A SHARE of a new Scottish Government £20million funding scheme will be used to re-open football pitches across Glasgow this summer.

At last week’s full council meeting Conservative councillor Euan Blockley asked the Depute Leader when Castlemilk residents could expect the Barlia pitches to re-open.

Mr Blockley is re-asking the question which he says wasn’t properly answered by the Depute Leader at the meeting who took the opportunity to congratulate Steve Clark and the team on their “very spirited” performances. Mr McDonald is now saying the pitches will re-open on July 5.

He said: “They certainly put us all through the ringer and have ensured that the younger generation of supporters know that mixture of heartbreak and euphoria that comes from being a Scotland fan.

“But the experience of being one of the Euro 2020 host cities has given us the chance to highlight the impact and the power of football. I want to take this opportunity to thank all those who have helped to bring this event to the city, who have supported its development and delivery.

“We have an outstanding close city team in Glasgow involving staff across the council family who despite some massive challenges over the last year have really risen to those challenges and helped us to host yet again another of the world’s greatest sporting events further cementing the city’s reputation as a top five global sporting city.”

Councillor McDonald then addressed the issue at Barlia, a pitch which has been closed for more than a year because of the pandemic.

Most recently it has been used as a Covid testing site as part of ongoing efforts to suppress the level of coronavirus in the city.

He said: “Last week the Scottish Government announced a £20 million Get into Summer fund for Scotland and £2.2 million has been allocated to Glasgow City Council and that fund is being designed to support young people across the city experiencing significant disruption to all aspects of their lives.

“Officers are looking at best ways to use that money. Football clubs associated with Barlia have been approached to see if an activity programme could be provided during the summer months.”

Following the meeting councillor Blockley said he was concerned at the Depute Leader’s attempts to “dodge his question”.

He added: “The facility has been closed for over a year with local residents and campaign groups concerned for its future. I asked for a reopening date, and I was incredibly concerned to hear the Deputy Leader of the council dodge the question and then attempt to run down the clock to avoid further scrutiny.

“I was however, heartened to see that Barlia will be used for a summer football programme in the coming weeks and I can only hope that this is the council admitting that the decision to close the facility was not the correct one.”

Councillor McDonald responded: “While Cllr Blockley is interested in grandstanding I’m interested in getting results. He hasn’t done anything to support the reopening of venues in the city and in fact voted with his Tory colleagues to close venues during the council budget.

“Communities like Castlemilk have been among the hardest hit by Tory austerity that councillor Blockley supports. The council will do all we can to in partnership with the community to support venues reopening. Using extra money from the Scottish Government we will be working with local football clubs to reopen Barlia and Greenfield providing activity for young people during the summer as part of the Council’s popular summer activities and food projects.”