WEST Dunbartonshire Council’s home at Garshake in Dumbarton for the past 52 years will be razed to the ground within the next few months.

Employees have already begun the move to the new council offices in the town’s Church Street, with the move set to be completed by May 29.

It was confirmed last week that a formal application has been tabled by the council to their own Building Standards department for application to demolish the current building which was opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 1966.

The official application to the council’s building standard’s department was received on April 27, Dumbarton East and Central Community Council were told this week by Councillor David McBride.

The agents for the demolition are Regeneration Environment and Growth Consultancy Services, 6-14 Bridge Street, Dumbarton.

No date for the start of the work has been announced as yet.

Cllr McBride said: “It is well expected that the land will be sold off for housing. It is a massive piece of land, although there are drainage problems down a the front part of the land.”

A spokeswoman for West Dunbartonshire Council told the Reporter: “Once the building has been vacated, work will start to disconnect utilities within the property prior to demolition. On completion of demolition the site will be marketed for sale. It is too early to confirm a definitive timeline for the demolition of the building.

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

The top floor of the new building will house the council committee rooms and the new council chambers, with the first full council meeting expected to be held in the new building on May 29.

“It will be sad in some ways to see the old building go,” said Tory councillor Brian Walker.” It was outdated I appreciate that, but I thought the council chambers at Garshake were terrific, although the acoustics were not the best.

Cllr Walker’s comments also came last week at the meeting of Dumbarton East and Central Community Council.