Alloa Advertiser | News | Council cuts back on use of buildings

Saturday, 5th July, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 30th April, 2008 12:00

Council cuts back on use of buildings

By Jamie MacDonald

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The future of buildings such as the former Paton's School in Alloa have yet to be determined.

COUNCIL-USED buildings such as Glasshouse Loan and the Dalmore Centre could soon be vacated following a decision taken at Thursday’s meeting of Clackmannanshire Council.

Councillors agreed to “streamline” the number of buildings used for council offices or service points – although this decision does not affect schools or leisure facilities.

Buildings will be assessed for the service they provide and their efficiency of use.

The rent for Glasshouse Loan, Alloa – which is currently home to art project Reachout and Music For Youth – is deemed to be too high, resulting in it being placed on the list of buildings to be disposed of.

Others such as Greenfield and Lime Tree House will be kept, while a decision has still to be taken on Alloa’s Drysdale Street Library building and the former Paton’s School building which had previously been earmarked as a location for a museum.

Clackmannanshire West councillor Eddie Carrick said, “This should improve and increase our service delivery.

“We need to demonstrate efficiency and make the buildings work harder. This means we will reduce the amount of buildings we use and improve the ones we need.”

Lesley Arthur, fundraising development worker for Reachout, told the Advertiser that the group – which uses art to help people suffering from mental health problems – had been looking to relocate from Glasshouse Loan to more suitable premises for some time.

Lesley said, “We have just grown out of the premises.

“We could be doing with a proper art space and we have identified a few places, not just in Alloa, but also in the Hillfoots.”

The current plan for the existing community facility in Alva will be to upgrade it once the current school building has been vacated. As a result the Dalmore Centre is likely to close.

In Menstrie the Dumyat Centre is seen to be adequate for its purpose, although there may be scope to pass it on to a local trust.

The report also stated that in Tillicoultry the existing well-used library and community centre buildings should eventually be closed, as they will become uneconomic to repair and are located on valuable sites.

Several councillors asked for the vote to be postponed for a further meeting of the working group, which had been examining the buildings in question.

However, this motion was defeated by the Labour members, together with councillors Alastair Campbell and John Biggam.

Councillor for Clackmannanshire East Harry McLaren said, “If we don’t do this now, we will be in trouble with maintenance, which has been too often ignored in the past.”

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