A WEST End community centre will be in operation for the first time in almost two years for COP26 – despite residents being unable to access the site.

Netherton Community Centre will open its doors to UK Health Security Agency officials who will be on hand to offer support during the international summit, which began earlier this week.

The agency, which is the successor body to Public Health England, is responsible for “planning, preventing and responding to external health threats” and will operate the sites for three weeks.

However, the reopening has prompted fury among local residents who have been desperate to see the site open its doors once again following its closure in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The area’s councillor Paul Carey said: “It is incredible that a building which has had more than £2 million spent on it prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and has been closed to the community for nearly two years now by Glasgow Life, suddenly we can open it for a few weeks – but we cannot find the money to open it up for our community.”

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While Cllr Elspeth Kerr added: “I think lots of buildings will be being used during COP26, but it is a kick in the teeth to the residents who desperately want this centre open for them to use.

“I am not sure if any payment will be received for using Netherton Community Centre as I asked Glasgow Life, which it didn’t answer, but did say that any expenses would be covered.

“I believe that COP26 is being too intrusive in our communities and big, important conferences like this should be more inclusive of the people living in the cities where they are held.”

Glasgow Life has been unable to confirm what the future will hold for the Netherton Road venue, which reopened in January last year after a significant upgrade to “improve the looks and feel” of the site.

Work began in December 2018 to transform the centre with a £2.4m upgrade which included a new roof and windows, a complete re-decoration of the interiors and an upgrade to external lighting.

As previously reported, Netherton is one of dozens of Glasgow City Council-owned sites which is being considered for a “community takeover” and has already received notes of interest from local groups looking to take part in the project.

The area’s Baillie Malcolm Balfour said: “Glasgow Life have had no say in this, nor has Glasgow City Council.

“Whilst I understand that local residents will no doubt be rightly annoyed about this, as am I, this is out with the control of anyone in the city.”

Glasgow Life said it was unable to comment on the matter.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “As part of contingency planning for COP 26, premises were required to accommodate UK Health Security Agency officials who provide four nations support for major events.”

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The majority of the COP26 summit will take place at the SECC on the banks of the River Clyde, however, it’s understood several other buildings throughout Glasgow will be used – either partly or in full – to facilitate the conference.

Today, the world leaders, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden, will continue their discussions on how to prevent catastrophic climate events.

The UN summit will then continue until November 12 with much of the city’s road closures expected to stay in place until November 15.