Titan Crane remains open by appointment while new leisure centre work goes on

Construction teams moved on-site to begin building the leisure centre this week and the work is expected to last until early 2017.

During this time visitors will still be able to explore the Titan Crane by making appointments in advance with the Titan staff. School visits and charity events, including bungee jumping and abseiling, will continue throughout as planned.

Councillor Patrick McGlinchey, convener of infrastructure, regeneration and economic development, said: “It is important that the iconic and popular Titan Crane remains open to visitors during the construction of the nearby new leisure centre.

“We recognise however that during the leisure centre building phase the visitor experience to the Crane will be disrupted, and sometimes access will not be possible. This new appointments system should help us manage expectations and avoid any disappointment.”

The Council’s Libraries & Cultural Services began running the Titan Crane last August and is committed to improving the attraction and increasing visitor numbers. Recent popular changes include establishing a calendar of external lighting for the crane, marking national events and charities including Remembrance Sunday and National Autism Awareness Day.

During the coming months a number of different public consultations will take place to identify visitor improvements for the Crane ahead of its full re-opening in 2017.

Councillor Michele McGinty, convener of educational services, added: “The Titan Crane is more than one hundred years old and is well-known across Scotland and beyond, so it is vital that we make the most of it to encourage visitors to West Dunbartonshire.

“Our team will be considering a range of ways to do that in the coming two years and consulting with local people to get their views too. The new leisure centre, the fantastic Clydebank Town Hall with its museum and gallery, and an improved Titan Crane will make Clydebank a genuinely appealing visitor destination.”