Local residents have won a six month battle to stop an East Renfrewshire public park being turned into a football ground.

St Cadoc’s Youth Club, based in Newton Mearns, wanted to convert playing fields at Crookfur into two all-weather pitches, with floodlighting, for their 750 players. The proposals also included a car park, pavilion and changing rooms.

A campaign by concerned householders to block the development was launched in March.

Now East Renfrewshire Council has revealed that the development will not be going ahead.

St Cadoc’s had applied to lease Crookfur Park for the next 25 years but local residents said that they would lose a popular and well-loved green space.

One of the campaigners, Tom Taylor, who lives nearby, said neighbours were delighted with the council’s decision.

He added:”It’s fantastic news. We objected very strongly and vocally to the development and it has paid off.

“Since Covid the park has been very well used and the local authority have recognised that and St Cadocs will now have to find somewhere else.

“The council have been swamped with objections and I think they got the message that people were saying no.

“Crookfur Park is an important amenity to the local community and we didn’t want to lose it.”

Tom said that 2,500 people also signed a petition objecting to the football ground development.

Papers made public by East Renfrewshire Council this week confirmed the decision.

The documents said: “Both the council and St Cadoc’s agree that the site cannot achieve many of the longer aims of the club.

“The main concerns which have been expressed are around the extent of the development proposed by St Cadoc’s Youth Club and the impact it would have on users of the park.”

Councillors were due to be told of the Crookfur Park decision at a cabinet meeting on September 9.

Eastwood MSP Jackson Carlaw, who backed the campaigners, welcomed East Renfrewshire Council’s decision.

He added: “My recent local survey of residents demonstrated significant opposition and it’s right that the council have listened to locals.

“This proposed development has also raised the fact that East Renfrewshire does not currently have sufficient facilities for youth sports and I will work with interested parties to rectify this.”

East Renfrewshire Council confirmed that the application by St Cadocs to develop Crookfur Park had been withdrawn.

Andrew Cahill, Director of Environment, added:”There has been a significant level of correspondence objecting to the proposed lease.”

St Cadoc’s adult side joined the West of Scotland Football League last year, which is in the sixth tier of Scottish football.

The division includes well-supported teams such as Irvine Meadow and some locals feared major disruption on matchdays.

St Cadoc’s had said its plans for Crookfur Park would “create a facility that greatly benefits the entire community”.