MORE than 150 trade union members and residents met last week to voice their opposition to austerity cuts in West Dunbartonshire.

The final budget for the local authority will be signed off at the end of March and the SNP administration have ruled out £1.7million in potential cuts to services.

But another £2.3m in so-called management adjustments have been pushed through and are expected to cost a total of 43 jobs.

Community Party councillor Jim Bollan attended along with Labour group leader Martin Rooney.

Council leader Jonathan McColl sent apologies before the meeting.

West Dunbartonshire Joint Trades Unions (JTU) organised “No More Cuts to Public Services” at the Concord Centre in Dumbarton to demand all cuts be rejected.

Tom Morrison, of the JTU and Clydebank TUC, said after the meeting: “There was real anger at politicians standing on an anti austerity platform then buckle when elected.

“And where were the local politicians? One Labour councillor, no SNP - don't they care?

“We need to join up across Scotland to stop government destroying what's left of local services and local democracy.”

The council will set its budget on March 27.