Youngsters looking to compete in athletics competitions are having to drive past a new multi-million pound hub at Posties Park which remains unopened.
Graham Reid from West Dunbartonshire Athletics Club says it’s a source of huge frustration that the state-of-the-art track overlooking Dumbarton Rock remains unopened – more than four years after it was due to welcome runners.
And he says that talented youngsters are being forced to travel to Glasgow to train, whilst others are being lost to the sport altogether.
Graham told the Lennox: “We struggle a bit to meet the competitive appetite of the children. We do wee club competitions during training at Dumbarton Academy. We’ve built a strong relationship with Helensburgh Athletics Club, who are also keen to use the track.
“Through the partnership we were invited to Helensburgh’s club championships. They ended up being held in Linwood. But we had 40 athletes from Dumbarton, Helensburgh and the local area having to drive past Posties to get to Linwood. It’s absolutely bonkers.
“The weather was bad that day and the majority of children who didn’t attend couldn’t make it because their parents didn’t want to travel in the weather. If it was at a more local venue then they would’ve been able to make it.
“Over the last year-and-a-half three of our best athletes have moved onto other clubs because we can’t meet their demands, because of the facilities we’ve got.
“I would never stand in the way of those athletes. But it’s heartbreaking that three very strong athletes from Dumbarton are now having to travel all the way up to Glasgow to train in the sport that they love. It seems ridiculous.
“It puts a burden on the family to cater for that. And it’s so frustrating when we have a club who aren’t able to meet their needs.
“I’m thankful that the kids are still in the sport. But it’s upsetting that they aren’t able to do it with us.”
Proposals have been in place since 2015 aimed at regenerating the Levenside venue into a state-of-the-art athletics track – but have been hit by a string of delays and setbacks.
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the facility was due to open last March – with councillors then told that it would open in November at the earliest.
That was then amended to February, with the local authority then aiming for a summer opening.
But as the clocks changed last month it remained inaccessible to athletes, with Graham saying the delays are now causing WDAC problems.
He continued: “It’s been incredibly frustrating. Both personally and from a club point of view.
“As a club we’ve been working so hard to prepare for the move to the facility. We’ve been working through a development plan and engaging with Scottish Athletics, who have given us quite a lot of support, all in preparation for the move.
“The carrot that is dangling for the community, in terms of the growth of interest in athletics when it opens, is something we are determined to meet.
“It will more than likely mean expanding our club massively in terms of the amount of children and young people, and potentially adults, that we can bring in.
“I’ve expanded my coaching team, we’ve brought in new volunteers and committee members. We’ve done everything we can, and we’re just having to sit tight.
“Athletics is a very popular sport. West Dunbartonshire Leisure and Active Schools host two amazing cross-country events for all the schools. We feed off the impact for them.
“When those events come around we always get a lot of inquiries.
“Two things come from that. Sometimes we can’t take all the kids who are interested, sometimes we have to turn kids away who want to join.”
The project is now more than £3million over budget – with costs now sitting at an estimated £6million.
And Graham says he’s even worried that it might not be open in time for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
He added: “We know that it’s going to be an engagement tool. This was an Olympic year, we’ve missed that opportunity. My only hope is that we don’t miss the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games opportunity.”
Previously a council officer told members of the IRED committee: “We’re chasing the contractors as vigorously as we can to complete that work. And thereafter there will be a final inspection before occupation can be granted.”