WORK on a £3.8 million community sports facility in Clydebank has kicked off.

The state-of-the-art hub is due to be up and running later this year on the site of old playing fields at Dean Street in Whitecrook.

Once completed, the Clydebank Community Sports Hub (CCSH) will offer a world-class sporting facility for rugby, Gaelic football and a range of other sports and activities.

Ground was broken at the site, with Councillor Iain McLaren, West Dunbartonshire Council’s Convener of Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development, and Councillor Diane Docherty, Vice Convener, joined by Scottish Minister for Local Government and Housing, Kevin Stewart, in cutting the first sod.

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Facilities including a new full size, flood-lit, all-weather synthetic pitch, two re-developed grass pitches, 10 community allotments and newly renovated indoor sports facilities − with room for clubs and community groups to meet – are all part of the project.

The project has been spearheaded by three sports clubs with backing from the Scottish Government, West Dunbartonshire Council, sportscotland, the Gaelic Athletic Association, Cashback for Communities, Scottish Rugby, The Robertson Trust and Barr Environmental Limited through the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund.

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Glaschu Gaels Gaelic Football Club, Clydebank Rugby Club and GTF Tae Kwon do club will all utilise the facilities for training, competition and community events.

The synthetic grass pitch is suitable for rugby, Gaelic football and football and − due to the different pitch dimensions required for the three sports − it is thought it will be the biggest synthetic pitch of its kind in the UK.

Councillor Iain McLaren, West Dunbartonshire Council’s Convener of Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development, said: “This is a very exciting project for Clydebank and it will make Whitecrook a real, lively hub of sporting activity.

"And as well as all the brilliant sports facilities that will be available, we were determined to ensure the wider community could make use of the CCSH too, which is why there will be community allotments and space for community groups to meet.

"I know the clubs involved are delighted at the prospect of having such a wonderful place to train and compete and I can’t wait to a see the result of this work.”

Councillor Diane Docherty, Vice Convener of Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development, added: “This is a real example of partnership working and it’s clear from the number of funders who have got on board that this project has really captured the imagination of many people.

"We are determined as a Council to give our residents the best possible chance to get fit and healthy, as was shown with the recent opening of the brilliant new Clydebank Leisure Centre.

"The CCSH is another example of our commitment to improving the health of our residents.”

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Central Building Contractors (CBC) have been appointed to deliver the development.

Minister for Local Government and Housing, Kevin Stewart, said: “I’m delighted to be here today to see work officially start on this project, which will redevelop an almost derelict site into a modern, purpose-built community hub for use by all of the local community.

"The hub will offer much more than sporting facilities - it will provide significant regeneration outcomes for Whitecrook using sport as a catalyst, particularly in relation to health and wellbeing, engaging with and educating young people, addressing unemployment and crime and encouraging community participation and volunteering.

"Community planning is at the heart of this project and I’m pleased that the community has been at the forefront of developing it to make sure it meets local needs.”

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