ERSKINE residents have been left fuming after it was revealed funding will not be included in Renfrewshire Council’s budget for new sports facilities in the town.

It leaves children having to travel three miles to Bishopton to use the nearest free play area.

Original plans for a new joint campus at St John Bosco Primary and Bargarran Primary included a games zone but there is no sign of it in updated proposals.

Jacqui Reid, chair of the Community Action for Erskine group, said: “I have spoken to the Head of Schools, Gordon McKinley, and the money appears to have been removed from the budget.”

The group has collected hundreds of signatures for a petition which aims to convince the local authority to have a rethink and make funding available.

Discussions had taken place on the possibility of allowing local children and community groups to use 4G sports facilities which were planned for the new school campus.

Ms Reid said: “This was not an ideal situation. However, it would have allowed use during summer evenings, weekends and holidays.

“The new facility would not have been floodlit, due to a small number of local residents raising objection to any potential lighting.

“I am a strong believer in working with the council in matters like this. I understand that times are tough and money is tight but we are talking about the only free play area for children in the village.”

A spokesman for Renfrewshire Council said: “The provision of a new multi-use games area was not included in the original contract for the building works design of the St John Bosco and Bargarran Primary School shared campus.

“It was agreed that the position would be reviewed as work progressed, with the area to be added at a later stage if funds allowed.

“We are always willing to accommodate where we can but, unfortunately, financial constraints meant we weren’t in a position to do so, although the decision will be reviewed should that change.”