Huntly Sports Trust starts LED floodlight installation
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Aged tungsten lighting at a sports facility in Huntly is being replace with new energy efficient lighting thanks to the Huntly Sports Trust.
Support funding from sources including the Peoples Postcode Lottery and the Just Transition Fund have been used towards facility upgrades.
Chair of Huntly Sports Trust Bruce Murray said: "The Huntly Meadows 3G pitch and fencing were replaced in the winter of 2021/2022, at a total cost to Huntly Sports Trust of £385,000.
"However, due to increased steel and material costs at the time, we were unable to fit in the cost of the floodlight replacement within the available budget.
"With rising energy costs, the Trust undertook an energy assessment of the facility in February 2023 to help identify areas of improvement.
"The report highlighted the 20-year-old tungsten floodlights as a major contributor towards the Trust’s high energy costs and suggested replacement with comparable LED panels which would have both a significant impact on reducing electricity costs, as well as reducing the Trust’s environmental impact.
"Since the facility re-opening in April 2022, Huntly Sports Trust has been delighted with the community and funder support, the facility has been well received by the community and is highly utilised, seven days a week.
"Through the support of funders like the Peoples Lottery, Vattenfall Clashindarroch Wind Farm Community Fund, Just Transition and other funding secured by the Trust, further improvement work to the Meadows facility has been brought forward, this includes the addition of portable dugouts for sheltering coaches and substitutes during wet and wintery weather during match days as well as raising the fencing height behind the goal areas to help with ball retention."
He continued: "The upgraded facility is utilised by a wide range of local community football and rugby teams from Huntly including The Gordon Schools and is being used by visiting teams and groups from Aberdeen, Dufftown and Insch for training and tournament facilities."
Looking ahead he added: "Huntly Sports Trust is looking to further expand its offering to the local community with the potential adoption of the nearby tennis courts, currently provided by Aberdeenshire Council.
"The Trust is looking to carry out a deep clean in Spring 2024 and instigate an ongoing scheduled maintenance programme that will allow the neglected tennis courts to be fully utilised during the summer months."
Local councillor Gwyneth Petrie added: “This is excellent news for Huntly Sports Trust, and for those living here and using these facilities.
"It’s great to see more charity lottery money coming Huntly’s direction because of the pre-planning and commitment from our many varied organisations throughout the town, and I wish the Trust well in their future endeavours as they continue to deliver for the area.”
