Former football pitch in Glasgow to be turned into a community garden by charity

A former football pitch in Cranhill is set to be taken over by a charity for use as a community garden.

Talks will begin over a deal for land at Bellrock Crescent, which was once a football pitch for the old St Modan’s Primary.

Cranhill Development Trust, which supports around 3,000 people in the area annually, uses neighbouring land for its community gardens.

It intends to take on the council-owned site, described as “predominantly undeveloped land”, to extend the gardens, with a council report stating a “community allotment site” could be created.

Councillors agreed to negotiations over an off-market disposal when they met on Thursday, and terms of a deal will now be discussed.

Cllr Kevin Lalley, Labour, said he had grown up in Cranhill and had “may a great day” on the primary pitch. “It is in a bit of a state at the moment in time, it has been for a while,” he added.

He described the work of Cranhill Development Trust as “immense”, adding it is “just pleasing to see it (the land) is going to be used by the trust”.

A council official confirmed the gardens would be extended if the deal goes ahead. Cllr Lalley added: “I’m grateful for that and it can only be good, it’s an area that’s enhanced by the work Cranhill Development Trust do.”

Cllr Ruairi Kelly, SNP, said the work that Cranhill Development Trust do is “really well received in the community”, including the “growing projects that they do with the local people and a lot of the new Scots that have made that area of the city their home”.

He added the trust has “really been a model for a lot of other development trusts in the city to follow”.

The trust aims to tackle poverty and address social exclusion through a range of programmes, including welfare and employment support, volunteer opportunities, courses and English for speakers of other languages provision.

Health and well-being activities include a holiday programme and sessions in the community garden.