All-weather football pitch for Dumfries given green light
reports Andrew Burns in the Dumfries and Galloway Standard
PLANS to construct an all-weather football pitch in Dumfries have been given the green light.
Councillors gave the nod to proposals this week to build the third-generation (3G) synthetic pitch at Dumfries High School in Bane Loaning.
The £500,000 facility, which will be managed by Greystone Rovers football club, will be built near Marchmount Avenue, behind the school’s current games court.
Greystone chairman Graeme Muir said: “We are delighted that Dumfries is finally set to see a 3G pitch built.
“This facility will allow for sport to be played in virtually all weather conditions, at youth or amateur level.
“Greystone is one of the region’s longest standing clubs and we will play a big part to make sure this is used by many sporting groups and will inspire many a budding sports player come athlete to succeed in the future.”
Planning permission was granted, subject to conditions, on Monday.
As well as the 68-metre by 116-metre pitch, fencing ranging from five to eight metres and eight 15-metre floodlights will also be built.
And the Greystone chairman revealed that they are hoping to have the facility up and running by the end of the year.
Mr Muir said: “It’s early days yet and we will have to wait and discuss the arrangements but hopefully it will be ready before the end of 2012.
“Obviously that could change but the quicker this pitch is in place and operational the better. It would be great if it is ready and completed for the winter months when it will be needed most.”
SportScotland awarded the region in excess of £1 million funding to help develop 3G pitches.
Three facilities will be built across the south west over the next year in Dumfries and Stranraer, while the construction of a pitch at Galabank in Annan is well under way.