At a full meeting of East Dunbartonshire Council, leader Gordan Low said that this issue, which had been deferred to the full council following a vote taken by a committee in May, was probably the most discussed topic in his time as a councillor, dating back to at least 2017.
He added that this project had seen the same levels of cost inflation – now bringing the price tag to more than £1.3 million – as others across the council’s capital plans, something which could have been avoided if the project had been initiated in 2017.
“We are concerned about the cost and affordability of the project and securing best value, so we are not content to just note the escalation and put out for tender at that stage,” he added.
Instead, he intended to ask council officers to continue working on managing the cost of the project and bring a revised figure to the council meeting due to happen in September, prior to any tendering.
Councillor Alan Moir (Labour, Bishopbriggs South) said the project had become a political decision where “the chickens have come home to roost”.
He argued that the town centre was working well in its current form and the project would be an act of “civic vandalism,” bringing more upheaval to local businesses and that traffic management was a matter of proper enforcement, a challenge due to the council’s lack of resources.
Continuing to argue against the project, Councillor Moir said that Catherine Street was safe and there was no need to invest such a large sum, which would be better spent elsewhere.
In the resultant vote, Councillor Low’s motion was carried by 14 votes to six.
