Sports centre goes through hoops to be basketball hub

A SPORTS centre closed by council funding cuts is set to get a new lease of life thanks to a local basketball club.

Boroughmuir Blaze have joined forces with national governing body Basketball Scotland in a bid to revive the Crags Sports Centre in St Leonard's.

The facility was closed at the end of last year by the council's arms-length organisation, Edinburgh Leisure, in a bid to save money. But now there are plans to turn the complex into a "basketball hub" under the proposals put forward by the consortium.

A dozen notes of interest had been lodged in running the facility from a range of organisations hoping to use it for football, gymnastics or even roller derby. Under the new plans, which are being finalised by the council's estates section, Boroughmuir Blaze would be the principal user of the centre, while providing opportunities to participate in basketball for people in the local community.

Bill McInnes, secretary of Boroughmuir Blaze, said: "Operating the Crags Sports Centre is a huge opportunity for both basketball and the local community and we're delighted the council have chosen Blaze and Basketball Scotland to take the centre forward.

"As we celebrate the 50th year of Boroughmuir Blaze Basketball Club, we couldn't have wished for a better anniversary gift. As a local sports club, we see community groups and schools as critical players in the success of the Crags. The response from local groups to our submission was very encouraging and now we can't wait to start working with them."

Basketball Scotland will also use the facility by locating city and regional leagues and training at the centre. The body's regional staff will also be based at the complex.

Local housing association Castle Rock Edinvar will provide property management and maintenance services.

Kevin Pringle, chief executive of Basketball Scotland, said: "Access to facilities is a big challenge for clubs across Scotland so we're delighted that our joint bid has been chosen as the preferred bidder for the Crags project."

Councillor Deidre Brock, the city's culture and leisure convener, added: "I'm delighted that the Crags centre's future is now looking so rosy."

The Crags is scheduled to re-open later in the year, provided the lease agreement is approved by the council's finance and resources committee in August.

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