THE charity arm of Whitletts Vics FC has launched a fund-raising campaign to meet the cost of plans to turn a former pavilion into a community hub and changing facility as part of its plans to set up a new home in the area.

Vics In The Community hopes to raise £15,000 to help transform the building at Glenmuir Place after taking over the pavilion, and the adjacent all-weather pitch at New Voluntary Park, under a community asset transfer.

The project is part of the club's planned move back to the area following more than a decade playing fixtures at Dam Park, which is set to be sold to Ayr Rugby Club.

A planning statement lodged with South Ayrshire Council states: “With the proposed sale of Dam Park to Ayr Rugby Club, the club needs a new home ground to play their home fixtures.

“The club has always harboured a desire to return Whitletts. Discussions took place with council officials regarding the club returning to the now vacant Voluntary Park site. However, the site had been earmarked for social housing.

“During that planning process the then open, but rarely used, football park behind the Whitletts Activity Centre was identified as a possible home for the club, although the pitch was unsuitable for football and was later closed in 2018 due to safety concerns.”

A new surface has since been laid at the venue which the planning statement says provides “an excellent facility for the club to start to develop into the venue that will become the hub of the local community with facilities used by the public and other local community organisations”.

The statement adds: “It is intended that the multi purpose room will also be a drop in café which would be open to the public five days a week from 9am until 5pm.

“This space would be used at the weekends to provide hospitality for football matches and other events, and will support other activities in the hub such as breakfast clubs for children and lunch clubs.”

The plans can be viewed at the planning portal on South Ayrshire Council’s website by searching for the reference 22/00901/APP.

The online fund-raiser can be found at gofundme.com/f/refurbishment-of-pavillion-at-new-facility.