Debate goes on as new Meggetland opens doors

A MAJOR sports complex built as part of a controversial deal to improve facilities for city clubs and schools has been opened to the public.

City leaders hailed the 9 million investment in the Meggetland Sports Complex for transforming "a muddy windswept field" into top-quality facilities.

But privately senior councillors questioned whether the deal had provided value for money and described the development as "vandalising" the old playing fields.

And one former international runner complained the size of the playing fields had been dramatically reduced.

The fields feature a new all-weather sports pitch and new grass pitches, along with floodlighting.

Boroughmuir Rugby Club has also secured a new clubhouse and spectator stand, while a 600-space car park has been built to serve the entire complex.

The facilities were paid for by developers, George Wimpey and Applecross, in return for building 175 homes on the fields.

The homes, built along the banks of the Union Canal, are being sold for prices up to half a million pounds.

Senior councillors and schools leaders today declared themselves "delighted" with the new-look Meggetland - 17 years after plans for the development were first unveiled.

The council said just 12 per cent of the former playing fields - which were home to eight pitches - were lost.

It said use of the sports facilities would soar because of the dramatic improvements that have been carried out.

City sports leader councillor Donald Anderson said:

"The new Meggetland Sports Complex provides some of the highest-quality outdoor sports facilities in the city and demonstrates our commitment to improving sports provision.

"We have transformed what was once a muddy windswept field into sports facilities that will be well-used by schools and community groups alike."

There has already been a great deal of interest in using the facilities, said city education leader councillor Andrew Burns.

"In addition to Boroughmuir High School and other schools using them for curricular and extra curricular sports, Meggetland is also going to be the home ground for our sports development squads," he added.

"From the initial enquiries received by the council from youth and community groups we are confident that by Easter when all the pitches are in full time operation the complex will become one of the best-used outdoor sports facilities in the city."

But former Scotland international 800m and 1500m runner Alison Johnstone, who regularly trained at Meggetland, complained about the loss of space.

She said: "The amount of open accessible space has been drastically reduced at Meggetland.

"It used to take a good ten minutes to run around the playing fields but now you'd be lucky if it took more than three minutes."

A senior rugby figure described the development as a missed opportunity for Edinburgh's professional team.

He said:

"Boroughmuir have got a nice new clubhouse and stand out of this, but Edinburgh Rugby are still playing at Murrayfield."

Les Trotter, of Hutchison Vale Boys Club, added: "The whole principle of selling off green space to developers to pay for sports improvements just stinks.

"This was previously a lovely open space and it's atrocious that this has been allowed to happen so that the pitches there could be improved."

His views were privately echoed by one senior councillor, who said: "It's sad indictment of the council that the only way these sporting facilities have been able to be achieved is by vandalising the open space at Meggetland so much.

"A huge swathe of what was well-used open space is now a huge housing development and car park."

Another Boroughmuir club insider said: "People will be shocked when they see the transformation of what was a lovely green space before. Fair enough, we have secured far better facilities and there are good changing rooms and pitches for the council to use, but at what price?"

However, Boroughmuir High headteacher Jack Hamilton said: "There is some pain but an awful lot of gain in what has happened at Meggetland.

"There are now some absolutely wonderful facilities here which will make a huge difference to all the youngsters who will use them."

New facilities at Meggetland include:

• 1.5 million for new clubhouse for Boroughmuir Rugby Club

• 2.5m invested in new sports pitches

• 3m for the new sports complex and stand for Boroughmuir rugby club

• 2m for new infrastructure which is to include a car park, roads, pathways, a children's playpark and landscaping on the site.