On my first day back following the holiday period it was pleasing to receive an email from a coach of one of the local youth football teams praising Labour Councillors for keeping the promise we made when in opposition to make a major investment in upgrading the area's sports pitches.
To date new 3G pitches have been provided at Battery Park, Lady Octavia Park and Weymss Bay Primary School. Work is currently underway on new pitches at George Road in Gourock and Broomhill and Inverclyde Academy in Greenock, with work on the first 3G pitch at Parklea due to start next month.
It gives you a lift when you receive positive feedback like this.
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You're right IDC should be congratulated over their football strategy. However, as a local referee what worries me is the cost of these pitches. It costs about £24 to hire a grass / blaise pitch, whereas to hire the Battery park 3G it's around £90 (over £100 with lights). I'm unsure whether the free lets for juvenile teams aplies to the new 3G pitches? What about low income / unemployed / students? Home teams pay for their park and half the ref's fee, a squad about 15 would have to pay about £7 each per game. To hire the Toryglen indoor facility it costs half of what IDC / Inverclyde Leisure charges. I believe IDC / Inverclyde Leisure should review their pricing policy to make these wonderful facilities affordable for all in the district.
ReplyDeleteYours in sport,
Jim McEleny
A fair point Jim, which is why we have asked officers to review the pricing policy with a view to reducing the charges for 3G pitches.
ReplyDeleteWhile there is no doubt that 3G pitchs are very welcome and yes your correct about Parklea, seeing is believing. What about the grass pitches that are at Parklea today ? Why are they not being maintained correctly, why do the Battery Park grass pitches need rested. My son plays in a boys club team and they have yet to play a home game this season at Parklea due to the grass parks being put off as soon as there is a cloud in the sky. It seems that the parks are put off just to avoid work to prepare them for the next game. Also seems that the Port teams are not allowd to use Battery or Gourock grass pitches, why ? The pitches close in the summer months when they are playable, why ? As I said 3G very welcome BUT what about the Port - you are letting your voters down.
ReplyDelete...on the contrary.
ReplyDeleteThe new £700,000 3G pitch at Parklea, which is due for completion by May, is the first phase of its redevelopment at a total cost of £6.4m, which will also see 8 grass pitches upgraded, a new community stadium and a new changing pavilion by June 2012.
If you don't believe me, email your contact details to Stephen.McCabe@inverclyde.gov.uk and I will arrange for you to see the plans.
I am well aware of the problems at Parklea given that my son plays for Port Glasgow Boys Club U15s and they have a pitch booking for home games on a Saturday afternoon at 2.00. I think they have played twice on grass at Parklea this season. Very frustrating for coaches, players and parents alike.
Mind you grass pitch problems are not confined to Inverclyde as a number of my son's games in Refrewshire have been called off due to pitches being unplayable.
Why has parklea not been done first when according to the team the council brought in to
ReplyDeleteidentify what the area required . it was parklea that was identified as the number one priority,
and also port glasgow juniors to be re-housed yet
last to be done?? ravenscraig,broomhill, gourock etc. That constitutes letting the port voters down when you go against the experts advice.
Parklea is the biggest and most complicated development, which has to be done on a phased basis. The land is actually owned by the National Trust for Scotland and leased to the Council. We have to get the permission of the National Trust for any proposals. The development of Parklea is also complicated by the presence of rare birds on the mud flats.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments.
I will happy to face Port Glasgow voters again in 2012 on the basis of my Administration's achievements.
thanks for your reply but you have not answer my
ReplyDeletequestion why pay experts and go against there
advice?
We have not went against their advice. The Parklea project is being advanced as quickly as it could. The other projects completed or underway are far more straightforward. Parklea has not been delayed due to these projects.
ReplyDeleteI know you won't believe me but hey that's life. You need a thick skin in this game.