The above picture is of the new children’s library in Quay Street, Dumbarton. It replaces the old public lavatories next door to the facility for drug addicts and acoholics.It is part of an £8.5 million project to update Dumbarton Town Centre which seems yet again to have gone badly wrong. The initial cost estimate is soaring as I write. It has left the public not so much angry as mocking the Council for their stupidity in building this.
And no, this is not just me stirring it again, although I take pride in doing that since it is my job as a journalist to speak truth to power — despite threats to my safety from people determined to see the back of me.
Being banned by this Council is a badge of honour.
Catherine Casey is one of those left angry and bemused by what’s happening down the Quay.
Sean Smith is another. “WTF is this meant to be? I heard it’s a museum?
Cathryn Black told the Council’s own complaints column: “Sean Smith got to be one of the worst looking buildings about and that’s saying something.”
Lynda Gilliland wrote for all to see:”Sean Smith it’s an absolute eyesore. The money would have been better spent on tidying up the area.”
I, in my role as editor/owner of The Dumbarton Democrat, added: “I wish it was a Tardis in which Dr Who could take the whole shambolic lot of councillors and chief official to another part of the universe.
“And that the rest of us could be returned to civilisation, where local government does what it’s supposed to do. The present incumbents couldn’t put a nut in a monkey’s mouth.
“This week, I asked the Council PR department to send me a picture of this monstrosity (above) which I could use in The Democrat to publicise (for FREE) an event due to take place in it this afternoon.
“But once again they have refused the request simply by not replying to my e mail.
“They must think I take pleasure (or even make money) from telling the world what a dump this place has become on their watch. All the Council adverts you see repeated here go FREE. And so do ads from the Community and local organisations.
“The Council gets loads of free publicity, some of it’s good, some of it bad, but that’s life.
“Sadly they have a lot of small minded, curmudgeonly people in Church Street who wouldn’t understand democracy were it to come up to them and bite them on the throat.
“I heard a woman from COSLA (the local government national organisation) on TV this morning talking about pay increases for council chief executives.
“She said they need to pay these outrageous salaries – up to £230,00o a year – to chief officials in order.
“It’s been reported that the PR official who has banned her staff from talking to the the press receives £129,000 a year in order that the council can stay competitive with private commerce an industry. This is beyond a joke.
“I didn’t see the wagon from the asylum in the background, but I’m sure it’s there. Or maybe there’s one there at all times. Ever since the lunatics took over in Church Street even.”
The Scottish Government should do something about this. Labour is dead on its feet in both parliaments. So, who are you voting for come the Holyrood elections in May?
Top of page: Back door view of Glencairn House in Dumbarton High Street.
More places of learning/education for kids is no bad thing but we already have a lovely Public Library.
Why not enhance that existing building further instead of constructing a carbuncle in a strange location?