The three local councillors representing the area proposed that £42,000 of their £50,000 LAF allocation go towards upgrading and improving playpark provision in the ward.

This will be spent in the current financial year as part of the Playpark Investment Programme for 2025/26.

The remaining £8000 will be split evenly between the ward’s eight primary schools.

Funding for the investment is a result of the administration budget passed earlier this year, with an additional £50,000 allocated to each of the 20 council wards. 

Councillors in each ward were asked to propose how the new Local Action Fund should be spent, with final decisions to be made by the Executive Committee. 

The first proposals were unanimously approved 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.

“As local councillors, we hear first-hand from constituents where money could be best spent, and these proposals mean that we already have agreement in 13 of the 20 council wards, with the others to follow in due course.

“In East Kilbride Central North, we jointly chose to focus on the youngest in our communities. This cash boost for schools and play is designed to maximise opportunity for all children across education and recreation, and will, I believe, have a significant and lasting effect.”

The elected members for East Kilbride Central North, Ward 8, are Councillor Joe Fagan, Councillor Grant Ferguson and Councillor Hugh Macdonald.