By Lucy Ashton

The Pavilion Cafe in lovely Levengrove Park has reopened – no thanks to West Dunbartonshire Council who almost blew the project out of the water.

The council thought they had pulled off a fast one when they passed responsibility for the finance to the arm’s length basket case Health and Social Care Partnership, which inevitably failed.

Residents – and the hundreds of people who have taken part in the hugely popular Sunday runs in the park –  were dismayed in May this year when the council’s handling of the pavilion project proved to be yet another disaster.

And the council was forced to put the shutters up when they closed down the cafe, citing yet again a major budget shortfall which they should have anticipated.

However, it has now ben reported in the Lennox Herald that the cafe has re-opened with new owner, Amanda Dunn, pictured left, telling them that she is determined to make it an affordable place for local people to make it a popular destination for a meal out.

She told the Lennox: “As soon as we saw this place was to let, it sparked so many ideas. It almost seemed like a necessity to the community, even more so now that we’ve had this incredible response on social media.

“We have noticed there aren’t many places suitable with good accessibility to enable people and offer inclusive spaces. Going out and socialising is important to everyone and is something everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy.

“You can’t go many places anymore and feed a family of four for less than £20 while still eating out. You can do that here and still have change left over.

“We also recruited locally, the whole team have lived in this area either all of or most of our lives and want to give something back.

“Getting to meet people who are so pleased we’re open has been overwhelming.”