A £4.3 million sports hall is planned for Strandhead Park in Stewarton.

East Ayrshire Council is planning to build a new hall with badminton and basketball courts, dance studio, fitness room, changing rooms, a community/meeting room and an outdoor full size synthetic grass pitch with floodlighting.

At a recent Cabinet meeting, Councillors opted to build the new sports hall on the lower level of the park, with the synthetic grass pitch on the currently neglected red blaize pitch.

Strandhead was chosen due to its ease of access and the opportunity to utilise the disused pitch and upgrade changing facilities without significant loss of amenity for the community.

Previous studies had highlighted the shortage of indoor sports facilities and outdoor pitches for training and matches in the town.

Councillors also agreed improvements to sporting facilities at Stewarton's Cocklebie Park, Knockentiber's pavilion at the Playbarn and a pavilion at Galston's Western Road, as part of a £1.2 million project.

Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing, Cllr Kathy Morrice, said: "Plans for upgrading these pavilions in East Ayrshire are excellent news.

"Moreover, the new sports hall and pitch at Strandhead will regenerate the park while providing facilities for the whole community."