Trust buoyed by Elgin 3G pitch support
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AROUND 200 people turned out to a public meeting to hear plans for a new community 3G pitch in central Elgin.
Elgin Sports Community Trust (ESCT) wants to create the facility – priced at £650,000 – on land at Lesser Borough Briggs.
Trust chairman Dave Allen said members were encouraged by the support offered at Friday's open gathering, held at Elgin Academy.
Mr Allen said: "The feedback was just brilliant. It was really well supported with about 200 people there, which was great.
"It is a really strong community project and that was very clear from the responses we were getting. It was also lovely having representation from Elgin Community Council there, who are very supportive of the idea."
Already, engineering and construction firm VolkerFitzpatrick and engineering and development consultants Mott MacDonald have offered to build the facility as a charitable donation.
A community asset transfer (CAT) request for ownership or a long term lease has been submitted to the local authority and ESCT chairman Dave Allen urged local people to show their support by filling out an online form at www.moray.gov.uk/CAT under Consultations.
Should the CAT be approved, the trust will then need court approval as the land has a Common Good designation. If everything runs smoothly, the ESCT hopes construction could get underway by August or September.
"We could have a 3G pitch built and ready for use by the end of the year," Mr Allen said.
The father-of-three established the trust in 2017 to address a lack of suitable sports pitches and facilities in the area after finding hypodermic needles at a local playing field.
As part of the plan, any profits made from the use of the community facility would be ploughed back into other community wellbeing projects.
Mr Allen said returns on investment in sports programmes are estimated at £7.35 of social welfare and economic benefits for every £1 spent.
That means it could be worth in the region of £4.7 million, but with profits from its use going back into other social projects, Mr Allen estimates the social and economic value would be much more for years to come.
Mr Allen said: "We are really hoping for a favourable outcome and want to thank local people for their support so far and encourage others to get behind this great community project."
The deadline for CAT submissions is this coming Friday. Documents included in the application include letters of support from Elgin Community Council, Moray Welfare Football Association and the Men's Shed.
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