Alexandria residents have questioned why the eyesore Mitchell Way shopping precinct is still standing - three months after demolition work was due to begin.
The dilapidated structure is due to be torn down as part of a £12m masterplan to transform the heart of the Vale.
Under the Alexandria Masterplan there are plans to overhaul the rundown Main Street, transform Mitchell Way and refurbish the Smollett Fountain.
However community councillors have now asked why the long-awaited demolition hasn’t taken place, with work initially scheduled to get underway in December 2022.
Rev. Ian Miller of Alexandria Community Council said: “Mitchell Way is an absolute disaster.
“It didn’t matter what information we tried to get, all we are getting is bland comments from councillors or from council officials.
“In fairness, I don’t think the councillors have a clue what’s going on.
“It seems odd that the demolition cannot continue.
“We keep getting dates. We’ve been told it will be down by the end of January, then we hear there’s been a hitch.
“It just keeps being put further and further back.
“I believe there are rats now.
“I’ve not seen them, but that’s what we’ve been hearing down the grapevine.
“You get disgruntled, it’s just the lack of clarity and openness.
“We’ve almost come to expect this from officials and politicians.
“There doesn’t seem any reason why the bulldozers can’t demolish it.
“Even if they had told us what the reason was and why there was a delay then it would be helpful.
“But we’ve had nothing.
“It’s a major eyesore and it’s the thing that everyone has been talking about.
“Whatever the timescale for demolition was, it’s not been met time and time again.”
Rev. Miller believes the latest delays are acting to reinforce the feeling amongst residents in Alexandria that they are being left behind, whilst Clydebank and Dumbarton benefit from large-scale investment projects.
He continued: “I spent some time in the Vale Academy because we’re hoping to engage with young people there about their vision for the Vale.
“What would persuade them to remain here?
“Alexandria, at times, is a ghost town. We keep hearing that the Main Street will be refurbished, but nothing seems to happen.
“We are, I think, the poor relations to Clydebank and Dumbarton.
“As you come off the Balloch roundabout it says ‘Alexandria - Heart of the Vale’. But it’s not.”
And Ian now fears that Mitchell Way could become a target for vandals, if demolition isn’t completed soon.
He added: “There’s certainly concern. We saw what happened to the former Alexandria Parish Church last year. Eventually people broke in and fires broke out.
“You worry that something like that might end up happening to Mitchell Way as well.”
A spokeswoman for West Dunbartonshire Council said: “The council remains committed to the regeneration of Alexandria Town Centre and the demolition of Mitchell Way is critical, enabling redevelopment of the area.
“The buildings have been stripped in preparation for demolition and we await a date from the contractor to start work.
“Environmental Health continues to monitor the area around the buildings and within the flats themselves and has not found any signs of rodents.”
