Parkhall Library was placed for sale by West Dunbartonshire Council earlier this year after the authority cited ‘significant financial challenges’ behind their decision.
At this week’s Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development (IRED) Committee meeting, councillors were asked to approve the £151,000 sale of the building to Rose Donaghey.
We previously reported how it is intended that the former public building will become a sit-down cafe and takeaway facility.
Former Parkhall Library on Hawthorn Street, Clydebank. (Image: Newsquest) Furthermore, the bidder has noted that they wish to get inside the building as soon as possible and is committed to a completion date of four weeks from the date of committee approval.
However, during the meeting, questions were raised about the moral responsibility of selling off the library, which has since moved to Clydebank High, where it’s open for only nine hours a week.
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SNP Councillor Sophie Traynor. (Image: Contributed) Councillor Sophie Traynor presented an alternative motion at the meeting, asking the council to agree to a pause of the sale and reevaluate the options for the asset.
She said: “The move into Clydebank High School has led to a significant reduction in the range of services and activities available.
“The sale for commercial use would eliminate the possibility of it coming back into community use.
“As a Parkhall resident and a regular user of West Dunbartonshire library services, the conversations I have had with neighbours, local residents and community organisations have continuously raised people’s unhappiness at this situation.
“With many having highlighted that they don’t feel particularly comfortable going to the library now that it is in a school, especially as it does not have its own entrance.”
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SNP colleague, Cllr Lauren Oxley, added that concerns had been raised over residents feeling “uncomfortable” going into the school to access the services.
The library operated on weekdays after the school day had ceased.
She said: “As we head into the darker weather, many people will not feel safe or comfortable walking to the library or accessing a school after dark.
“I am worried that these reduced hours and services will be justification for permanent closure in the future, which would be devastating for the communities.”
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Council leader Martin Rooney addressed the motion asking why the SNP group hadn’t questioned the sale at previous budget meetings.
He said: “We are in a situation where we have had years and years of underfunding by the Scottish Government, and we are currently facing a £40m funding gap over the next five years.
“We know that nobody wants to reduce any of the services in the council, but the reality is the Scottish government have put us in this position.
You can’t have your cake and eat it. You can’t want all the services; we want to protect the services and jobs as much as we can.
“It’s unfortunate, but we have had to make a lot of difficult decisions, and this is one of them.
“The recommended bid is for the highest amount and will make a community sit-down cafe and takeaway near the school, right in the middle of Parkhall. Hopefully, we will see it become a success.”
The motion to agree the sale was carried, and it is understood that planning permission to turn the former library into a cafe will be submitted in due course.