The criticism comes after the local authority revealed Dumbarton and the surrounding area benefited to the tune of almost £2 million last year, thanks to the Scottish Pipe Band Championships.

They made the announcement ahead of the 2014 competition on Saturday, July 26, saying it was far from being just another social event for people to mark off on their calendar.

But its boast was met with criticism from councillor Jim Bollan, who said the championships would not have been able to go ahead in future had the council got its way over a new Our Lady and St Patrick’s High (OLSP).

Plans to build the new school on Posties Park, which is used to help stage the event, had to be thrown out in the face of a huge public backlash.

However, the authority says Balloch Park would have been put forward to event organisers as an alternative venue.

Coucillor Bollan said: “This is the level of hypocrisy we have come to expect from the part-time Labour councillors. The chairwoman of education, Councillor Michelle McGinty, stated publicly Posties Park was their preferred option for the new OLSP, knowing this would have scuppered the Scottish Pipe Band Championships for good.

“Labour was prepared to risk the economic boost to shops and businesses for its flagship project, which went horribly wrong in the face of people power.

“They now want to bask in the glory of the championships coming to Dumbarton, an event they gave no thought to when they devised their ill thought-out disastrous scheme, which cost the council taxpayer £1.5 million.” WDC announced the event, which attracts competitors and spectators from several countries, brought £1.7million to the area in 2013.

The information was announced after independent research conducted on behalf of WDC at last year’s event, which included interviews with 415 visitors.

Councillor Patrick McGlinchey. convener of Infrastructure and Regeneration, said: “The championships attract large numbers of visitors to our area from across the UK and abroad and are a fantastic opportunity to showcase West Dunbartonshire.

“More importantly, the event delivers for our economy bringing much needed income and jobs to the area. We are committed to hosting the championships until 2015 and hope to continue to strengthen our partnership with the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association.” Results from the independent survey also show that, for every £1 invested by WDC in hosting the event, the championships achieved a return of £27.85 of net additional expenditure into the local economy, and £11.36 into the national economy.

WDC says the information clearly demonstrates the economic benefit of hosting the championships in Dumbarton.

A spokeswoman added: “West Dunbartonshire Council is proud to host the Scottish Pipe Band Championship.

“If an alternative venue had ever been required then Balloch Castle Country Park would have provided another stunning site for the event.”