Bothwell Futures Community Trust hopes to acquire the site in Wooddean Park through a Community Asset Transfer, but first, it needs to scope the viability of further developing it as an all-weather sports pitch.

Now, the council’s Can Do Community Challenge Fund has awarded the Trust £10,000 to help advance its plans.

Explained the group’s Richard Mannering: “Bothwell Futures is looking at how an area within Wooddean Park could be redeveloped to provide an active play area for the village. 

“One option is to look at the viability of an all-weather sports facility and our goal is to see the community participating in sports at Wooddean all year round. 

“The Can Do Fund has provided valuable support by enabling us to kick start a community-led working group to build the idea and appoint an architect to develop the brief further.”

Councillor Lesley McDonald, Chair of the council’s Finance and Corporate Resources Committee, added: “I am delighted that the Can Do Community Challenge Fund has been able to support Bothwell Futures with its plans for the community.”

The Fund - now closed to new applications - provided grants of up to £10,000 to community organisations seeking help with revenue, capital funding, or a combination of both.