Pitch perfect revamp for Burgh gets green light

Major plans to renovate Johnstone Burgh's Keanie Park ground have been given the green light.

- TAYLOR MURRAY

The application by the Scottish Junior Cup winners, which was approved by Renfrewshire Council’s planning department, outlines how the club want to replace the four floodlight columns, rip up the grass pitch in favour of a fourth-generation astroturf surface and have an all-seater stand.

There will also be engineering works, portable toilet blocks and outdoor landscaping.

Chairman Brian Williams believes that, while it is sad to be losing the grass park, the positives of having an artificial field outweigh the negatives.

He told the Express: "It's kind of twofold because obviously it helps the club in a massive way as it allows us to have a surface which is more reliable all year round.

"Ideally, football should be played on grass, but we live in Scotland and it rains constantly. So, to maintain a grass park during that is quite hard to do.