Clydebank is closer to having a new cultural centre, after West Dunbartonshire Council's Housing, Environmental and Economic Development Committee agreed in principle to progress the Civic Heart Project to the development stage.

A report to the Committee outlined a number of options for the Town Hall Complex which were developed by architects Page\Park, who were commissioned on behalf of the Council by Clydebank Rebuilt. The agreed option will cost around £3.17 million and will be funded by West Dunbartonshire Council, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government, subject to final approval.


The plans will see the Town Hall's main and lesser halls refurbished, and the entrance of the building moved to Hall Street, with a larger foyer space created. A new link building will be built between the Town Hall foyer and the Bruce Street Pool Hall, to house a gallery space and toilets. The Pool Hall itself will be made wind and watertight, and the pool will be filled in to provide a large floor area that could be used for temporary exhibitions, such as large scale art and video installations that can be viewed from the new gallery.

A garden space will also be created on Bruce Street to make the Town Hall more attractive as an events venue.

Development will not start until a business plan is reported to a future meeting of the Housing, Environmental and Economic Development Committee.

(CD/BMcc)