Councillors discussed the troubled Bearsden Community Hub at a recent meeting.

East Dunbartonshire Council closed the facility in October 2023 following the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), which is known to collapse without visible warning signs and requires removal.

At a recent meeting of the full council, elected members said the prolonged closure of the community hub, which usually provides various local services including the local library, was causing problems for residents and queried why work was not expected to begin at the site until October.

Council officers clarified that the design phase of the project had been delayed by technical complexities involving utilities, and that a more detailed report on the work would be presented to members in September, including full costings of the project.

Provost Gillian Renwick said the council had not directly received complaints from local residents and asked that these be presented.

Councillor Duncan Cumming (Independent, Bearsden North) asked that technical briefing notes on the development of the Hub repairs be displayed at the building, but was advised that information was available online, and that some time ago the council had made a budgetary decision to cease paper communications whenever possible.

Provost Renwick added that fencing around the community hub meant it was not possible for the public to get close enough to view any notices even if they were posted.

The September full council meeting will take place on September 26 at 5.30pm and it will be available to view live on East Dunbartonshire Council’s YouTube channel.