EAST Renfrewshire Council has had to find an extra quarter-of-a-million pounds after costs on the upgrade of the Barrhead Foundry and Neilston Leisure Centre came in above budget.

The local authority announced plans for a £2.2million upgrade of the pool, health suite and changing rooms at the Foundry in September, with improvements at the Neilston venue also in the pipeline.

Now a further £246,000 is being siphoned off from the local authority’s General Fund Capital Plan to pay for the projects.

A council spokesman told the Barrhead News: “As part of our commitment to improving leisure facilities across the area, we announced a refurbishment and modernisation project for the Foundry last year.

“Following the completion of the tender process, the cost for carrying out the works exceeded the capital budget which had been allocated to this project. With these additional funds now approved by the council, it will allow the Foundry project to be delivered whilst also carrying out more than £60,000 of improvement works at Neilston Swimming Pool.”

The Foundry revamp will include new showers and toilets, while the pool will benefit from better water quality, new tiling and energy-efficient lighting.

Council leader Tony Buchanan said: “We are committed to providing quality facilities for our residents to allow them to enjoy an active, healthy lifestyle.

“This significant upgrade at the Barrhead Foundry pool will be fantastic and I can’t wait to see it completed. Once work is under way, every effort will be made to keep disruption to a minimum and residents’ patience during this period is appreciated.”

The health suite will also be upgraded, along with a refurbished changing area for gym users.

Work to refurbish the pool and health suite at the Foundry is expected to be complete by this summer.