Plans for new all-weather pitch in Tweedbank

Ally McGilvray 1606 - 1606 • Published 24 Dec 2008 09:15 0 Comments

CASH-strapped council chiefs have unveiled plans to build a new all-weather sports pitch in Tweedbank.

And Scottish Borders Council leader David Parker, announced a decision on whether they can afford to go ahead with the £200,000 project will be made early in the New Year.

It follows concerns over the state of the crumbling astroturf pitches at Tweedbank Sports Complex which have been blamed for a series of accidents in the past year.

Last week, the Border Telegraph reported that Borders Sports and Leisure Trust, which manages the complex, were in talks with the council who own the site.

This week Councillor Parker, who pointed out a new full-size artificial pitch is due to open at Earlston High School in the summer, said: 'I think we recognise that we need to do something with Tweedbank because it"s the oldest pitch of its kind in the Borders and certainly now it"s getting to the stage where, as I understand it, it"s needing to be replaced.'

But he added: 'We are looking for the funding for that and hopefully in January or February we will be able to make an announcement.'

Gala United stalwart Graham Wilson is still recovering after suffering a double leg break after slipping on the frozen astroturf during a training session with the local amateur football club.

Councillor Parker, who lives in Tweedbank, said: 'We have had problems with the pitch before but we solved those problem but I believe in recent months the pitch has become really difficult again.

'I understand we need to replace the pitch and we have been looking at that for some time. And Borders Sports and Leisure Trust have recently made a fresh approach.

'They are looking for about £150,000 to £200,000 to renew it and we are looking at the budget to see what we can do.'

Borders Sport and Leisure Trust confirmed a total of three accidents have been reported on the astroturf this year. However, with the pitch remaining open, despite being flooded and frozen in recent weeks, it is feared many more may have gone unreported.

amcgilvray@bordertelegraph.com

Tweet

This article appeared in Border Telegraph 24 Dec 08

Post a comment

Your Comment:

Registered users log in here

Username or email

Password

If you are registered with us, you can login here. If you are not registered, do so now.
Once logged in you wont have to complete word verification each time you post.

Prefer not to register?

Screen Name *required

Email (not displayed) *required

Usernames must be 4 - 20 characters. Registration only takes a few minutes. Registered users can also take part in competitions and other features of the site.

Word Verification:
Enter the text as shown.

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.

Follow @bordertelegraph