Kirkintilloch Town Hall looks to the future

Work is now underway on a landmark building in Kirkintilloch - which is set to be given a new lease of life as part of ambitious regeneration plans.

Kirkintilloch Town Hall has been derelict for more than nine years and many feared it would never again open its doors.

However, East Dunbartonshire Council has included the hall within its 10-year Capital Investment Programme - with the aim to redevelop the dilapidated 108-year-old building into a centre for arts, culture and community.

In the meantime, a programme of holding works on the B-listed building has now started which will last until early July.

It includes: removing wet and dry rot; roof repairs; dressing back decayed sand stone; and a series of investigations and surveys.

Once completed, the works will secure - and prevent any further decay of - the building.

The revamp of Kirkintilloch Town Hall is set to include a full refurbishment of the existing building in addition to the delivery of a new extension.

The project is now moving into the planning and development phase, with £1.57million of external funding secured to date.

Council Leader Rhondda Geekie said:“The council is fully committed to delivering a centre for arts, culture and community activity in the heart of Kirkintilloch, and the town hall building has a key role to play.

“The aim is not to recreate the town hall as it was built 108 years ago, but rather to develop a flexible, vibrant space which will be popular with people and groups of all ages - and for a variety of different uses.”

For more on this story see this week’s Kirkintilloch Herald.