AN ONLINE appeal for donations has been made to help fund a bid to extend a popular sporting facility.

Plans to increase the size of Hallhill Sports Centre are being considered by East Lothian Council.

Documents were lodged in August last year, with the proposals involving the bar and seated areas being extended out towards the rugby pitch.

However, those plans have been “invalidated” by East Lothian Council, with revised proposals submitted and the planning process starting again.

Previously, Bobby Peters, manager at the Kellie Road facility, told the Courier about the need for expansion to cope with the growing sporting population in the town.

He said: “Basically, the clubs in the town have got bigger than the facility.”

The proposals, which show seating for a further 66 people, are still being considered by the local authority’s planning department.

Currently, it is unknown how much the extension will cost, although Mr Peters estimated it would be in the region of about £40,000.

A Justgiving page has been set up in a bid to find funding for the project, with more than £750 already collected.

Details about the scheme are outlined, along with why East Lothian Council will not be funding the changes.

It reads: “On any given Saturday, we can have as many as 400 people participating in various sports along with dance classes and other groups.

“When you add spectators and family members, the lounge is simply not big enough.

“The extension would allow for smaller functions without the need to use the main hall.

“It would also allow us to put on more family entertainment.”

And it adds: “People have asked why do the council not fund the extension.

“We are not council-run in any way.

“The facility is owned by the people of Dunbar and run by Hallhill Limited on behalf of the community.”

For more information, go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/robert-peters