Council cash boost for planned upgrade at home of curling

A Scottish curling base is getting a £150,000 make-over.

The ice rink at Kinross, built in 1977 as an extension of the Green Hotel, was relaunched after a £1 million upgrade in November 2014.

The facility is operated by the Kinross Curling Trust.

And the group is now working on plans for further improvements, including making its lounge area more accessible to disabled players.

At the moment, the only way to reach the lounge is by stairs.

The trust’s project involves installing a lift, as well as improving the lounge entrance and upgrading changing and staff facilities.

The entire scheme costs £150,000, including £40,000 for the new lift.

The trust has already raised £80,000, but there is an outstanding shortfall of £70,000.

Yesterday, councillors agreed a contribution of cash from the Kinross common good fund.

They approved an award of £852 – the entire available balance for the rest of the year.

Liberal Democrat councillor Willie Robertson said: “I would like to think we can support this application.

“I was at the rink recently and was encouraged to see a number of disabled curlers, curling in wheelchairs.

“There are a large number of disabled people who use the rink and it would be a shame if they weren’t able to enjoy the social aspect of curling as well because they couldn’t access the lounge area.”

There are about 800 people who live locally and enjoy curling. The British Curling Elite team have used the facilities. The trust hopes that the upgrade will help attract more events in the future.