Posted on 23 Nov 2007

£500,000 Investment in Revolutionary Turf Technology Set to Benefit Capital’s Sports Teams

Edinburgh's first ever 'third generation' artificial sports pitch opens to the public today (Friday 23 November 2007).
The £500,000 sports pitch, located next to Castlebrae High School in Craigmillar, has taken just under a year to complete and is part of the overall regeneration of the area spearheaded by PARC, the joint venture bringing together The City of Edinburgh Council and The EDI Group.

Applying the latest in turf technology, third generation pitches are endorsed by FIFA
and UEFA and are used for training by many of the world's leading sports clubs. The pitch at Castlebrae mirrors the exact technology used so effectively by the Russian national football team for their home games during their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign - including a famous victory over England in Moscow.

The playing surface is said to bear the closest resemblance yet to ‘bowling green’ natural grass - even eliminating the dreaded burns often associated with traditional artificial turf.

The all-weather floodlit pitch will be used for competitive football matches and hockey and rugby training by both schools and the local community. A sports pavilion containing four changing rooms and a club room, will be completed by PARC in the New Year.

Around 120 children from local primary schools in the Craigmillar area took part in a tournament to celebrate the opening the pitches - with a little help from local Councillors and sports clubs representatives.

Welcoming the occasion, Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, Chair of PARC, said: “This is a notable first for PARC, Craigmillar and for Edinburgh. It shows that we are committed to providing the very best community facilities for the people of Craigmillar and our city.

“I am especially pleased that these new pitches are at the very heart of the community for everyone to enjoy, and not remain the exclusive preserve of the top sporting clubs. The Castlebrae development is just the start of PARC’s plans for top-class sports facilities for the area and we will be announcing further projects as the regeneration process in Craigmillar moves forward this year.

“Edinburgh has been lagging behind in community sports facilities but with this third generation pitch, Craigmillar is leading the field. Edinburgh deserves the best sporting facilities available - for our top performing clubs through to the budding sports stars of the future. With the third generation pitches, we will be getting them.

Christine Scott from Castlebrae High School said: “Artificial sports turf surfaces are now creating valuable opportunities for schools, and clubs at all levels - from youth teams, non-league, local authorities and professional clubs. Synthetic sports surfaces can be used all day, every day without deterioration in playing performance. Castlebrae is striving to encourage young people to adopt a healthy, active lifestyle and a first class local resource will be instrumental in helping young people to stay fit.”

Kevin Miller, Chair of Craigmillar Sports Forum added: "The Craigmillar Sports Forum welcomes the opening of this new pitch. Local teams are excited to have the opportunity to train on a first class surface which will hopefully increase participation in sport locally.

Initially, the sports pitch will be handed over to Castlebrae School to manage with the intention being for it to become a community facility, managed and run by local people. Training times will be organised through the school for local sports teams.

The Castlebrae sports pitch is designed by BDS Services and the pavilion by Smith Scott Mullan architects. The building contractor is ERDC.

Ends 23 November 2007

Issued on behalf of PARC by Weber Shandwick, public relations consultants. For more information, interviews and images contact Richard Bright or Jenny McMahon on 0131 556 6649 or 07770 886 914.

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