Restoration work is continuing to progress at Kirkintilloch Town Hall, East Dunbartonshire Council has said.

The project will bring the historic property back into use as a multi-purpose facility for the local community.

Part of a regeneration scheme for the wider Kirkintilloch town, the hall lay empty for 10 years before funding was secured for the restoration.

External funds of £1.57m have been secured for the project, while the total cost is expected to be around £4.75m. All of the funding will come from external grants or capital funding; this is funded differently and separately from the Council's revenue budget, which pays for day-to-day services.

Already, holding works have been carried out on the building to remove rot, repair roofs, dress back decayed stonework and complete surveys.


The main restoration work itself will include ground-floor event space, a kitchen, toilets, store room, locker room, new entrance, reception and vestibule, as well as a first-floor heritage display, community space and seating and new office and community space.

According to the local authority, work is expected to commence on the stone façade in spring/summer 2015, with regeneration works beginning in the autumn. It is anticipated that the centre will open its doors by autumn 2016.

Welcoming the progress being made, East Dunbartonshire Council Leader, Rhondda Geekie, said: "It is exciting to see plans for the regenerated Kirkintilloch Town Hall take shape. I want to commend everyone who has worked so hard to get us to this stage.

"It's important to bear in mind that the aim is not to recreate the town hall as it was built more than a century ago, but to develop a flexible space which will be popular with people and groups of all ages – and for a variety of different uses.

"There is a significant challenge ahead to ensure the new facility offers high-quality benefits while being value for money. I hope as many people as possible take the chance to look at the exciting proposals for the town hall. I believe there is a bright future ahead for the facility and the town centre."

Plans can be viewed at the vacant Wheel Nuts Unit at 4a Catherine Street, Kirkintilloch, from 10am to 5pm today (Thursday 4 December), Saturday 6 December and Tuesday 9 December.

There will also be an opportunity to view the plans from 2pm to 5pm on Saturday 13 December.

(JP/IT)