The council have been shelling out £4,000 a week for the site of a proposed new sports hub – despite no work currently being carried out.

West Dunbartonshire Council confirmed they have been paying roughly £20,000 a month in expenses for the delayed Posties Park development to maintain the idle site, such as security and site set-up.

The plans – which when complete will include a new gymnasium, changing facilities, an all-weather running track and parking spaces – have been plagued with problems since it was first put on the table in 2017.

At the start of the summer, a Scottish Water connection issue created further obstacles to the much-maligned facility, pushing back the opening date again.

A WDC spokesperson said: “The Council is committed to delivering a state-of-the-art facility and we are working closely with Scottish Water to progress the schedule of works as a matter of urgency.

“The delay in completing the project, which is outwith our control, is costing the Council £4,000 weekly.”

Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter: It is costing the council £4k-a-week to maintain the siteIt is costing the council £4k-a-week to maintain the site (Image: Tom Grant)

Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter: Security and other expenses have caused the big billSecurity and other expenses have caused the big bill (Image: Tom Grant)

The purpose-built sports hub originally had a completion date of 2019 with a budget of £1.7 million.

However, two years later the Reporter revealed that the cost of the project had increased by at least £500,000.

In September 2019 the Public Contracts Scotland website stated that a contract had been awarded to Greenock-based firm W.H. Kirkwood with a minimum value of £2.2m – but that that figure could rise further, to almost £3m, once the project is complete.

In February this year, a report presented to the local authority’s infrastructure, regeneration and economic development (IRED) committee confirmed that the project was 80 per cent completed.

However, with local authority bosses fearing nothing will be completed until at least October, the cost of the upkeep of the nearly complete site is putting strain on the council’s already worrisome finances.

Scottish Water rejected claims it was solely responsible for the continued delays, insisting the situation was a complicated one and one where they will look to work with the council towards a resolution as quickly as possible.

Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter: The sports facility had originally been planned for 2019The sports facility had originally been planned for 2019 (Image: Tom Grant)

Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter: Scottish Water say they hope to resolve an ongoing issue as soon as possibleScottish Water say they hope to resolve an ongoing issue as soon as possible (Image: Tom Grant)

A Scottish Water spokesperson said: “The process to connect the new sports hub has proved challenging for a variety of reasons but we are committed to resolving the issues and moving forward as quickly as possible.

“We have been meeting with the council to reach a resolution, and they are amending their proposals to be able to progress work so that it can be completed without any further delay.”

The Reporter understands the £4,000 a week is being paid from the council’s capital reserves.