Seven medals and a commemorative plaque will be commissioned by West Dunbartonshire Council to honour those who helped vulnerable citizens during the Clydebank Blitz.

As the 80th anniversary of the devastating attack on the town by the Luftwaffe approaches, it is anticipated that the local authority will use £10,000 of earmarked reserves to produce the tributes which will be presented to services involved in helping the people of Clydebank during and after the Blitz.

The Polish Navy, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service, Royal College of Nurses (Scotland), Royal College of Physicians (Scotland) and Royal Voluntary Service (on behalf of WRVS) will be the recipients of these awards.

Various concerts from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra are also to be scheduled throughout 2021, provided Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Plans were discussed at a meeting of West Dunbartonshire Council’s culture committee this week.

George Hawthorn, manager of democratic and registration services, said: “The original specification was for six medals, based on the assumption that a single medal be presented to the British Medical Association (BMA) to recognise the contribution of doctors and nurses.

“It has now since been recognised that BMA doesn’t recognise all nursing staff and therefore it would be more appropriate to give a separate medal to the Royal College of Nursing and another to the Royal College of Physicians.

“This means that the original estimated cost of £7,250 will increase to roughly £8,500. That may change slightly due to the change in price of silver.

“It has now also been suggested that a small commemorative patch be created for permanent and imminent display in the Clydebank Town Hall. It makes sense that the work be awarded to the same silversmith without looking for further quotes.

“If the committee approves this the amount of money required from the unmarked funds would be £10,000.”

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Bailie Dennis Agnew, the committee’s chair, asked if the money set aside for promoting Scottish women’s art in local galleries could be used to fund the medals and plaque if required.

He asked: “Because of the restrictions, can we remit the £10,000 back into the cultural budget to enable any expenditure needed for the Blitz project?

“We could then relook at the purchase of Scottish women art in 2021/22 because we can’t actually use the money right now for that purpose.”

Mr Agnew was informed that the council is committed to spend money from the earmarked balance of £13,500 on the project.

There is also an additional £25,000 from the arts and heritage pot also dedicated to the council’s celebration of the 80th anniversary.

The provost is also expected to meet the Mayor of Letterkenny, a visit which had to be postponed in March, to discuss the development of the friendship agreement between the two towns.

Council leader Jonathan McColl, said: “If it is quite clear that we cannot use the money for its original purpose, then I think it seems sensible to me that we un-earmark that money, which allows us to spend it on what we need to ,including any overspend.

“The opportunity is not there to purchase the art, but should the opportunity arise to do so, we should.”

Members agreed the recommendations.