DUNTOCHER residents will still be able to use their community centre in the evening - after fears opening hours would be slashed.

Proposals to restrict the Glenhead Community Centre to library hours were thrown out by West Dunbartonshire Council’s corporate services committee - but the opening hours across 12 other community centres will be reduced.

In 2018, the local authority had been asked to identify savings of £130,000 through a review of community centres.

Two public consultations indicated that there was no support for the closure of individual centres.

Residents also wanted more money invested in the centres and more than £5 million has now been lined up for the coming years. Amending the Glenhead Community Centre opening hours in line with Duntocher Library to save £57,000 was rejected.

A motion from SNP councillor Jonathan McColl, stating that “Duntocher residents should not be disadvantaged and that Glenhead Community Centre should not be restricted to library hours” was agreed by councillors.

Read more: One Stop Shop to join with libraries in bid to save 150k

The motion also said that “community groups must be able to book this facility in the evening if they wish to do so.”

Cllr McColl said: “We took a decision that we wanted to consult with the community on the future of community centres and that we had to make a significant saving of £130,000 from that.

“We envisaged that some of the lesser-used community centres may have to close. The consultation came back very clear – nobody wanted their own centre to close.”

Members did, however, agree that a review should be carried out by West Dunbartonshire Leisure to reduce staffing levels.

Employees will only open centres when a venue has been booked and keys will be given to groups who use halls regularly.

The responsibility for the West Dunbartonshire Activity Centre in Brucehill will be transferred to the West Dunbartonshire Gymnastics Club, if they agree.

Flexible workforce options including term-time and seasonal contracts and annualised hours will also be considered in a bid to ensure maximum efficiency of staffing.

Opposition councillors, who wanted to maintain the level of service and jobs, condemned the plans.

Labour councillor Daniel Lennie said: “These facilities are vital to our communities. The council’s own consultation proved this and the need for investment.”