Issued: 31 January 2006
Arbroath Pitch to Benefit Whole Community
The Arbroath community is set to benefit with the official opening of a new all-weather pitch in the burgh.
The first of its kind to be opened by Angus Council, the pitch will offer access to sport throughout the year.
The pitch at Arbroath High School - which received a cash injection of £360,000 from the Big Lottery Fund - will enhance PE and sport in schools.
It will also widen the opportunities for local communities to participate in sport and develop closer links with schools.
Performing the official opening Angus Provost Bill Middleton said: "This new pitch in is an excellent example of how a new facility can meet the aims of the Big Lottery's programme and support the development of sports participation in a local community.
"It will offer Arbroath High School and the local primary schools in Arbroath a quality year round outdoor facility on which they can enjoy a wide range of activities.
"The pitch is also a great boost to the development of sport for the local Arbroath community as well as clubs and groups across Angus. It provides a quality training and playing facility for various sports with the main beneficiaries being football and hockey clubs. It is already proving to be a very popular facility with extensive use being made of it."
Scotland Board Member of the Big Lottery Fund David Campbell said: "Quality sports facilities play an integral part in the well being of young people and wider communities. I am sure that this new sports facility in Arbroath will help many young people to enjoy a range of activities and develop their sporting talents. By investing in this new sports pitch we are investing in the future well being of our young people."
Local primary schools will make extensive extra-curricular use of the pitch through their Active Schools programme, linking with the council's sports development team and SportTayside for sports festivals.
The cost of the new facility comes to just over £520,000. The Big Lottery Fund contributed £360,000, the Arbroath Common Good Fund £50,000 with the balance being funded by Angus Council.