The £370,000 project to lay a new 3G surface at Huntly all weather pitch is under starter's orders
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THE project to replace the surface of the all weather pitch has cleared the final hurdle and work will start before the end of this month.
Huntly Sports Trust has secured all of the £370,000 funding required to upgrade the 22 year old pitch to a new FIFA and IRB approved 3G surface.
Aberdeenshire Council has committed £150,000 from its Marr area capital plan and a further £95,000 from developer obligation funding.
A sum of £100,000 was awarded from the Vattenfall Clashindarroch Wind Farm Community Fund and £16,000 from the Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation Trust.
The balance has been funded from Huntly Sports Trust's own reserves.
The tender process was conducted over the summer and the contract awarded to specialist contractors, DOE Sports Limited who have installed over 1000 synthetic pitches including at the new complex for the Elgin Sports Community Trust.
The refurbishment work is expected to take approximately 12 weeks and the pitch will be fully operational in time for the school Easter holidays.
Work will include not just the replacement of the surface but also the installation of new fencing and maintenance of the existing floodlights.
A new spectator rail will be installed to allow supporters to cheer on their teams from the side-lines and provide additional flexibility on the use of the pitches.
Running lanes will be added to give the option for athletics groups to use the facility.
The new pitch will be open to all community and sporting groups, bookable through a new on-line booking system which will be part of a new Huntly Sports Trust website.
George McIntyre, of the Gordon and Ena Baxter Foundation congratulated the trust for securing the funding to make their sporting vision a reality.
He said: "Their passion and commitment shines through. The new pitch will be a valuable addition enabling the further development of sports and physical exercise for people of all ages and abilities.”
Pete Kunz, of Vattenfall added: ”I am delighted to see the Clashindarroch Wind Farm Community Fund supporting the all-weather facility. It is great that work is now starting and that it will soon provide access to sport and exercise for the local community.”
An Aberdeenshire Council spokesperson said: “We are delighted to support this project which will improve the lives of our community in Huntly. Once complete it will offer a state-of-the-art surface for teams and individuals to enjoy a range of sporting activities which boosts fitness, mental and physical health and wellbeing.”
Tom Black, community funds manager at Foundation Scotland, said: “Huntly Sports Trust has worked hard and taken a considered and professional approach in getting to this point in the project. It’s tremendous to see work now starting on site, on what will be a very valuable facility for the community for years to come.”
