Playing field's are used for football, hockey and rugby games

Nearly �120,000 is to be spent improving the playing surface of every pitch in the city.

A further �70,000 to be spent on a temporary pavilion to replace changing facilities branded the worst in the capital.

The move follows public pressure to improve facilities. About 10,000 people are to march in protest in January.

This proposal is all about improving the quality of equipment in Edinburgh and allowing young people to play sport on a higher standard of pitch than they do now Donald Anderson Edinburgh Council

Campaigners have welcomed the investment.

Donald Anderson, Edinburgh's culture and leisure leader, said white line marking would be introduced at every pitch, unlike some which currently have their lines burned into the ground, and pitches would be levelled and spiked to improve drainage.

Grass cutting will also be carried out on a 10 day cycle, as opposed to the current system which can see some sites go for weeks or months without having their grass properly cut.

The rotting pavilion at Double Hedges playing fields in Liberton will be shut down and be replaced by temporary changing blocks while money is found to fund a full refurbishment of the dilapidated building.

Councillor Anderson said the Double Hedges site was "by far the worst in the city".

He said: "This isn't a permanent solution to the problem at Double Hedges.

"Rather, it will provide far better changing rooms and showers for players while we try to find the money to rebuild the pavilion, which is in a dreadful state.

"We are already putting money into improving other pitches and facilities across the city, but I realise that there is a long way to go before they are up to a suitably high standard."

Pathetic facilities

He added: "This proposal is all about improving the quality of equipment in Edinburgh and allowing young people to play sport on a higher standard of pitch than they do now.

"Maintaining this standard will cost about �168,000 per year, and we are currently trying to identify additional funding for this in 2007-08."

Hutchison Vale football club youth coach, Les Trotter, said: "There are countless examples across the city where clubs are having to train and play matches with either no or run down facilities.

"I've seen rat infested pavilions with human excrement in them, it's an absolute disgrace.

"The pavilion at Double Hedges was a disgrace and I'm happy that at least something has been done to condemn the pathetic facilities there."