Alexandria’s Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) will close its doors after the office and associated car park was sold to a popular supermarket chain.
During Wednesday’s West Dunbartonshire Council’s infrastructure, regeneration and economic development (IRED) committee members agreed to sell the site at 77 Bank Street for £175,000.
CAB had been renting the property for £18,250 per year with the lease due to expire at the end of next April. The organisation had asked the local authority to terminate the lease early as the premises has been “significantly under-used” over the past couple of years.
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West Dunbartonshire advised CAB that they could not just walk away unless a replacement tenant or buyer for the property was found.
Aldi UK Ltd owns the property next door and had previously enquired whether the council would be willing to sell 77 Bank Street to allow them to expand their car parking.
During the committee, SNP group leader Jonathon McColl asked if the council had looked into turning the property into a social work office.
Councillor McColl said: “The current budget we are under requires officers to work with the Children and Families social work staff to identify suitable premises for the staff and clients for the Vale of Leven area.
“Has this premise been considered and are there alternative options under consideration?”
Michelle Lynn, asset coordinator, confirmed they were working with the health and social care partnership (HSPC) to find alternative accommodation
Ms Lynn said: “There are proposals that the HSCP would bring to the relevant committee at a future point in time. We are looking at other premises and this [77 Bank Street] was not one that was looked at for that purpose.”
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