News

Clydebank Civic Quarter: Statement from the Chair of the Trust Martin J Docherty

"Commenting on the proposals to demolish part of Clydebank’s Historic Quarter recently agreed by West Dunbartonshire Council, Martin Docherty Chairman of Clydebank Restoration Trust stated,

“Whilst heartedly welcoming the overdue and large investment in Clydebank’s historic Civic Quarter Project, the Trust is gravely concerned at the lack of vision and the determination to reduce our heritage to a pastiche of the past.

The proposal agreed by the recent Housing, Environmental and Economic Development committee of West Dunbartonshire Council to demolish one of the few remaining fully in-tacked 1930's Slipper Bath Complex’s in Scotland is nothing short of cultural vandalism.

The Trust is fully aware that the elected members of the Council have been placed in a difficult if not untenable position due to the failures of previous years. We are also fully aware that the substantial sums being committed to the project shows that Councillors are willing to engage with our historic Civic Quarter via Clydebank Town Hall.

Nevertheless, we call on all members of West Dunbartonshire Council to consider all options for re-development of the baths which would not compromise the investment in the Town Hall including keeping the Slipper Baths as an integral part of the Swimming Baths complex.  These options should include community ownership, a proposal that this Trust has previously placed before Council Officers.

The Trust is fully committed to fighting to retain not only the facade of the Slipper Baths but to bringing the complex in to use to the benefit of the wider community of Clydebank and West Dunbartonshire.”

I  call on the people of Clydebank and all those committed to securing a better future for our historic buildings  to play their part in taking responsibility to save what little is left of our important Civic Quarter by pledging their support or by volunteering to defend and restore this historic building to its former glory by contacting the Trust on 0141 952 8182 , e-mail“

Open Spaces: An important new consultation has just been published by the government, play your part and have a read. More

Casework: The Trust is glad to report that work with Duntocher Free Church has secured the building a formal C listing of the building via Historic Scotland. More

Awards For All: For once some good news; we have just been informed that Awards for All will be investing £9,250 in the Trust. The grant will allow the Trust to establish a web site and printed material information pack / toolkit to assist local groups and those throughout Scotland to effectively campaign to save, maintain and develop buildings, streets capes and other features important to community life. This guide will include practical hints and tips, sample documents, guides (easy to read) to dealing with planning law and statutory agencies e.t.c. A distinct gap in terms of this information has been identified…keep an eye out for more details in the year ahead. Listing

QE II: Though welcoming the commitment of the Dubai World Company to preserve and restore the Queen Elizabeth II in Dubai the sale is indicative of Scotland's "lack of strategic understanding" about the impact of its maritime history and the nation's "ability to learn from it", according to Martin Docherty, chairman of Clydebank Restoration Trust.

Speaking on behalf of the Trust Martin said, "The Royal Yacht Britannia, built by Clydebank, is now moored in docks at Leith and used as a tourist ship, but people could still learn from its advanced engineering and technology that epitomised the time. And the Queen Mary berthed in California is a good example of historical restoration which Scotland could learn from. It is a pity Clydebank is being let down because the ship isn't returning," he said.

Historic Our Lady of Loreto Church Demolished: Archdiocese of Glasgow Remains Silent!

The Trust has over the last 18 months undertaken a range of activities inconjuncation with interested parties to highlight the plight of the historic Our Lady of Loreto Church through, formal presentation & objection to two West Dunbartonshire Planning Committees, informed the Parish Council, Councillours, MP's and MSP's of the application, as well as issuing press releases to local & national papers and promotion of letter writing to the above in opposition to the application

The Trust has also sought to enter into correspondence with the archdiocese of Glasgow via Archbishop Mario Conti to promote the retention of the building and withdrawal of the building warrant application. It must be noted that on all occasions the Archdiocese has not replied

Got a story to tell? Well take a look at a Bare feet & Fag’s!! By Lorraine Hamilton

120th Anniversary Charity Ball: Check the Restoration Ball page for full details of the Restoration Ball 2006

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