Kelburne Hockey Club has dismissed claims it is “anti-football” following concerns that local sports clubs would lose out if it’s plans for a £600k hockey field were to go ahead.

The Whitehaugh-based club has defended its plans following an outcry from football bosses who feared they would be shut out if Kelburne’s takeover of the Ralston Sports Centre was to go ahead.

The hockey club is in the process of applying for a community asset transfer of the centre, which would see the football pitches transformed into hockey facilities by August 2022.

Following concerns about removing a pitch from the already depleted facilities in Renfrewshire and that teams would be restricted from using the space, KHC has strongly refuted the claims, saying it is committed to working with the local community to “promote sport, health and well-being” and “provide opportunities for kids to have fun and enjoyment through taking part in sport.”

Billy Anderson, secretary of the club said: “KHC are not anti-football, far from it, we have a number of young players at the club who have played both football and hockey or have come from a football background.

“Unfortunately the reality is that the existing football users want to use the pitch but are not necessarily prepared to take on any responsibility as to how the facility is run, maintained or how it might be used to generate funds to ensure that it is sustainable and has a long term future.

“KHC have not been able to play their hockey in Paisley for many years.

“We currently train and play all their games at the Scottish National Hockey Centre at Glasgow Green a round trip from Paisley of approximately 36 to 40 miles.

“This makes it very difficult for KHC to provide the same training and coaching opportunities for our members that other clubs currently can.

“We fully appreciate that our proposals would lead to a massive change in how Ralston Community Sport Club is currently run.

“We have said from the outset that we are willing to work with other sports, including football to ensure that the local community will have access to the Pavilion and associated sporting facilities for many years to come.”

Among the issues raised about the plans were that the dozens of amateur and youth football teams and other sports clubs would have the time restricted at the centre which according to coaches is busy every night of the week.

They feared that with the removal of the 3G surface to create a Scottish Hockey approved surface which is not suitable for football would remove one of the few pitched left in Renfrewshire.

Currently there are three pitches available for hire – Seedhill, Ralston and Ferguslie Sports Centre.

A further three are available in schools, however, coaches say they are not as readily available to book.

Coaches also feared the hockey club would take priority, therefore using time slots previously allocated for other groups.

Ralston Skills Group claimed it faced having to move a class for young children from a Saturday morning to a Friday night.

However, Kelburne Hockey Club says some groups will still be able to use the new surface provided that suitable footwear such as Astro trainers are worn.

Club members are also looking into forming another “multi-sport mugga area” on the grounds to ensure there would be availability for all.

And they say the grass football pitches will be available at lower cost to football clubs and talks would be ongoing on possible football play on the new hockey pitch.

Mr Anderson added: “At no point have KHC stated that they do not wish to provide access to the new re-surfaced pitch.

“KHC are fully aware of the long-standing work that the Ralston Skills group have been doing for the local kids in Ralston.

“The issue as we understand it currently appears to be one of time slots and any alteration to the time slot the Skills Group currently have.

“KHC have suggested several options to the Skills Group with regards to time slots and sharing of the pitch.

“We are confident that a solution can be found which will allow the Skills Group to continue and hopefully benefit the Skills Group and KHC in the long term by introducing more young kids to sport.”

He added: “In addition to re-surfacing the existing football pitch to form a new hockey pitch, KHC have also looked at the possibility of forming a new multi-sport fenced mugga area alongside the existing Astro pitch which could cater for football or other sports.

“There would be additional funding required for any new facility of this type. KHC are open to further discussion with Renfrewshire Council as to whether this would be something that they may wish to support or provide funding.”

The club also say it is willing to address issues currently ongoing at the centre with noise levels and parking.

Residents raised these points at a Ralston Community Council meeting which was held last week to hear views from those both is support and against the plans.

If their plans are given the green light, the club plans to install low energy LED lights which would reduce the level of light spill from the centre.

They also say hat there shall be no use of the pitches or other playing surface within the site, or use of the floodlighting between the hours of 9.30pm and 9am.

Mr Anderson added: “The situation with the parking has been on-going since the addition of the Astro-turf football pitch and works to refurbish and extend the Grade A Listed Pavilion circa 2009.

“None of the existing users or Renfrewshire Leisure who currently run the facility appear to our knowledge to have made any efforts to improve the situation.

“KHC have made contact with the Local Roads Authority and have put some thought into how the parking and access issues could be improved with some relatively changes, if successful with our CAT application we would look to action these.”