Cash allocated to new Rattray 3G pitch
News that £500,000 has been allocated by Perth and Kinross Council to go towards a 3G pitch in Davie Park in Rattray has been welcomed by local campaigners.
The funding boost was announced at the local authority’s capital budget meeting held in Perth last week.
It follows years of campaigning by local sports clubs, led by Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Football Club (BRCFC), for the much-needed facility.
Sandy Thomson, chair of BRCF, said: “We are absolutely delighted that this money has been allocated from the capital budget for some form of 3G pitch in Blairgowrie and Rattray.
“The town has been sadly lacking this type of facility for many year and it has restricted the development of football in the area, so this new pitch is very welcome.
“It will be good for the future of the club and for all the players in schools and teams who will be able to play all year round.
“It is good to see that PKC has at last recognised what is required and will bring the town on a par with others that already have such a facility and on behalf of the club I would like to thank all those who worked so hard in ensuring these funds came to Blairgowrie and Rattray.
“However, the hard work starts now and the club will be looking for local businesses and organisations to get involved in bringing this 3G pitch to fruition for the benefit of the town, either by supporting us financially or with the in-kind support of their business acumen.”
Local councillor for the Blairgowrie and the Glens ward, Caroline Shiers, has already pledged her support to the project.
She said:“I will work with the community sports representatives to work up the full business case for the pitches at Davie Park and ensure that our commitment of £500,000 enables us to lever in additional funds to deliver the pitches as soon as possible.
“This is the first time there has been a commitment of capital funds for pitch provision at Davie Park and it is in direct response to the community consultation over the past few years surrounding sports provision in the area and I look forward to working with the community to see it delivered.”
The Strathmore Cycle Network, a community-based initiative to develop safe cycling routes between Blairgowrie, Alyth and Coupar Angus, is also set to benefit from a £100,000 investment from the council.
John Palfreyman from Coupar Angus said:“The steering group, a partnership made up of Forward Coupar Angus, the Blairgowrie and Rattary Development Trust and Alyth Development Trust and with help from the local roads department, is delighted that PKC has recognised the hard work of the group, and the importance of active travel, by agreeing to put £100,000 into cycle path development in next year’s budget.
“The cycle path project has been gathering momentum over the past two years and, just recently, the first two kilometres of the path between Blairgowrie and Alyth has been completed.”