PROGRESS ON SPORTS PITCH
Community project moves forward
Plans for a new all-weather sports facility in Rattray moved another step closer last week.
A pre-planning application notice was submitted to Perth and Kinross Council for a 3G pitch in Davie Park.
The news emerged at the Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Football Club AGM, held online on Sunday evening.
More than 20 people attended the meeting which saw Sandy Thomson, from the club’s newlyformed facilities committee, outline proposals for the development of the site.
He said: “Next to the new recreation centre, this project is the most important project in the town right now.
“It’s not just for football, and it’s not just for Blairgowrie and Rattray, it is for the whole of east Perthshire and has got the backing of virtually everyone in the town, as well as various
community groups in the area.
“£500,000 was allocated to the project by Perth and Kinross Council in 2018, initially for a half pitch-sized training area and, since then, it has evolved to a full-size pitch with a pavilion with changing rooms, a cafe, trophy room, social space, kitchen and a viewing area, with a total estimated cost of £1.5m.
“This will give us a true community club where everyone will benefit and will help us foster players from pre-school age through the Scottish Football Association’s pathway to Junior and Amateur level and beyond, as well as football for over 35s and walking football.
“We also want to widen access to other demographics and these facilities will allow us to do that. The more people that use the facility the better.
“The first phase of the project will be the 3G pitch, with the pavilion being the second phase, and we will be presenting a business plan on the proposals to PKC in the next month or so.”
Last month the committee appointed a specialist sports consultant, Sports Lab, which has helped develop the proposals.
And Blairgowrie Juniors have signed over their grounds at Davie Park to BRCFC for the development, with the new 3G pitch set to replace the existing grass pitch.
Mr Thomson said:“This makes sense as the utilities are already in place, which is a big help.
“The new 3G pitch can be divided into two or three smaller pitches for training, it will be floodlit and available 365 days of the year.
“The car park will be upgraded and re-laid with six dedicated disabled spaces and there will be a new walkway from the car park to the entrance gate, as well as new exit gate.
“The existing stand roof will be replaced and the standing area re-laid.”
Mr Thomson said that the current timescale for the project would see it open next year but that the committee was hoping to have the pitch installed “as soon as possible”.
He also said that the latest costings for this phase of the project was £853,680, of which just under half has been secured already.
“We have applied for funding from various bodies,” he said, adding: “We could be on the brink of something really brilliant here.
“This will enable us to ensure that people of all ages will be able to stay and play football in east Perthshire rather than have to travel or move to other teams.
“It will be a centre of excellence for football not just in the town but the whole of the region.
“We have kick-off now, the ball is rolling, let’s not get any penalties and let’s get to the endgame.”