Kirkland centre kicks off
Wednesday 26 June 2002
The communities of Methil, Buchaven and Leven are celebrating today the completion of the Kirkland Centre a new floodlit all-weather synthetic grass pitch. Constructed with the support of £291,121 from the sportscotland Lottery Fund the new facility will have a positive impact on sporting facilities in the Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) area of Fife.
"Sport has a key role to play in communities..."
The £408,000 facility replaces the old ash pitch at Kirkland High School. Teams will be able to participate in sports such as hockey, football, athletics, rugby training and general sporting activities. The local schools and community groups particularly welcome the completion of this project as it will enable them to participate in sport on a quality surface and open up opportunities for after school activities.
The Convenor of Fife Council and Justice of the Peace, T M Dair, following a football tournament between four local primary schools, will open the Kirkland Centre. Primary six and seven mixed teams will compete on the new synthetic grass pitch for a winner's trophy to be presented by the Convenor.
Councillor T M Dair, JP Convenor Fife Council, said: "This represents a major investment in the area by the Council through it's Community Services budgets and was achieved in partnership with sportscotland National Lottery Funding and demonstrates Fife Council's commitment to develop and improve facilities for communities and schools throughout Fife.
"Fife Council has as excellent track record in making quality facilities available at local level. The partnership with sportscotland has enabled us to upgrade a facility at a school, which is widely accessed, by the community and which because of the nature of the site had extremely limited and ageing outdoor facilities. This development will not only support the people of Methil but also the wider community."
Alastair Dempster, Chairman of sportscotland, said: "Sport has a key role to play in communities, particularly among young people, helping them to build social skills and providing positive alternatives in life.
"Facilities such as these help create more incentives for people to get active and in the longer term play a major part in creating a healthier and indeed, fitter Scotland."