THE CONTRACT for a much-anticipated all-weather tennis court in Alexandria has been drawn up and is expected to be approved by councillors next week.

West Dunbartonshire Council is expected to approve the 12-week contract, which has an estimated start date of February 10, at a value of £191,624.03, to Doe Sport (North) Ltd.

In April last year, West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust received a £40,000 funding boost from SportScotland to help develop three artificial courts at Argyll Park.

The project will bring three new floodlit, macadam tennis courts to the park.

Doe Sport (North) Ltd is expected to provide better facilities that are more accessible, safer and designed for a wider community group.

The long term aim is to develop Argyll Park as the satellite hub for Kirktonhill Lawn Tennis Club or to create a standalone club at the facility.

The budget for Argyll Park Tennis Courts was previously approved at the Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development Committee in September 2016.

A contract strategy identified that the preferred procurement route was a mini competition call-off from the Scotland Excel framework agreement for Outdoor Play Equipment and Artificial Surfaces.

Six contractors were invited to bid through the Public Contracts Scotland Tender portal last June four of which then submitted a response by the deadline for the submissions June 26.

The four mini competition submissions were evaluated by representatives from Greenspace and the Corporate Procurement Unit against a set of award criteria which was based on price and quality.

It was recommended that the contract be awarded to Doe Sport (North) Ltd, of Fife, who has provided the most economically advantageous tender.

They will also sponsor West Dunbartonshire Active Schools tennis festival in 2020 and hold an open day for pupils of Levenvale Primary School during the construction of tennis courts.

The contract is expected to be approved at the tendering committee on Wednesday, January 22 where a discussion will take place.