The much anticipated start on the new multi-sports 3G (or third generation) pitch for Malleny Park in Balerno began with the installation of security fencing on Monday 25 August 2014. This was a number of weeks behind schedule due to the requirement for archaeological testing (part of the planning permission process). Fortunately, no Roman coins or vases were found and so the successful contractor Allsports are now on site and work is commencing.
The new artificial grass facility is expected to open in November 2014 and provides a year round, all weather pitch area for Secondary School pupils at Balerno High School (and for local Primary School children attending Dean Park Primary) as well as for local clubs and community organisations.
The new artificial grass facility is expected to open in November 2014 and provides a year round, all weather pitch area for Secondary School pupils at Balerno High School (and for local Primary School children attending Dean Park Primary) as well as for local clubs and community organisations.
The funding for the facility has come from a variety of sources – the Scottish Government’s ‘Cashback for Pitches’ fund, sportscotland’s ‘Sport Facilities’ fund , WREN (a not for profit business that awards grants to community projects from funds donated by FCC Environment to the Landfill Communities Fund) and from the City of Edinburgh Council. The total cost of the project is expected to be close to £600,000.
The ‘Cashback for Pitches’ funding required the City Council and the National Governing Bodies (SRU and the SFA) to identify and work in partnership with two key partners clubs – one for youth rugby (Currie RFC) and the other for youth football (Currie Star FC). These two clubs as a result of the Cashback funding criteria shall receive ‘priority access’ to the new 3G pitch on several midweek evenings and for matches on the weekend.
According to Robin Yellowlees, the Service Manager for the Sports and Outdoor Learning Unit with the City of Edinburgh Council, ‘We are trying to create a multi-sports approach at Malleny Park whereby children can have the opportunity to play football, rugby , athletics and such like at the one place. Too often children have to travel to different places to do different sports or find that football clashes with rugby and they have to drop one of these sports. We are working with the clubs to ensure this does’nt happen’.
‘It is also important for local people to understand that this project would simply not have happened without the ‘Cashback’ funding and so the priority access agreement with the two clubs was an essential feature. Of course all local school children will enjoy the facility through their PE lessons and through the Active Schools activities straight after school. In addition to this there are also times set aside for community access.’
The community access times for the facility for the period November 2014 to May 2015 are as follows:
Tuesday evening: 5.45-6.45
Wednesday evening: 5.45-6.45
Friday evenings: 5.45 -9.45pm
Sunday evenings: 5.45 -9.45pm
Additional Community Access slots shall be available during the period May to August 2015.
Any community clubs or organisations wishing to use the facility when it opens in November should register their interest by contacting Lynne Crawford at the Sports and Outdoor Learning Unit (Tel: 469-3953) – [email protected]
Priority shall be given to local groups based in the Currie/Balerno area and for youth groups. The hire charges are in line with the new community access prices proposed for all City of Edinburgh schools;
The hire charges are as follows:
3G Full Pitch: Adult rate – £52.50 per hour / Youth rate £35.00 per hour
3G Half Pitch: Adult rate - £32.00 per hour/Youth rate £21.00 per hour
