CHANGING facilities for community football pitches have been left to ruin for two years - despite £300,000 set aside to replace them.

The Duntocher facilities, for the two grass pitches at Fore Park and William Street, have been in a dismal state for some time.

Antonine FC and St Joseph’s AFC both raised concerns back in 2017 suggesting the dressing rooms were a “shambles and dangerous”, with water dripping from the ceiling, no heating and saturated parts of room.

But more than 18 months on from the team’s Willie Gibbons writing to council bosses, there is still no planning application or start date for work.

Mr Gibbons said the council painted the dressing rooms last year and put in new showers. But new linoleum is flaking thanks to the damp.

He said: “Only last month they had to replace part of the floor in a dressing room due to dampness.

“The rooms are too small to cater for an adult team of 15 players and management team with the shower area having to be used to change.

“St Joe’s AFC have even taken to move to Antonine Sports Centre, at an extra cost, for changing facilities in order to give their opposition the use of two changing rooms.

“The facilities have been getting replaced for at least two years but we are still waiting. The two parks are used on a regular basis at weekends, as well as evenings during the week.

“Some teams who use the parks come changed as they are aware what the changing facilities are like.”

Questions were raised at the council meeting on March 27 over the unspent money, where council papers stated work would begin in April - days later.

Councillor Douglas McAllister was told that was still the goal, though there was, as yet, still no planning application.

Chief Executive Joyce White told the meeting the project was “later than planned”.

Weeks later, the project remains stalled.

Cllr McAllister told the Post this week: “Nothing has happened in two years - not a penny of that £300,000 has been spent.

“We were told work would begin in April. There is still no planning application. The condition is just appalling.”

A West Dunbartonshire Council spokeswoman said: “A site investigation has been carried out and we are awaiting information on costs from the contractor.

“A planning application will be submitted thereafter.”

Pitch hire at the facilities costs £34.10 for adults and £16.30 for juveniles.