WORK on a long-awaited £1million sports hall at the Port Seton Centre is due to get under way in the next three months.

The much-anticipated hall has been in the pipeline for several years and plans for the expansion were lodged with East Lothian Council more than two years ago.

The local authority says that contracts for the work are expected to be awarded this month, with contractors expected to start on site in September.

The new hall will allow the centre to offer more activities and a wider range of sports than ever before, including basketball, badminton, tennis and football.

It will also allow centre regulars such as East Lothian Gymnastics Association the chance to train with a proper run-up to their apparatus.

The new hall, which will be an extension to the main building, will measure 18 metres by 18 metres and also includes storage areas.

There will be a new lobby created to link the hall to the cafe area of the main centre building and it will provide capacity for more classes to be held in the centre.

It is being built to the west of the current building, with plans to move the children’s play area, re-siting it beside the new hall, in an area which will be better positioned for parents to keep an eye on youngsters.

A report to the council revealed there had been a delay on the work as the “technical specs” were revised to bring it within budget.

A council spokesperson said: “The main elements of our investment at Port Seton Community Centre to provide a new sports hall with provision for gymnastics remains unchanged.

“In order to secure best value and deliver the project within budget, we have revisited the technical specifications for the project.

“We now anticipate awarding the contract for works in late July with contractors starting on site in September.

“We are working with the centre’s management group to keep them involved as the project progresses.”