Young future football stars will be able to train and play on their home pitches after Renfrewshire Council approved a Community Asset Transfer of the India Tyres playing fields.
Inchinnan Development Trust (IDT) will be taking a 50-year lease which will see them work in partnership with the local community and St Mirren Youth Football Club.
Some of the planned proposals to keep the sporting stars at the top of their game include rebuilding the pavilion on the site to provide changing facilities, improving drainage, and investigating the development of an Astroturf pitch at the site soon.
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Lacey Lindsay, of Inchinnan Development Trust, said: “We are delighted to have been successful in our application to Renfrewshire Council for a Community Asset Transfer.
“We are at the very beginning of a five-year plan to preserve and develop the green space into a place for communities to enjoy, thrive, grow, and play and the development will bring opportunities, connectivity, strengthen community, and inspire partnership working.
“IDT is keen to involve anyone and everyone in the process, especially those who live closest to the fields, as everyone doing a little bit helps to achieve a lot.”
Renfrewshire Council bought the training fields in 2021 with the goal of transferring ownership to a local organisation who were looking to use the fields to benefit the community and to support healthier, and more active lives.
St Mirren YFC will continue to train and play at the playing fields as their home ground as hundreds of young people are set to benefit.
Stephen Mann, St Mirren YFC Soccer School lead, said: "On behalf of St Mirren Youth Football Club, I'd like to congratulate the Inchinnan Development Trust on securing the India Tyres Playing Fields as a community-use green space for local people and the wider population to enjoy for generations to come.
“We have been looking after ‘The Tyres’ since 2018 at the invitation of Inchinnan Community Council and we are determined this historic site can be developed into a field of dreams, where young people can play there dreaming of playing for Scotland in a World Cup, local people can learn about the history of the site, from its agricultural days, to its aero engineering heritage and for half a century or so - where "the finest Tyres made" were manufactured - all here locally in Inchinnan.
“We are delighted to be part of this community partnership to regenerate a former sports ground into a modern facility and look forward to the challenge ahead in exploring the funding streams to make The Tyres into a field of dreams.”
The two groups will continue to work together to maintain and develop the site as they aim to transform the playing fields into an asset for the whole community.
Councillor Michelle Campbell, convener of Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy, said: “As convener and a local councillor, I’m delighted that this Community Asset Transfer was approved as it will bring great benefit to the local people of Inchinnan and surrounding areas of Renfrewshire.
"Inchinnan Community Development Trust are a wonderful example of community led organisation making the difference for modernised spaces which serve the recognised needs within the village communities.
“Working with the community to develop our green spaces and create opportunities for young people and adults to play sport and get active is something I’m passionate about and this is a fantastic example of what can be done when the council works together with local community groups and organisations.
“The proposals that are in place for the development of the playing fields are hugely exciting and I’m looking forward to seeing investment made in this green space over the coming years.”
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