3G Football Pitch News

Stewartry to get a 3G pitch

The Stewartry is set to get its first 3G sports pitch within the next few months. Councillors swept away fears the district was being left out in the cold when they agreed to put up £275,000 to create the all-weather facility at Kirkcudbrights St Marys Park home of South of Scotland League side St Cuthbert Wanderers. The authority will now apply to SportScotland for a similar amount. The commitment to install a similar pitch at Dalbeatties new school remains but members recognised that is still some time away. While 3G pitches have been appearing across the rest of the region, it looked as if the Stewartry might have to wait for years. Members were told the work has to be completed within the next 12 months but it is likely to get under way soon so the surface can be in place for the new football season. Saints secretary James Richardson said: Once we start on grass we have to finish on it. You cant change through the season, so it would probably be in the summer. Its fantastic news but theres still a long way to go before its set in stone. With Newton Stewart getting a pitch as well it means there will be two in the South of Scotland League but the most important thing is its better for the youths. We were over at Annan for a game a few weeks ago and they seem to have kids playing on it every night and every Saturday and Sunday. It can also be used for other sports like rugby. Its great news for the club and also for Kirkcudbright. Members of the councils policy and resources committee gave the project the thumbs up on Tuesday - even though it wasnt on the agenda. As expected, they approved funding proposals for 3G pitches at Queen of the Souths Palmerston Park in Dumfries and at Newton Stewarts Blairmount Park. The Stewartry was set to be overlooked as council officials felt the inclusion of a 3G surface in plans for Dalbeatties new school was adequate. But Councillor Alistair Geddes called for £275,000 to be brought forward from next years play areas fund to pay for the new surface in Kirkcudbright. He said:Until the playing complex at Dalbeatties new school is built theres currently no 3G pitches in the area. The Stewartry should be next in line for a pitch and we need to move forward with these plans. Dee councillor Jane Maitland, who also sits on the committee, said: Its very exciting news. Im absolutely thrilled. The administration deserve credit for doing this. It could be another three years before there is a 3G pitch in the Stewartry and they decided this was unacceptable. It took a bit of a tussle but the work Stewartry area committee did with the working group last year has paid off as it has allowed this to happen at short notice.