Cash boost gets sports facilities up and running

Published on Thursday 28 February 2008 09:34

TWO new sports facilities in the Capital are finally set to get the go-ahead following a cash boost from the city council.

Work could now begin within a year on a new 2 million sports complex at Inch Park, near Cameron Toll.

The council has pledged 160,000 from its new budget, which will pave the way towards investment from other bodies.

And around 75,000 has been allocated for all-weather playing facilities at the new Currie Primary School.

The Inch Park complex will include a new clubhouse with changing facilities and sports pitches.

Lismore Rugby Club spokesman Malcolm Gillies today said he was "delighted" with the funding from the council.

"It was critical for the project that this money was ring-fenced," he said. "We have other funding bodies standing by, and they were waiting for this box to be ticked."

City sports leader, Councillor Deidre Brock, added: "We are delighted to confirm our contribution towards the Inch Park sports facilities proposal, which at this stage is subject to a full business case.

"Lismore Rugby Club have some great ideas and the facility has so much potential, so we look forward to working with them as they work to bring in other funding."

Last autumn, council chiefs agreed in principle to find 100,000 to help kick-start the sports complex idea – on top of the extra 160,000 in the new budget, which was approved last week.

The finance package for Currie was also welcomed today, however, the allocation of 75,000 was less than campaigners hoped for.

Last year, parents reacted furiously after discovering twice as much green space as expected had been sold to developers at the site of the former Curriehill Primary.

It is thought this added around 2m to the 6.4m price-tag, and community leaders asked for a share of the profits to be spent on an all-weather pitch for the new Currie Primary.

Local Tory councillor Alastair Paisley said: "I do welcome this development, however I'm slightly disappointed the council has been Scrooge-like in its share of the surplus cash."

But Councillor Marilyne MacLaren, the city's education leader, said: "We are still at an early stage but money has been set aside in this year's budget to ensure that the facility can go ahead.

"Providing play areas such as this is a key priority to ensure that we encourage young people to remain active and healthy."