Community hall fit for all

Friday 16 August 2002

The community of Renfrewshire are celebrating the official opening today of £1.6 million Erskine Community Sports Hall, a key component of the Erskine Town Centre Plan.

Supported by an award of £824,000 from the sportscotland Lottery Fund, the new indoor centre boasts a 300-seater sports hall suitable for basketball, football, indoor hockey, netball and volleyball. In addition there is a 250-seater general-purpose hall for community use, three team changing rooms with disabled access, café, fully equipped fitness suite and multi purpose room for a crèche or meetings. The centre will be used by community members of all ages and abilities and should increase the range and participation in sport across Erskine.

Councillor Tommy Williams, Convenor of the Community and Family Care Policy Board, will unveil a plaque to officially open the Centre.

Councillor Williams said: "This brand new facility for Erskine has been long overdue. The Council over the years have recognised the need for this facility and the opportunity of a joint funded project with the sportscotland Lottery Fund award turning the dream into reality. I am sure since the Centre's initial opening the public have recognised its benefit to the community."

Alastair Dempster, Chairman of sportscotland, said: "sportscotland is delighted that this wonderful sports centre is now open for the community of Erskine to enjoy such a wide range of sporting and social activities.

"By supporting ventures such as these we are working hard to fulfil our ambition to increase the level of physical activity in Scotland, which will have a mainly long term, positive outcomes for the health of the nation, and perhaps, some sporting stars of the future will first learn to love sport here."