Residents fury as community centre to become SPAR store

 James Gracie has joined a group of voices who are sharing their dismay at the selling of Clydebank East Community Centre which previously housed a series of services for locals.

Speaking to the Glasgow Times, James, who is a resident in the town's Whitecrook, said: "I've lived here for about 10 years and there is nothing here. I’m not happy about this at all.

"We need the centre for the community because there's nothing for the kids.

"A local woman was trying to buy it, she wanted to put on hot meals to make sure the pensioners were kept warm and to provide something for the kids.

"We don't want to see it going, we don't need a shop. We're snookered."

We previously reported that West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) sent out a letter at the end of January informing three groups – two community and one commercial - who used the building and that it would be shut permanently in March this year.

The decision was approved as a cost-cutting measure at WDC’s budget meeting in March 2023 and at a committee meeting last week plans for it to be sold to become a SPAR were approved.

James Gracie has lived in Whitecrook for more than ten years (Image: Newsquest)

Two bids were made by community groups who intended to keep the building for use by locals.

Ashfaq owns Fleming Foodstore on Fleming Avenue, Whitecrook (Image: Newsquest) Ashfaq Ahmed, owner of Fleming Foodstore which is situated a few doors down from the building, says he thinks the centre was of great benefit to the local area and that it will be sad to see it go.

He said: "It's not right. There are a lot of shops here already. That should never become a SPAR, that should be given back to the community.

"It’s been there for years, they had after-school care in there and other things."

Former Clydebank East Community Centre on the corner of Fleming Avenue (Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns) In a last-ditch attempt, Yvonne O'Neill, secretary of Whitecrook Community Action Group, who put forth a bid for the centre, addressed the councillors at the meeting and asked them to delay their decision.

She said: "We were deeply disappointed to find out that after jumping through hoops to achieve all that's been reached in such a short space of time, our business plan hasn't even reached the table today.

"We have started up a food parcel service to help people struggling in our area, most of which have children. However, we are limited as to what we can provide at the moment as this currently runs from my home and there's only so much I can store.

"All I ask is that you put the sale on hold until you have had time to at least read our business plan."

Councillor Lauren Oxley seconded Yvonne's position and asked the committee to delay their decision.

Lauren Oxley has previously criticised the handling of the community centre selling (Image: Newsquest) She said: "The recommended sale of the community centre for commercial use would leave little opportunities for local groups some of which were previous users of the centre before it closed.

"Once again the residents of my ward are feeling the worst effects of Labour’s decision to close our community facilities across Clydebank."

Councillor David McBride, chair of the Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development Committee, claimed that the council's financial struggles needed to be addressed.

He said: "I have expressed that it is with regret that I am having to move this recommendation. I don’t see any value in continuing it, I think it is just stretching a process out and I don’t think it is going to change the outcome. I think it will be the same.

"The financial situation of this council is one that has to be addressed, it can't just be continually continued.

"Sometimes you just need to make a decision and unfortunately, I believe this is the best value for the council."

The building was sold to IA Real Estate Limited for a sum of £150,000.