Published: Tuesday, 18th November, 2008 09:30
Call to light up Dumbarton Castle
By Ewan McInnes
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Councillor Calvert in front of Dumbarton rock
Pic by: Joe Mulgrew
CALLS have been made to light up Dumbarton Castle to its former glory after claims that it has been neglected for years.
The upkeep of the famous landmark came under fire last week because floodlighting at the site has fallen victim to vandalism and poor maintenance.
Town councillor Geoff Calvert is demanding that West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) stops ignoring what he describes as the “jewel” in Dumbarton’s crown and take it out of darkness.
He wants a £10,000 feasibility study to be carried out in order to find out the costs for lighting up the castle once more.
Councillor Calvert told the Reporter: “The reason the lights have been off for so many years is because they were vandalised.
“The council had spent a lot of money to get them built.
“To get this [feasibility study] going we have to formalise what we are wanting to do."
WDC took on the annual maintenance costs of the lighting for a 10-year period starting in 1993.
When this agreement, funded partly by Scottish Enterprise, expired the floodlighting was no longer switched on or looked after.
Historic Scotland said that it does not pay for the upkeep of lighting at any of its Scottish landmarks because of archaeological reasons.
A spokeswoman said that any lighting costs are met by the affected area’s council, but she did not rule out the chance of Dumbarton Castle once again seeing the light.
A WDC council spokeswoman said there were no long-term plans for the castle’s floodlighting and no money would be spent in the near future.
She added: “Following the expiry of the council’s responsibility for maintenance, the existing scheme of floodlighting has fallen into a state of disrepair. In addition areas of floodlighting have been subject to vandalism.
“Any future proposals would enjoy the benefit of the council and Historic Scotland working in partnership.”
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