PLANS to create a community hub in the northeast of Glasgow have been dealt a blow after flooding caused severe damage to a historic building.

A burst pipe in the Springburn Park Boathouse has meant that improvement works have been put on hold as locals try to raise the estimated £800 needed to do the repairs.

A crowdfunder has now been set up online to gather the funds.

The boathouse has recently been cared for by the Friends of Springburn Park after the charity group saved the council-owned building from demolition.

Gino Satti, chairperson of the group, said: “We are in the process of planning a refurbishment throughout 2018.

“The burst pipe that we suffered between Christmas and New Year was localised but has now brought down a good part of the ceiling.

“At first the damage looked really bad, the water was freely flowing but now it’s slowly drying out.”

The accident has proved to be a setback in the plans to create a community hub in the park, with the aim of moving in to offices on the site now being pushed back at least a couple of months.

Friends of Springburn Park, along with the local schools, charities and the community council, have big ideas to turn the site into a thriving community meeting point.

Anthony Carroll, a member of Springburn Community Council, said: “There is huge potential for community groups and engagement here but, unfortunately, there is no place to get together, no real heart of the community.

“We have the boathouse on a rolling contract and we have plans to use it as the basis for a community hub.

“This would be a great community asset and would allow for projects like an outdoor classroom or for an orchard to be planted here.”

The initiative has gained the support of local politicians, who say that plans like this are vital for the area.

Paul Sweeney, Labour MP for Glasgow North East, said: “I have been following the work of the new Friends of Springburn Park group since it was set up, having been closely involved in creating the related trust that is trying to save the Springburn Park Winter Gardens.

“Their initiative in taking over the old council parks depot at the boat house has been fantastic and it is really disappointing that they have encountered this unfortunate setback.

“The boat house project is vital for the vibrancy of the local Springburn community but the group remain undeterred, eager to raise the funds to undertake repairs and create this new destination in the park.

“I am sure that the crowdfunder and generosity of Glaswegians will see it flourish.”