Kick-off for community bid to build pitch near Elgin City FC
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COMMUNITY plans to take control of land near Elgin City FC to build an all-weather sports surface have been put out to public consultation by Moray Council.
Elgin Sports Community Trust (ESCT) wants to build a floodlit, all-weather sports surface on Common Good land at Lesser Borough Briggs by bringing it under community control through the Scottish Government's Community Asset Transfer (CAT) scheme.
The trust, set up in 2017, is seeking to regenerate land once used for children’s football training for the facility, which would be available to community groups and individuals.
The aim is to provide a clean, safe playing surface to encourage people to lead an active lifestyle and connect with others. The project will address social and welfare issues, such as isolation, by linking with groups like the Men’s Shed.
The ESCT says: "Grass pitches in Elgin are in such a poor state of maintenance that players and spectators are forced to remove dog mess from the area before use, risk injuries due to poor upkeep, or are virtually unplayable due to long or lying grass if and when the grass is cut.
"Most recently, used hypodermic needles have been removed from the Thornhill and Morriston pitches."
The ESCT has secured an offer from engineering company Volkerfitzpatrick (Vf) to build the pitch. Vf is the main contractor involved in resurfacing the runways at RAF Lossiemouth and the firm selected ESCT as part of its commitment to supporting a local charity within the communities it works.
If the trust is able to secure control, either by sale or by long-term lease, before Vf completes work at RAF Lossiemouth, the company will carry out the necessary work at Lesser Borough Briggs. Vf is scheduled to complete the runways contract by the end of this year.
The trust says a community sports facility would regenerate land in the centre of Elgin and ESCT would reinvest all profits back in to the community from the hire of the pitch.
Volunteers from the trust would manage and maintain the facility initially and an assessment would be made on whether a caretaker post is required.
Moray Council says it has seven full-sized grass pitches and one 3G pitch available for public use. The ESCT says: "Evidence suggests that this is clearly not enough to meet the demand of local sports teams and clubs as they are still having to travel to Aviemore, Aberlour, Keith, Buckie or seek arrangements with RAF Lossiemouth to train or fulfil sporting fixtures."
It adds: "Elgin and Moray has a wealth of local sporting talent, across many disciplines, that are unable to fulfil their potential due to the lack of suitable facilities in the community and many are forced to leave the area in order to realise their sporting potential."
The consultation will run until February 7. Details can be found at www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_109940.html. Responses can be made using the online form, by emailing CAT@moray.gov.uk or writing to Community Asset Transfer Team, Moray Council, High Street, Elgin IV30 1BX.
