Extra cash confirmed for region’s footie pitches
A HAT-TRICK of new 3G football pitches has been secured for Dumfries and Galloway.
The Scottish Government this week shelled out more cash to provide the facilities in Annan and Stranraer.
The two towns had been set to go head to head to compete for funding for a 3G pitch project.
But on Monday government officials announced it was allocating an extra £400,000 to the region.
And that means both will get the all-weather pitches in addition to Dumfries.
The Annan 3G pitch will be created at the Galabank home of the town’s football team and will be managed by the Scottish third division side.
Further details of the Stranraer bid have yet to emerge.
The Dumfries 3G pitch will be built at the town’s High School and will be operated by Greystone Rovers.
All pitches will be available for use by the local communities.
Agreement for the Dumfries site was reached in June after a series of wranglings between councillors which saw the site shifted from the originally proposed Maxwelltown High School.
Council officers are now set to meet with those involved in the three bids to look at what else needs to be done.
A spokeswoman for the authority said: “Once we have agreed specifications and the costed designs, discussion with SportScotland and other stakeholders will continue and finally a report will be presented to the policy and resources committee in October requesting elected members consider identifying funds to meet any capital funding shortfall.”
The government announcement was welcomed by SNP politicians but was treated with cynicism by Labour.
South of Scotland nationalist MSP Aileen McLeod said: “I am delighted that funding has been confirmed today to allow three 3G pitches to be constructed in Dumfries and Galloway, as had been indicated might be possible two months ago.
“I’m very conscious however that, very welcome though this news is, it will leave the Stewartry as the only area in the region without a present commitment to a 3G pitch.
“That gap in provision will need to be addressed and I’m very happy to help the council in any way I can to get its fourth 3G pitch.”
Labour MP Russell Brown said it was clear in June that extra funding would be available and called it a “rehashed announcement” to coincide with the holding of their cabinet meeting in Stranraer on Monday.
He said: “Once again it confirms that as far as the SNP is concerned Dumfries and Galloway is the forgotten part of Scotland.
“The Scottish Government seems to have been holding back announcements to try and make a splash when they are in the region, but if this is the best they have to offer then local people will quite rightly be left feeling short-changed.
“While any investment is welcome, this doesn’t go anywhere near making up for what we miss out on.
“Local people want their fair share and are angry that the SNP continually put more money into projects further north.”
