Synthetic pitch at Merlin Park back on track
Proposals for the new synthetic grass pitch at Merlin Park, Auchinleck, took a step closer to becoming a reality this week when Cabinet approved an increased budget of £0.900m for the project, bringing the revised budget for this project to approximately £2.200m.
This additional boost for Merlin Park has been made possible by utilising some of the remaining balances secured as part of the restoration of opencast coal sites. The restoration works at Chalmerston have been successfully completed under budget, and as such there remains a balance of £2,248,694 which is available for reallocation. This week Cabinet agreed to a proportion of those funds being allocated to the Merlin Park development.
The increased budget will ensure that the Merlin Park development meets the needs of local people, maximising the potential of this site as a community sports facility. The works will include a new synthetic grass pitch, enhanced spectator viewing, storage for goals, increased car parking provision with lighting and CCTV.
The demolition of the Auchinleck Academy building is now nearing completion, but the original synthetic grass pitch at the Academy site is being retained until the new facilities at Merlin Park are completed. The revised budget proposals include an increased provision to address the drainage issues with the existing site.
Councillor Jim McMahon, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Housing, Transport and Communities said:
“This additional funding is welcome news for development - in terms of enhancing the original proposals - and also for the local community, who have played a vital role in helping to shape the future of leisure and wellbeing in Auchinleck.
“East Ayrshire Council and East Ayrshire Leisure Trust continue to work with community partners, particularly Auchinleck Leisure Centre Committee, to ensure that the Merlin Park development meets the needs of local people. I know they have some great ideas for sports provision in the area and the new pitches at Merlin Park will provide some solid foundations for more opportunities for community-led regeneration.”
The Council has recently engaged with Alliance Leisure, specialists in the sports and leisure sector, to assist in further developing the proposals for Merlin Park.
It is hoped that construction will commence onsite by summer 2026 with completion by the end of the calendar year.