BAFFLED Barrhead residents have blasted council bosses for changing the name of the town’s new multi-million pound community hub just weeks after it opened.

The £5.3million Arthurlie Family Centre has been renamed the Sir Harry Burns Centre, in honour of one of Barrhead’s most famous sons.

However, some residents have questioned the timing of the name change.

Twitter user Robert Burns wrote: “Would it not have been better to change the name before buying signage, stationary etc?

“No problem with the name but surely it could have been done earlier?”

Lauren Ross added on Facebook: “I agree it is being named after someone deserving but the council should have decided this before opening the centre and before signs and resources being made.”

Provost Jim Fletcher formally moved that the facility, built on the site of the old Auchenback Primary, be named after Sir Harry at a meeting of East Renfrewshire Council last month.

Barrhead-born Sir Harry, 66, served as Chief Medical Officer for Scotland from 2005 to 2014 and is now Professor of Global Public Health at the University of Strathclyde.

He has become known for his work to address health inequalities and is a member of the Council of Economic Advisers in Scotland.

The Sir Harry Burns Centre offers 120 morning and 120 afternoon places for children aged between three and five.

A further 50 part-time places for children aged from birth to three years are being made available to provide a community space for families.

Born in Barrhead in 1951, Sir Harry was educated at St Aloysius College, Glasgow.

In 1974, he graduated in medicine from the University of Glasgow and then pursued a career in general surgery.

For five years, he was a consultant surgeon at Glasgow Royal Infirmary before taking on a managerial role as Medical Director of Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

He completed a Masters degree in Public Health in 1990 and worked as deputy director of planning and contracts in 1992, becoming director of public health the following year.

It is understood that no signage at the community hub will be removed as a result of the name change, although some new signs are set to be put in place.

A spokesman for East Renfrewshire Council said: “This £5.3m community hub will offer a wide range of services to the Auchenback community.

“By creating this state-of-the-art facility the council has been able to increase the number of places available at Arthurlie Family Centre as well as provide additional facilities which will benefit the wider community.

“As the centre develops, frontline staff from other council services and partner organisations, such as health visitors and social workers, will come together at this community hub.

“This will enable staff to work with parents while their child is learning and cared for, as it is recognised that working with children and families from a very early age, in the one centre, has a host of benefits to children’s development.

“The centre will also be used by parents and other members of the wider community of Auchenback, working alongside partners and council staff to develop services to meet the area’s needs.

“Sir Harry Burns has been instrumental in developing this approach to early years and community engagement, so it is fitting that this centre will be named in his honour.

“The name of Arthurlie Family Centre will not change as a result of this decision, as it is just one element of the services which will ultimately be provided at this central hub.”