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Plans to build a new base for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Alexandria town centre have been withdrawn after being rejected by council chiefs.

Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain wanted to construct a Kingdom Hall on the site of the former medical centre on Bank Street.

Several residents, as well as the Vale of Leven Trust, objected to the proposal said the development would not economically benefit the town.

More than a year after the planning bid, the association has now withdrawn their plans but intend to go back to the drawing table and bring forward a new proposal.

The move was confirmed to officers by agent Sam Shrimpton, who said they would go back and “hopefully find an alternative scheme that will satisfy all parties”.

The congregational hall would replace Jehovah’s Witnesses’ existing place of worship in Dumbarton.

Last year, West Dunbartonshire Council agreed to lease the site to the organisation for 125 years at a total cost of £165,000.

Janice Ross, chair of the Vale of Leven Trust, wrote a letter to councillors ahead of the meeting, saying the group was “disappointed”.

She said: “Given this is a prime town centre location, I would not have considered this would add to any footfall within the town or improve the economy of the town.

“Surely that has to be one of the main priorities of any town centre land and that of the regeneration department?

“I do acknowledge in the short term a capital income of £165,000 would seem to be a very positive outcome to councillors.

“However, if we consider this over the long term that equates to a rental figure of £1320 per year. That, I would suggest, is a long-term loss to this town and to the detriment of the people who live here.”

Several objections had also been lodged by members of the public making similar points.

Councillors also questioned the deal during an infrastructure regeneration and economic development committee in August last year.

Labour’s Martin Rooney said: “It’s a big site in Alexandria. Will this move bring economic benefit to the town?

“Originally this area was set aside for regeneration and attracting people to the town.”

And SNP council leader Jonathan McColl said: “My question is ‘is it good value for money or is it a cut-price deal?’.

“Like many at the meeting I share their concerns but that offer is what we have.”

Despite the concerns, the deal was approved by five votes to four.

An email chain between Mr Shrimpton and lead planning officer Craig Jardine, which can be seen within planning documents on the council’s website, confirms the reasons behind the change of heart.

Mr Jardine informs the agent that officers are unable to support the application as it “fails to provide an acceptable development form for this key town centre site”.

He says: “Unfortunately, the planning service is not able to support this proposal in its present form and it is recommended that the proposal is revisited to provide a mix of uses incorporating such as housing and town centre appropriate uses such as shops, offices, cafes, public services and leisure proposals.”

In response, Mr Shrimpton says they could make some changes to the original plan.

He said: “For example, we would be happy to move the building to wherever on the site would be most desirable to planning and limit the parking facilities indicated on site.”

He suggested using part of the site for the Kingdom Hall and parking and leaving the rest for another developer.

He said: “Our preference would be to come to some agreement with the estates department where we purchase a smaller section of the plot and they arrange for the rest of the plot to be developed.

“However, we wouldn’t be averse to taking the whole site and ‘selling’ the remainder of the site to another party to develop it.”

Mr Jardine responded stating that the department’s preference was to work with the group towards an alternative scheme.

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