Meadowbank ground work to cost council £3.6 million

Published on Tuesday 2 September 2008 10:01

THE project to rebuild Meadowbank Stadium will involve demolition and preparation costs of £3.6 million, the Evening News can reveal.

The council plans to bulldoze Meadowbank and sell a third of the site for housing, while building a new sports complex – including a 5000-seat stadium – to replace the crumbling facilities.

But the cost of knocking down the grandstand, velodrome and sports halls has been estimated at 1m, while putting in new roads and paths will cost 2.6m.

Officials have still to price the cost of any decontamination work, which may be an issue in the south-eastern part of Meadowbank which used to house railway yards.

Council chiefs said leaving Meadowbank in its current state is not viable, but Save Meadowbank spokesman Kevin Connor said the money could be better spent.

He said: "Most people could easily think of better uses for the 3.6m. It could fund part of the first stage of a phased upgrade of the entire complex.

"When more money becomes available, more work can be done to provide the kind of sports facility that its users deserve."

The Meadowbank revamp is to be paid for by the expected 17m raised through the land sale, a further 6m from the council's own budget and an anticipated 2m grant from sportscotland.

However, property experts have warned the city will be facing a funding gap as the current economic slowdown means the land set aside for housing will not sell for the expected 17m.

Councillor Stefan Tymkewycz, who represents the Craigentinny and Duddingston ward, said: "It does seem quite a high figure, but just to bring the current site up to existing standards, without any major refurbishment, will cost about 18m."

The council is facing a 2.5m bill to meet a pledge to replace the velodrome on an alternative site, but is also facing a funding gap on the revamp of the Royal Commonwealth Pool.

A city council spokesman said: "Leaving Meadowbank as it is would cost vast amounts in maintenance just to keep the centre open. That's why we plan to build a brand new stadium complex."