PLANS for a new 3G sports facility in Rhu have been placed on ice after a funding bid for the project was unexpectedly turned down.

The work had been expected to proceed after Argyll and Bute Council's planning committee gave the green light to the redevelopment plans for the Ardenconnel Field site in May.

But the Ministry of Defence, which owns the land, has now revealed that the work will be held up – for an unspecified period – because of a lack of funds.

Commander James Leatherby, who acts as a liaison between the community and the MoD, told members of Rhu and Shandon Community Council that a bid for funding to support the work had failed unexpectedly.

“There is a consequent delay, of unknown length, to this project while alternative funding streams are identified,” he said in his written report.

In answer to questions from community councillors, Commander Leatherby said he understood the MoD had “not given up on the original source”.

The plans for the site were given the green light by the local authority's planning, protective services and licensing committee in April – despite opposition from 33 local residents and from the Rhu and Shandon Gala Committee, which, until last year, held its annual gala day on the present grass surface.

Fiona Baker, who spoke on the gala committee's behalf at the April hearing, told the community council on August 10 that Argyll and Bute Council had hopes of renovating the all-weather surface at Bendarroch Park in Garelochhead, and asked whether there was a need to have two 3G pitches so close to each other.

“If Ardenconnel is to be developed as a 3G pitch,” she said, “many of us see that as a loss to the village.”

Lomond North councillor Maurice Corry, who is also Argyll and Bute Council's armed forces champion, confirmed that funding was the stumbling block for the Ardenconnel project, but said the council was still keen to support the redevelopment.

Speaking in support of the scheme at April's hearing, Captain Craig Mearns, the commanding officer of HM Naval Base Clyde, said the new 3G facility would be available for community use, and that improvements to the pitch were a “key part” of investment in the base to turn it into the Navy's centre of submarine specialisation.

This year's Rhu and Shandon Gala Day was held for the first time at the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club after the MoD announced its plans to redevelop the Ardenconnel Field site.

Neil McNicol, president of Rhu Amateurs football club, whose games are played at Ardenconnel Park, next door to the MoD site, said the club was still hopeful of being able to make use of the new 3G pitch if and when it becomes a reality.

“There's no drainage on Ardenconnel Park,” Mr McNicol said. “It just gets sodden for weeks during a typical Scottish winter – last season we went for 11 weeks without playing a home game – and we're hopeful we would be able to get enhanced use of the new facility if it eventually gets built.”

A spokesperson for the MoD said: “Some £250,000 has already been secured to help develop the Ardenconnel playing fields and we continue to explore a number of alternative options to fund the remaining £550,000.”