The Scottish Government has allocated £1.2m to improve grassroots sports facilities in West Lothian.

Community-led projects in Fauldhouse and Broxburn will use the funding, routed via sportscotland, to encourage participation and enhance health and wellbeing in the region.

Communities and sports minister Stewart Maxwell said: “This is an exciting time for Scottish sport and this government is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of all Scots through increasing participation and supporting the improvement of local facilities.”

A £700,000 grant to Fauldhouse Community Campus will help revamp the existing changing facilities and modernise the 25m, five-lane swimming pool and sports hall. Also planned is the creation of a new fitness suite and dance studio and two new changing rooms to serve the existing 11-side pitch at the site.

The campus will open in 2008/09 to replace the facilities currently offered at Fauldhouse Community Education Centre.

Broxburn United Sports Club (BUSC) will use its £500,000 to build a 10-team changing room pavilion and a third-generation synthetic pitch. The new pavilion will also house a clubroom, physio room, officials room, office and storage space.

The secretary of BUSC, Alan Cunningham, said: “This funding will provide the very latest technology synthetic turf pitch for our youth and adult football teams, as well as offering facilities for other recreational sports activities. It will help us to deliver our eight-year vision of providing first-class community facilities to the Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh public.”