Plans to introduce modern changing facilities and reinstate four grass football pitches in Paisley will be kickstarted this year after the project hit a snag.
The old outdated pavilions at St James’ playing fields were knocked down – with a replacement building earmarked for the spot known locally as the racecourse.
But Renfrewshire Council's planned improvements, which a report said aimed to restore the location as a “desirable destination” for the beautiful game, were delayed when the tender process resulted in a single bid that was “significantly over budget”.
However, officers confirmed tweaks have been made to the plans with the intention of attracting further interest and a potential contractor.
The matter was discussed at Tuesday’s economy and regeneration policy board – at which Councillor Iain McMillan, leader of the Labour group, sought assurances on the project.
He said: “What I’m slightly concerned about – and I’ve got a question about this – is the racecourse.
“I see that’s been put back because we couldn’t get an appropriate contractor to do the work.
“Some of us are old enough to remember the halcyon days of the racecourse when there were umpteen games on there on a Saturday afternoon.
“When you go past it nowadays, it’s a shame to see this huge expanse of grass lying empty and being used by dog walkers. I have nothing against dog walkers, but I think it could be put to better use than that.
“Basically, my question is, how likely are we to get the appropriate contractor in to do it and what would be the timescale?”
Barbara Walker, infrastructure programme director, confirmed the council was still committed to completing the project. She anticipated that it will go back out to tender during the first half of this year.
Ms Walker said: “As you alluded to, when we did the procurement before for St James’ pavilions, we only had one bidder and the cost was way over our anticipated budget.
“I think we’re all rehearsed on all the volatility in the market and the reasons for that, so what we’ve been doing since is looking at options for value engineering, seeing if we can look at different options, and that work is still ongoing.
“There is a commitment that that will go ahead. I would hope to get a tender out in the next three or four months, as soon as that work is completed, but there is absolutely a commitment to go ahead.
“It will be four pitches and it will be in the first half of this year that that tender goes back out.
“Before it was modular buildings we were looking at and I think the market didn’t really like them, so we’re going out with a more simplified tender and that should hopefully attract further interest and get that moving.”
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