SPORT and leisure facilities in the Cumnock area are to be reviewed by East Ayrshire Council.

The review forms part of the local authority's 10-year capital investment programme, which will see building works to the value of almost £500 million carried out across the area.

It will include potential development opportunities around the former home of Auchinleck Academy.

A report to EAC's cabinet laid out details of the capital spending plans, under three new headings - partially defined, fully defined, and undefined.

That report asked members of the cabinet to recommend that the full council "request officers to provide to a future cabinet [meeting] an update on the review of sport and leisure in the Cumnock area".

Describing the review as 'partially defined', under the heading of 'redevelopment of vacant sites', the report added: "This allocation within the programme was identified mainly in addressing anticipated surplus sites and potential demolition of surplus sites relating the Barony campus.

"East Ayrshire Leisure Trust are currently finalising the feasibility study on future leisure facilities within local area including potential opportunities relating to the former Auchinleck Academy site.

"Subject to the outcome of the feasibility study a separate report will be brought forward for the consideration of cabinet at a later date."

The old Auchinleck Academy building was vacated when the school, and nearby Cumnock Academy, merged to form the new Robert Burns Academy, at the Barony Campus, which opened in October 2020 and includes the Barony Sports Village.

The old Auchinleck Academy building's PE department is now home to Auchinleck Leisure Centre.

The review of Cumnock's sporting facilities is one of a number of reports on elements of the capital programme which will be provided to the cabinet at a later date.

The council's leader, SNP councillor Douglas Reid, said: “It is hard to overstate the importance of the council’s capital investment programme and the positive impact it has on our communities across East Ayrshire.

"Over the two 10-year programmes the overall investment will be £1.034 billion and this includes extensive building works, new schools, new homes, road infrastructure improvement works."