the bombings which I know will be welcomed by many,” Cllr Edward added.