The proposal to invest in the council-run track at Crawforddyke Park was jointly suggested by all four councillors representing the Clydesdale West ward under the new Local Action Fund (LAF).

Funding for this initiative comes from the administration budget passed by the council earlier this year, with an additional £50,000 allocated to each of the 20 council wards. 

Councillors in each ward were asked to come up with proposals for how the LAF cash should be spent, with final decisions made by the Executive Committee. 

The first proposals were unanimously supported by the committee at the June meeting.

Council Leader Joe Fagan said: “The Local Action Fund was agreed as part of our Building Back Budget and is designed to help each community with projects that might not cost a lot of money but can have a lasting and worthwhile impact for everyone who lives there. 

"Local councillors will be able to gauge from their constituents where the money could be best spent, and I am delighted that we have agreement for how the money should be spent in 13 of the 20 council wards, with the others to follow in due course.

“The skatepark in Crawforddyke Park, Carluke is one of three purpose-built by the council across South Lanarkshire, which are hugely popular locally, and this boost represents an investment spearheaded by local members, not just in the town, but in its young people.”

The elected members for Clydesdale West, Ward 1, are Councillor Poppy Corbett, Councillor Lynsey Hamilton, Councillor Eileen Logan and Councillor David Shearer.

All three skateparks in South Lanarkshire – in Carluke, Blantyre, and East Kilbride – are free to use, fully lit and open until 9 pm daily.