Council approves plans for new community sports stadium in Clydebank

Both clubs currently share Yoker’s Holm Park and the plans approved last week by councillors at the Infrastructure and Regeneration committee will see the arrangement formalised and the ground regenerated to become a community sports stadium.

The £750,000 investment in Holm Park will create a modern sporting facility fully equipped with a synthetic playing surface, improved spectator area and floodlighting , and will allow the stadium to be used by other club in the community.

The project is one of a series of sports facility investments by West Dunbartonshire Council.

Plans are also progressing to redevelop Posties Park in Dumbarton by creating a six-lane all-weather athletics track for use by schools and local clubs, with a grass football pitch constructed in the middle of the track and purpose built changing facilities.

The committee heard that a planning application for the £1.65 million project will be submitted before the end of the year and if approved, a £500,000 funding bid will be made to sportscotland.

The successful delivery of this and the recently approved £3.7 million Levengrove Park Heritage Lottery project will result in an overall investment of £5.4 million between Posties Park and Levengrove Park.

In June this year the Council approved plans to create a new Community Sports Hub in Whitecrook including a synthetic pitch for rugby, football and Gaelic football and renovation of the pavilion to provide improved changing and community facilities.

Councillor Patrick McGlinchey, Convener of Infrastructure and Regeneration, said: “Clydebank FC has waited a long time for this development and I’m delighted they will now finally have somewhere they can call home. We’re committed to improving the wellbeing of our communities and encouraging participation in sport is one way we are doing this. These projects will provide purpose-built facilities to support and inspire our existing and aspiring athletes.”

Councillor David McBride, Vice-Convener of Infrastructure and Regeneration, added: “Each of these projects represents an investment and a commitment by this Council in sport. Local sports clubs have been crying out for facilities like this so they can grow membership and develop their athletes. In Dumbarton we’re replacing a derelict site with a first-class facility for use by sportsmen and women of all ages. Our hope is that will attract significant external funding and ultimately form part of a £5.4m investment into that area of the town.”