PLANS to build a £2.1 million indoor athletics centre in Linwood have taken a major step forward after an application for funding was approved.

Hundreds of members of Kilbarchan Amateur Athletics Club, as well as the wider community, are to benefit from the state-of-the-art facility next to the On-X sports centre.

Councillors have backed the allocation of £500,000 towards the project, which is being developed with the support of Scottish Athletics and Sport Scotland.

The new centre will provide the Kilbarchan club with a 60m running track, a strength and conditioning area and space for a pole vault and an indoor throws cage for those competing in events such as the javelin.

It is hoped the investment will increase participation in sport and help to produce more elite athletes like Kilbarchan runner Callum Hawkins, who represented Team GB in the marathon at last summer’s Olympics in Rio.

Scottish Athletics have identified the proposal as an important project within the National Facilities Strategy, which aims to provide athletics with top-class facilities throughout the country that will continue to maximise participation and increase standards of performance.

Council chiefs have said the successful completion of the Linwood development would significantly enhance the quality of athletic training facilities available within Renfrewshire and support the continued development of Kilbarchan AAC.

Renfrewshire Council Leader, Mark Macmillan, said: “We are committed to supporting our communities to have the best possible opportunity to succeed in the sporting environment.

“The successful completion of the development would significantly enhance the quality of the athletics training facilities available within Renfrewshire and support the continued development and success of Kilbarchan AAC.

“The club have a wide and varied membership- at both elite and club level- and the funding approved today will allow the club to advance their proposals to bring this fantastic facility to Renfrewshire.”

Scottish Athletics have identified the proposal as an important project within the National Facilities Strategy, which aims to provide athletics with numerous top class facilities throughout the country to maximise participation and increase standards of performance in all disciplines.

Chief Executive of scottishathletics, Mark Munro, said: “scottishathletics fully support the Kilbarchan AAC Indoor Facility project and have been working closely with them.

“If successful, the facility will improve opportunities for people to participate in physical activity in their local community as well as the overall development of the club and athletics as a whole.

“Kilbarchan AAC over recent years have proven to be one of the most progressive and successful clubs in the country and this development is crucial to them moving forward with an ever expanding membership and programme support to their local community.”

Kilbarchan AAC are currently in the Premier Division of the Scottish Athletics league structure and have a membership of over 525 male and female runners from across Renfrewshire and beyond.

The Club will continue to identify funding opportunities to source the remaining financial support required to advance the project to the next stage.