Irvine’s Sports Club look set to takeover some Common Good ground – in return for giving council chiefs back land accidentally sold to them.

North Ayrshire Council’s Cabinet look set to agree in principle to a Community Asset Transfer of Irvine Common Good ground at Marress Road, subject to the club giving ground forming part of the adjacent access track back to the council.

Irvine Community Sports Club is constructed on ground previously sold to them by the council at is base at Marress.

It was later noticed that an area of the adjacent access track had been accidentally included and that part of the building was constructed on a narrow strip of land still owned by the council.

If approved by cabinet, officers will enter into negotiations with the club to agree the terms of transfer, including price, and will issue a decision notice to the club setting out the terms and conditions of transfer.

Meeting papers state: “Transferring this asset will regularise the club’s use of the land and mean that the club is able to continue its sports, health and fitness work without fear of any consequences for using land, which it does not own.

“It will also allow the club to secure existing and future grants or loans for the benefit of the club and its community.

“It also provides an opportunity for the council to re-acquire that part of the adjacent access track erroneously sold to the club.”