NEW play areas and a 3G pitch have been given the go-ahead with awarding of contracts by councillors.

West Dunbartonshire Council’s tendering committee last week approved the plans for £318,846 across five play parks in Braeside Drive in Dumbarton, The Dam in Silverton, Mollanbowie Estate in Balloch and in Bowling.

Plans for a surface at Skypoint, in Faifley, were also approved.

Upgrades to the parks were approved in 2014 as part of a £790,000 budget for 14 play parks in West Dunbartonshire.

Hawthorn Heights Ltd won the contracts for Bowling and Braeside Drive; The Dam will be upgraded by Kompan Scotland Ltd; Stucliffe Play (Scotland) Ltd will carry out the Mollanbowie Estate work; and Skypoint’s improvements will be done by Scotplay Ltd.

A separate contract was agreed to convert the red blaes pitch at Clydemuir Primary into a 3G multisport synthetic turf.

The plan was first approved in February 2013 but not prioritised until the last financial year.

Four bidders put in offers for the work and Ecosse Sports Ltd came out with the best deal at £221,498, excluding VAT. The price tag is £1,498 above the original budget but will be met from within existing budgets, said the council report.