Barrrhead Amateur Boxing Club is one step closer to taking out a 25 year long term lease on Dalmeny Community Centre in the town's Barnes Street.

The club, formed in 1976, is keen to use the centre to build up their club for the future and this fits in with East Renfrewshire Council's aims to make better use of their facilities, retain space for local communities, encourage healthy lifestyles and to keep young people off the streets.

In recent years it has cost more for the council to run the Dalmeny Community Council than it generated in income.

The centre will continue to be available as a polling station for future elections and for councillor's surgeries.

The council has been involved in community engagement to begin the process of establishing, whether or not, communities have an interest in playing more direct roles in the management and delivery of services from any of its 20 community halls and pavilions.

This included letters to 48 local groups, a leaflet drop to over 600 households in the Dalmeny area and a drop-in event at Dalmeny Community Centre.

Community services convener Councillor Mary Montague said: "This is welcome news. Although the centre is well maintained and has been an integral part of the community for a number of years it has been underused in recent years.

"The council is keen to retain the centre for the local community and wants, where possible, to keep existing lets within the building.

"The proposal from the Barrhead Amateur Boxing Club represents a sound and viable option for the future of the facility. It also has wider community benefits in terms of sports, wellbeing and engagement of young people in sporting activity."

The boxing club will now begin the second stage of negotiations with the council. Councillors will be asked to make a final decision on the transfer to the club later this year.

Following the community engagement to date, a closing date of 15th March 2013 has now been put on alternative expressions of interest in Dalmeny Community Centre. This will allow the council to then focus efforts on the next stage of work with the boxing club. Any other proposals for the facility should be made in writing to the Community Facilities team by 15th March.