AMBITIOUS plans to create a pump track, skate park and football pitch – complete with changing facilities and cafe – are being drawn up.

The proposals, expected to cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, could help drive forward the next generation of BMX and skating stars.

A football pitch and play area were included in plans for 245 new homes at Hallhill North in Dunbar.

Taylor Wimpey East Scotland and Hallhill Developments Limited were given permission for the new builds at the end of last year, with more than £244,000 set aside for a full-size pitch and changing facilities.

Councillor Norman Hampshire, council leader and ward member, revealed that that was just part of the proposals being brought forward, with the scheme tying in with nearby Hallhill Sports Centre.

He said: “We are looking to create a new pump track and skate park along with changing rooms for the football pitch and a community cafe.

“It would be a multi-generational facility; however, in the evening it will be available for the young people to use.

“They can come and watch television, potentially have a game of pool or other activities.”

Funding is already in place for various aspects of the ambitious project.

However, there are still obstacles to be overcome.

A planning application will be needed for the changing rooms, cafe, skate park and pump track.

Youngsters will play a key role in the design of the skate park and pump track, with funding applications then being submitted to various bodies.

The planning application is expected to be submitted at the beginning of April, while work on the football pitch and play area could get under way within a matter of months.

Mr Hampshire was hopeful, if matters progressed smoothly, that work could start on the building this summer, and the skate park and pump track at the end of the year.

The council leader felt that the proposed facilities would have a number of benefits to the community.

He said: “People complain about young people hanging around and doing things they should not be doing and we want to give them something positive they can do.

“My own vision is the cafe will be open from 10am to 10pm and we will be the operators of it but also I would like to have youth workers basing themselves within the cafe and going out into the community where young people are.”

Mr Hampshire highlighted the plans during a virtual meeting with Dunbar Community Council.

He said that a lot of work was still to be done, both on the site and in offices, in order to get the proposals off the ground.

Mr Hampshire said: “It is a lot of work still to be done but we have made really, really good progress.

“The woodland area is in pretty poor condition and there has never been any management taking place.

“We have got some work to be done.

“Drainage needs to be improved and some of the poor trees will probably have to be removed from there.

“There was some damage done by the wind and that has got to cleared out.

“Some of the ditches in there have been filled and never been kept clear – all that is management which needs to be done.

“There is still wildlife in the woodland and we will do everything we can to make sure we protect that.”