A WEST End conservation group will find out if this week if it has been granted a long term lease of a community space near the Botanic Gardens.

Volunteer group Friends of the River Kelvin has been operating Ha'Penny House on the banks of the Kelvin near the Botanic Gardens for 20 years.

It has always been on a short-term lease making it difficult to make plans for the future.

But on Thursday, members of the city council's executive committee are expected to grant the group a lease for the next 25 years.

Friends of the River Kelvin says it has had requests from various groups to use the base for activities such as outdoor playgroups and from people running meditation classes.

Running groups are also keen to use Ha'Penny House as a social point for joggers along the River Kelvin.

A long term lease would allow FORK to make long term plans and put the group in a stronger position to bid for funding for future activities.

Kenny McLean, the city council's convenor for neighbourhoods, housing and public realm, said: "The granting of a long-term lease for this fantastic asset to the Friends of the River Kelvin is great news for the local community and the city.

"The Friends can now look forward to many more years of fantastic educational, social and community activities and hopefully attracting investment to further develop what is done in and from Ha'Penny House."

Friends of the River Kelvin was formed in 1991 to build public awareness and commitment to the care and maintenance of the Kelvin and its tributaries to preserve a rich natural habitat in the heart of the city.

Sally Johnston, chairwoman of the group, said: "A new lease will mean we can start fundraising to really make this building a community building that can be shared with other people and other groups."