Latest news with #WestDunbartonshireCouncil
Glasgow Times
4 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Is the West Park Hotel hosting asylum seekers in Clydebank?
Rumours on social media over the weekend have spread, suggesting that "migrants" were seen entering the hotel on Great Western Road. Further accusations suggested the hotel was closed for renovations as a ruse to disguise the "coachloads of asylum seekers and immigrants pouring off the buses and being ushered into the hotel quickly." The Glasgow Times got in touch with the owners of the hotel and the Home Office to investigate these claims. Yatin Bhimani, owner of the West Park Hotel. (Image: Newsquest) Yatin Bhimani bought the hotel in June with a dream of expanding his tour business and offering his tourist guests a place to stay in a hotel he owned. Responding to the claims, Mr Bhimani says the rumours have been "damaging". He explained: "Last weekend, Friday night and Saturday night, I had 48 passengers and they all were family; husband, wife, children. "I think we had around 22 elderly people who were more than 60 years. That was the group who stayed last weekend, and I was there myself. "Someone took the picture. In a post, they said that two coaches full of migrants were dropped here. "It's a wrong post, and since then, we have been getting lots of trouble. Lots of people are calling because they are getting the wrong information. "It is damaging to our impression, and I don't know why they're doing this. "These wrong, false rumours are just destroying everything." West Dunbartonshire Council and the [[Home Office]] have both confirmed that the hotel is not in use as accommodation for asylum seekers. Mr Bhimani invited our reporter to the hotel and took them on a tour, explaining to our reporter some of the renovations they are planning to transform the hotel with. These include the introduction of a new Indian restaurant, modernisation of bedrooms and redecorating the function rooms. Mr Bhimani continued: "We are a tour company and have been in business since 2009, and have been doing tours in Scotland since 2012. "In our Indian community, we are very popular at taking people to Scotland for three days, and we show them around. "We are always staying in Glasgow or nearby Glasgow for two nights. "Finally, we decided that we should have our own hotel so we can give better comfort to our customers, and that's why we bought the West Park Hotel last month. "We wanted the hotel, but it's a little old and there are many issues. So we decided to go for a refurbishment now." MP Douglas McAllister has condemned the rumours as highly dangerous. (Image: Colin Mearns) West Dunbartonshire MP, Douglas McAllister, says he has received several emails regarding the hotel. He said: "I have received several emails from constituents and also phone calls to my office this week demanding to know why asylum seekers were staying in the West Park Hotel in Clydebank. "Sadly, these rumours have come from false social media posts. "I contacted [[West Dunbartonshire Council]] on Monday to receive confirmation that prior to any decision to announce the accommodation of asylum seekers into properties within a local authority, including the [[West Dunbartonshire Council]] area, there is a requirement for the UK Government and Mears to consult with that local authority in advance. "The leader of West Dunbartonshire Council confirmed to me that there has been no such consultation with West Dunbartonshire Council, and there is no substance or truth to these rumours whatsoever." The West Dunbartonshire MP says not all the correspondence he has received has been negative. He added: "I was also pleased to receive telephone calls to my office this week from constituents who have expressed their concerns regarding the nature of the Facebook Posts. My constituents were particularly distressed by the language used in the posts, which is harmful and racist. "The nature of the social media posts and the spreading of false rumours are at best unhelpful, and at worst, highly dangerous. We have all witnessed incidents of gangs of far-right protesters gathering outside hotels that house asylum seekers. "There is no place for this type of disgusting and abhorrent behaviour in Clydebank or West Dunbartonshire."
Glasgow Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Fury as authority charge 4x price of license than rest of Scotland
Red and Natalie, who run River Styx on Main Street, have hit out at West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) after finding out they were paying more for their license than any other council area in the country. After renewing their license last year for a grand sum of £2.033.50, a chance meeting with a friend who ran a tattoo business in Glasgow left him shocked after discovering his friend was paying a mere £371. He said: "I feel ripped off and annoyed that we are forking out this - anybody in West Dunbartonshire would be annoyed. "I want them [WDC] to explain to me exactly where that licensing money is going. They haven't explained it to me. "Why is it £2000 and in other councils it's £400?" Excluding West Dunbartonshire, the price charged for this license ranges between £144 [West Lothian] and £803 [Orkney Islands] across Scotland. The average price between all authorities, excluding WD, is £449.73. Natalie and Red own River Styx in Alexandria. (Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times) (Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times) When the couple were asked to renew their license, they had just welcomed their first child into the world. Facing the hefty bill, Natalie and Red reached out to West Dunbartonshire Council to ask if they offered a payment plan to help them balance their finances. However, they were told by a council officer that they "didn't have the discretion" to alter the fee or when it is paid. The couple eventually managed to pay off the fee after borrowing funds from family and friends. West Dunbartonshire Council say they work on a cost recovery basis, whereas other council areas can subsidise the costs. Red added: "Why is it so much to cost recover the licence? But it's not the same in Glasgow. Glasgow theoretically would be more, would it not? "I had to borrow £1000 from my Granddad, and Natalie had to borrow £1000 from her sister. That's how we paid for that. "We couldn't afford it. We had a bounce-back loan during COVID, which we had to take out because we weren't allowed to work. "It's been hard. I'm not going to lie." READ NEXT: Killer driver 'used vehicle as weapon' during Springburn hit and run READ NEXT: Man raped and took indecent photos of 13-year-old girl on Christmas Day The council's licensing committee most recently met in October 2024 to discuss the fees. The committee agreed on the recommendations not to decrease fees in surplus [including the Skin Piercing and Tatto License] and not to increase the fees that were in deficit. A WDC spokeswoman said: 'The council's licensing function is delivered on a cost-neutral basis.'
Glasgow Times
06-07-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Almost 1,000 sign petition to 'reverse cut to grass cutting'
The petition, which was launched two days ago on has gathered hundreds of signatures from locals who say they are facing a "serious public health and safety matter." Pictures which have been circulated online show various public spaces across the authority, where overgrown shrubs and grass can be seen. Many of the photos show pieces of land with a rough cut around the edges and towering grass in the middle. A picture supplied shows grass in Old Bonhill. (Image: Supplied) Almost 1,000 sign petition to 'reverse cut to grass cutting' (Image: Supplied) At the West Dunbartonshire Council budget in March, councillors agreed cuts to services in order to plug a £7.7million gap. Grass cutting in the local authority was slashed by 50 per cent in open spaces and included a 20 per cent reduction in the cutting of grass within cemeteries. A West Dunbartonshire Council spokesperson says the authority is targeting priority areas amid the reduced budget. A piece of land in Duntocher. (Image: Supplied) The petition titled 'Reverse Cuts to Grass Cutting in West Dunbartonshire – Protect Our Health, Safety & Public' has raised several points of concern. These include road safety, where overgrown grass becomes obstructive to visibility, ticks, vermin, dog fouling and children's safety. It reads: "This is no longer just a cosmetic issue — it's a serious public health and safety matter. "We pay full council tax. We deserve safe, maintained public areas - not to be treated like second-class citizens compared to neighbouring councils. "We are asking the council to urgently review the impact of these cuts, restore regular grass maintenance in residential and communal areas and reassess priorities so that community health and safety are protected. Enough is enough. A West Dunbartonshire Council spokesperson: 'With a budget shortfall of £7.7m for 2025/26 and similar challenges forecast in future years, the Council agreed to a streamlined service to protect frontline services. 'This means grass cutting will continue in high amenity areas, including public parks and sport pitches, and teams will also continue to cut edges around areas near paths and properties. 'Grassed areas adjacent to roads are regularly monitored to ensure junctions are clear from obstruction.' At the time of writing, the petition has 971 signatures.
The Herald Scotland
05-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Far-right activists making 'mockery' of council, says trade union
Following concern that the group congregating there are "spreading far-right, neo-nazi and white nationalist" agenda in the town, Jim Bollan of West Dunbartonshire Community Party presented a motion to the council urging the local authority to take down all banners, posters, flags, flyers and photos at the bandstand. The motion was agreed upon unanimously. However, two weeks later, it is understood that the banners remain in place. Clydebank TUC secretary Tam Morrison claims the lack of action is making a 'weekly mockery' of the local authority. He said: 'These fascists are making a weekly mockery of every single councillor that backed the motion. 'The council have been good in saying they'll stand up to racism, well, now's their chance. 'Enforce the decision, take these hate posters down and get them in the trash where they belong.' West Dunbartonshire Council said it monitors the location daily to ensure any unauthorised displays are removed. It is understood that the group which have links to Patriotic Alternative congregate at the Bandstand every Wednesday morning. Pictures supplied to the Clydebank Post show the banners at the stand on the morning of Wednesday, June 25 and July 2. Banners at the Bandstand on Wednesday, June 25. (Image: Supplied) Picture of the banners on the Bandstand on Wednesday, July 2. (Image: Supplied) Councillor Jim Bollan says, following the banners still being displayed, he has contacted senior council officers in the hope they can help remove the material. He said: "Disappointed the racists have been displaying their banners again in Clydebank after the recent council decision. "I understand there have been no prior written requests by these racist groups or individuals to WDC seeking consent to display these racist & hateful banners on Council property. "I have therefore contacted senior council officers and provided them with information which may assist the council in enforcing the recent decision by WDC to have this offensive material removed." A spokesperson for West Dunbartonshire Council is asking members of the public who are offended by the banners to report them to Police Scotland. They said: 'We are disappointed that this group continues to affix posters and flags to our bandstand despite being advised repeatedly that they are not permitted. 'Officers continue to monitor the location daily to ensure any unauthorised displays are removed as quickly as possible. 'Members of the public should contact Police Scotland if they are offended by any banners on display, even if these are later removed.'
Glasgow Times
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Far-right 'making mockery' of West Dunbartonshire Council
Banners, which have been displaying slogans such as 'You pay, migrants stay' and 'Migrants adored, pensioners ignored', have been spotted at the bandstand outside the Clyde Shopping Centre over recent months. (Image: Supplied) Following concern that the group congregating there are "spreading far-right, neo-nazi and white nationalist" agenda in the town, Jim Bollan of West Dunbartonshire Community Party presented a motion to the council urging the local authority to take down all banners, posters, flags, flyers and photos at the bandstand. The motion was agreed upon unanimously. Two weeks following this, it is understood by the Clydebank Post that the banners have not been removed. Tam Morrison, Clydebank TUC secretary, claims the lack of action is making a 'weekly mockery' of the local authority. He said: 'These fascists are making a weekly mockery of every single councillor that backed the motion. 'The council have been good in saying they'll stand up to racism, well, now's their chance. 'Enforce the decision, take these hate posters down and get them in the trash where they belong.' West Dunbartonshire Council say they monitor the location daily to ensure any unauthorised displays are removed. It is understood that the group which have links to Patriotic Alternative congregate at the Bandstand every Wednesday morning. Pictures supplied to the Clydebank Post show the banners at the stand on the morning of Wednesday, June 25 and July 2. Banners at the Bandstand on Wednesday, June 25. (Image: Supplied) Picture of the banners on the Bandstand on Wednesday, July 2. (Image: Supplied) Councillor Jim Bollan says, following the banners still being displayed, he has contacted senior council officers in the hope they can help remove the material. He said: "Disappointed the racists have been displaying their banners again in Clydebank after the recent council decision. "I understand there have been no prior written requests by these racist groups or individuals to WDC seeking consent to display these racist & hateful banners on Council property. "I have therefore contacted senior council officers and provided them with information which may assist the council in enforcing the recent decision by WDC to have this offensive material removed." A spokesperson for West Dunbartonshire Council is asking members of the public who are offended by the banners to report them to Police Scotland. They said: 'We are disappointed that this group continues to affix posters and flags to our bandstand despite being advised repeatedly that they are not permitted. 'Officers continue to monitor the location daily to ensure any unauthorised displays are removed as quickly as possible. 'Members of the public should contact Police Scotland if they are offended by any banners on display, even if these are later removed.'
