A local politician says she fears having 'no council-ran community facilities' following a decision to sell six assets as the local authority tries to plug funding gaps.

Lauren Oxley, SNP councillor for Clydebank Waterfront, has said that it's 'really sad' to see the loss of community buildings after a recent West Dunbartonshire Council committee meeting sold off a community centre, two libraries and a former after-school centre.

She said: "I worry about the impact that these decisions will have in the longer terms, especially for our younger generations who will now not have access to these services - it’s really sad.

"I fear that our communities will soon be left with no council-ran community facilities.

"I completely understand and appreciate that the council is in a difficult financial situation and that hard decisions need to be made. However, making these choices without any regard for the consequences that it will have on the most vulnerable people in society is not the way to go."

At the meeting held on November 6, the council's Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development Committee sold six assets from across West Dunbartonshire.

This included the former Clydebank East Community Centre in Whitecrook, the former Dalmuir Library, a piece of land by Great Western Road, the former Balloch Library, 109 Howatshaws Road - formerly Bellsmyre Schools Out Club and 2a Manse Drive which was surrendered by Haldane Football Club.

Dalmuir Library was moved into Dalmuir Community Centre in July this yearDalmuir Library was moved into Dalmuir Community Centre in July this year (Image: West Dunbartonshire Council) The council made £683,101 off of the sales. 

Lauren campaigned against the closure of Clydebank East Community Centre which as we previously reported is now set to become a SPAR store.

Lauren Oxley asked the council to keep the building in the hands of the communityLauren Oxley asked the council to keep the building in the hands of the community (Image: Newsquest)Clydebank East Community Centre in WhitecrookClydebank East Community Centre in Whitecrook (Image: Newsquest) The centre was one of seven community buildings set to be sold under the council's March 2023 budget.

So far, Bowling Hall and Clydebank East have closed. Napier Hall and Glenhead centres have managed to secure leases and the fate of West Dunbartonshire Activity Centre and Bonhill Community Centre are unknown.

Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels secured a 10-year lease for Napier Hall in 2023 (Image: Newsquest) Skypoint Centre in Faifley closed in January whilst they await a new community campus being built which is due for completion in 2026.

These cutbacks were announced to save the council around £450,000.

Speaking at the meeting Councillor David McBride, chair of the committee, said the council was 'on its knees' and it was 'with regret' that they made the decisions.

The local authority set its 2024/25 budget with a variety of saving options to plug their £8.3million budget gap. 

The next budget will be set in March 2025.

Martin Rooney, Labour Council Leader, has said that it would be "wrong to suggest that West Dunbartonshire Council doesn’t support community groups."

He continued to list some of their latest projects supporting community groups.

He said: "Our Cost of Living Fund has provided much-needed support to local community groups over the past years and committed funding support over the term of the administration.

"For example, we helped Faifley Community Food Pantry with £20,000 to purchase a new van for collection and delivery of food and other donations.

"West Dunbartonshire Community Foodshare was awarded £19,413 for a replacement van to support deliveries and collections of food and other donations.

"We introduced a foodbank supplement of £1,000 per week to be shared between West Dunbartonshire foodbanks to help with the purchase of food items to supplement donations from the public and businesses - this was increased to support West Dunbartonshire Community Foodshare - £42k per annum.

"Food 4 Thought - £42k per annum; Old Kilpatrick Community Hub - £18k per annum; and Faifley Foodshare - £18k per annum. We also gave Dalmuir Barclay Foodbank – one off £2k."