Plans for new changing rooms to be used by a football academy living out Jimmy Johnstone’s plan to support youth development are recommended for approval by council planning officers, despite complaints from local residents.
Cathkin Park is the place where Jimmy Johnstone made his footballing debut, before going on to become a Celtic legend. The historical venue still has the old terracing in place, where fans watched Third Lanark before they went bust in 1967.
Glasgow councillors will now meet on Tuesday to decide whether two shipping containers can be used as changing facilities in Cathkin Park for the academy.
There have been 35 objections to the proposals, with some locals complaining about the impact it could have on public access to the park, despite the fact that the field was originally designed to host football matches and indeed many Celtic legends have played there.
Planning officers believe the scheme should get the go-ahead, but they recommend conditions are imposed.
These would include only granting permission until 30 June 2023 and limiting opening hours to 8am to 8pm from Monday to Sunday so they “would not be used at anti-social times.”
A council report states: “Previous consents have sought to limit the temporary use to three years, which in this instance is deemed an appropriately temporary period that would allow for a more suitable permanent provision of changing facilities.” The report also states the changing rooms “associated with the existing use of the football pitch” would “have the ability for use by other sports using the park.”
The Jimmy Johnstone Charitable Trust has submitted the application. The organisation has done a lot for children in memory of Jinky and has had some players involved who have gone on to play professionally, including Darnell Fisher, who played for Celtic.
