Artizan Centre tenants – which include a foodbank – must be kept informed of proposals to partly demolish the precinct, councillors have said.
Last week, councillors approved plans to demolish the rear and west side of the shopping centre to pave the way for regeneration plans.
The council say tenants currently occupying the site to be developed will be required to be relocated.
This includes foodbank charity Food For Thought, which provides emergency food parcels across the area, as well as their cafe ChariTea.
Last year, West Dunbartonshire Council agreed to a £1.7million deal to buy the shopping centre to breathe new life into the town’s High Street.
It’s all part of ambitious £20m plans for the town centre, funded by the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.
A proportion of the £5.375m available in the Artizan budget will now be spent on the first phase of works.
These include the demolition of the rear units, property improvements and the design and delivery of temporary and permanent landscaping – including extending the Connecting Dumbarton initiative to link the railway with the river.
There is also expected to be a focus on connecting the Denny Civic Theatre and Concord Community Centre with the site.
Councillors discussed the plans at an infrastructure, regeneration and economic development committee meeting last week.
Labour councillor David McBride, who chaired the meeting, said the council should ensure the centre’s tenants are looked after, while taking the time to make sure the project agreed is the right one for the
town. He said: “We have done well to gain the funding and give us this opportunity to revitalise Dumbarton town centre but it is something that takes careful planning and something that we need to consult on.
“We have significant tenants within the Artizan Centre that we have to ensure that they are in for the long term and accommodated before we go ahead with the partial demolition.
“The plan we have in front of us will give us this but it is only the beginning.
“There’s a long way to go so let’s get this right, let’s not rush into anything.
“Let’s secure the tenants that we have. Let’s start looking for future uses.
“I think all too often people have run into these type of projects and they’ve not really thought it out.
“If this project takes a few years to get right, I’m perfectly content with that.”
SNP councillor Chris Pollock asked an officer what would be done with the land after the demolition takes place.
She replied: “One of the things we want to do is to extend Connecting Dumbarton so there will be a project delivered next year to extend the routes to include there.” She added that temporary landscaping will also be created.
And she insisted: “We want to send out a positive message that we want to support the existing tenants, for example with the property and environmental improvements and providing the attraction for people to come into the town centre.”
Angela Wilson, chief officer supply, distribution and property, added: “We have discussions around current leases and any discussions around longer term leases once developments have become known.
“For example, we’re already in discussion with Food for Thought.”
Councillors say the first phase of short-term improvements can be delivered within the next 12 to 15 months, with further studies determining the feasibility of a possible future new development, housing and other new uses.
The plans have been shaped following public consultation and the appointment of consultants.
