A DECISION over the future of the social work department in Alexandria's Church Street is expected to be made tomorrow night (Wednesday).

West Dunbartonshire Council's chief social work officer, Jackie Irvine, will put forward a report, recommending that the offices are closed.

Staff would then relocate nearly 12 miles away to Aurora House, in Clydebank.

In her report she states: "It is my professional assessment that closing the Church Street office will have no detrimental impact on the quality of children and families service delivery."

The report is also recommending that the council "confirm" the planned closure of the Church Street Office in Alexandria; and the relocation of the social work team to Aurora House, Clydebank- and "note" that the relocation of the Children and families social work team will have "no detrimental impact" on either the quality or accessibility of the service.

There is, however, furious opposition to the closure plan.

Councillor Jim Bollan, of the Community Party, is proposing a motion to be discussed on Wednesday, requesting the office is retained.

His motion is asking WDC to "agree" to rescind the proposal to close the Alexandria Social Work office, claiming it is a "key vital service" that needs to be "kept close" to the communities it serves.

Cllr Bollan also claimed that existing clients will be required to meet their own travel costs as a result of the relocation, a move he claims is "unacceptable."

Another opponent of the proposed closure is campaigning Renton woman Helen Short.

Ms Short recently handed in the first petition to the new council administration, asking that the decision taken by the previous Labour-led administration, to close the social work department, be reversed.

Ms Short said: “I believe that moving this service to Clydebank will hurt vulnerable families and make life more difficult for the children and their parents who will now have to make their way to Clydebank for essential meetings and contact visits.”

Back in 2014, the Reporter told how a report to WDC recommended that authority be granted to the executive director of Infrastructure and Regeneration to declare the Church Street building as surplus and have it demolished once it closed.

Three years on and the future of the building is still uncertain- but the issue shall come to a head tomorrow night.

Council Leader Jonathan McColl said recently that he was "yet to be convinced"

that the closure "made sense" or was "necessary."

The facility in Church Street currently is the base for one of the Under 12’s Children and Families teams and consists of 36 staff; 1 Team Leader, 3 Senior Social Workers, 21 social workers and 11 Clerical Staff.

However, according to the report to go before councillors, the nature of referrals has changed, prompting a need for change.

The report states: "Our service users make increasingly more contact by phone and by email and our staff are encouraged and supported in their working environment to be even more agile.

"There is therefore less of a reliance on the office base whilst maintaining and extending our reach to children and their families."

Ms Irvine's report adds: "In conclusion, as chief social work officer, I have every confidence that we will provide a safe and effective service to the children and families of West Dunbartonshire from one office in Clydebank without diminishing the quality and effectiveness of front facing services and supports."