Kirkintilloch Town Hall dream is a step closer to being reality.

Work is forging ahead on the iconic Kirkintilloch Town Hall, which East Dunbartonshire Council has vowed to bring back into use after a decade of neglect - transforming it into a multi-purpose facility as part of a widespread regeneration scheme.

Council officers have been working over the last two years to secure match funding from a range of external sources - including the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) - with £1.57million already secured.

Recent weeks have seen ‘holding works’ carried out - with experts expecting to finish work to remove rot, repair roofs, dress back decayed stonework and complete surveys in the next month.

A detailed development and consultation phase will take place over the summer, with details to be announced shortly.

A Community Champions group has also been assembled to help guide the project and represent the views of the wider community in Kirkintilloch.

Council leader Rhondda Geekie recently visited the town hall and was given a rare chance to see it without scaffolding and mesh. The scaf­folding will return periodically as works progress.

She said: “There is a significant challenge ahead to ensure the new facility offers high-quality benefits while being value for money.

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

“Plans are being developed by the council and hall trust - with preparations ongoing to carry out consultation during the summer.”

The town hall has been identified as a ‘priority’ as part of the council’s ‘Kirkintilloch Masterplan’.