THE new West Dunbartonshire Council building in the town centre is set to open to the public on Tuesday, May 29.

Work officially started on the offices in Dumbarton in September 2016, and originally the £15.4million project was set to be completed in late 2017, but has been delayed until the end of May.

The move will eventually see 500 staff currently based at Garshake relocate to the offices at the site of the former Dumbarton Academy building in Church Street and will, according to the local authority, provide a catalyst for the regeneration of the town.

It will also generate annual savings over the lifetime of the building compared to maintaining the current Garshake offices.

The facility, when opened next month, will include a public area with multi-use civic space, training and meeting rooms with a substantial new building to the rear containing office space.

The council confirmed that as yet no date had been set down for the official opening of the plush new premises and as to who will be invited to perform the opening ceremony.

The council secured a £500,000 grant to help pay for the restoration and discussions are ongoing with Historic Environment Scotland over this element of the project.

This week a community council spoke of their concerns as to what will happen with the present Gartshake building and their grounds once the council totally vacate the present building and move to the new premises.

Linda Speir, chair of Silverton and Overtoun Community Council, raised the concerns to Councillor Iain McLaren, convener of and Spokesperson for Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development.

She asked the convener: “Will the council maintain the land after the move out of Gartshake?”

Their concerns followed recent council budget cuts which included grass cutting maintenance being increased from two weeks to every three weeks.

Councillor McLaren revealed that all council staff at Garshake and in other offices were issued this week with a full and precise timetable for the move, which it is understood, will be done in stages and on a departmental basis, to the new building.

Following the meeting, a West Dunbartonshire Council spokesman told the Reporter: “The council building on Garshake Road will be demolished and the site marketed for sale.

“In the interim, any maintenance work that is required at the site will be carried out.”

The project is being delivered on behalf of the council by Hub West Scotland and the main contractor is Lendlease.