BUILDING work has started on a new clubhouse for two athletics clubs in East Kilbride.

 

The new hub, which should be up and running this summer, will be the base for Whitemoss AAC and East Kilbride AC.

A range of funders including South Lanarkarkshire Council, sportscotland, Biffa and the Robertson Trust all contributed almost £162,000 toward the project with the two clubs providing £32,000.

The two storey new building will have a flexible classroom space on the ground floor for education and training programmes for athletes, coaches and volunteers.

There will be a small strength and conditioning area, a storage room for each club, an administration office and toilets with the upper floor providing a coaches' library/meeting space, further storage and toilets.

Until now both clubs have been running their volunteer programmes from two 'not fit for purpose' modular buildings.

Graham Ravenscroft, chairman of Whitemoss, said: "The athletics hub will transform club athletics in the local area not only for current club members, coaches and volunteers but for generations to come.

"We hope everyone using this fantastic facility will be empowered to realise their potential and ambitions, whatever standard they aspire to reach."

Chris Thompson, chairman of South Lanarkshire Council's enterprise services committee, said the new clubhouse was great news for the local area.

He added: "The athletics hub will encourage more people to be involved in sport and athletics and is another example of how South Lanarkshire's renewable energy fund is helping communities and groups improve their facilties."