WORK will finish later this year on the first phase of a new paddlesport centre being built near central of Glasgow.

In March last year, the city council agreed to contribute £272,000 towards the cost of the scheme.

And today, they will be asked to contribute a further £276,000 to allow the £2.3million project to go ahead.

The Pinkston Paddlesports Centre will be based on the Glasgow branch of the Forth and Clyde canal at Port Dundas.

Liz Cameron, the council's spokeswoman for jobs and the economy, said: "It will deliver a paddlesports centre of local, regional and national significance which will engage young people in a programme of exciting and challenging canoe, kayak and raft-based activities."

It will have a competition-standard white-water course, canoe polo pitches, a boathouse with changing and drying areas and coaching, education and classroom facilities.

There will also be a number of other activities including swimming, water safety and life-saving training.

Mrs Cameron said: "The centre will provide a training centre for both elite athletes and the local community, providing for the first time a dedicated Scottish centre to promote a number of important sports.

"The centre will also be a training ground for novices through to international standard paddlers and will become a venue for UK-wide competitions."

It is expected it will be used by at least 25,000 people each year, plus a large number of school visits.

More than £2m has been raised from a number of sources, including the council, Landfill Tax Credits, the Scottish Government, Sports Scotland, Postcode Lottery and charitable trusts.

Councillors have been asked to provide another £276,000 which would be the final piece of the funding jigsaw.

Mrs Cameron said: "Delivery of the Paddlesports project will fill a clear gap in the market in terms of paddle-sports facilities.

"Scotland has world-class athletes in this field but does not offer any dedicated paddling facilities.

"The Paddlesports Centre will be owned and run by volunteers who have each made a commitment to working closely with the local community."

vivienne.nicoll@eveningtimes.co.uk