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News / Plans unveiled for Clickimin indoor sports pitch

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A NEW indoor synthetic sports pitch could be built to the south of Clickimin Leisure Complex in association with the new Anderson High School project.

Shetland Recreational Trust (SRT) hopes to build a facility – expected to cost between £1.4m and £1.7m – suitable for football and rugby among other sports. It would allow the SRT to provide extra space for school PE lessons on weekdays and for local sportsmen and sportswomen out of school hours.

Local residents and representatives from sporting organisations were shown plans for the 12.5 metres-high structure at a meeting on Monday night. 

The SRT said the facility would be part funded by Shetland Islands Council, while a funding application has also been submitted to sportscotland.  

It would have a “steel truss” design with a “tensile membrane” covering in order to allow natural light to permeate inside. It would have a synthetic playing surface of 60 metres by 40 metres, divisible into three smaller areas with lifting dividers.

SRT general manager James Johnston said the trust had been working “very closely” with the SIC “to ensure we can provide the requisite space for the needs of pupils at the new AHS”.

“At the same time we need to continue to provide the very best sporting facilities we can to the general public and user groups,” Johnston said, and in the 60mx40m facility he felt the SIC and SRT had “devised what we feel is the best solution”.

“As well as benefiting pupils during the day, it would free up space within the existing leisure complex in the evenings and at weekends for busy groups such as those offering gymnastics.”

Johnston said the SRT already operated “shared use” of its rural leisure centres and knew it was “a model that works well”, and also meant there was no “unnecessary duplication” of sporting facilities.  

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An SIC spokeswoman said the local authority’s contribution would be “in the region of £1 million”, though that would depend on the outcome of a funding application to sportscotland, and it would come from within the already approved budget for the new school.

The spokeswoman said: “Any new school is obliged to provide PE facilities for pupils, and by working with SRT the council has been able to do this as well as enhance facilities for the wider community, while avoiding the need for new dedicated facilities.”

SIC councillor George Smith, who is chairman of the Shetland sporting partnership strategic group, said it would be a “tremendous addition to the sporting facilities of Shetland and will provide much needed pitch space under cover, to help our sportspeople develop their skills and enjoyment of their sport”.

Shetland football partnership chairman Eric Graham said: “All sectors of the football community are thrilled and excited at the prospect of such a tremendous project being proposed and are delighted to support SRT fully in its vision to further enhance the sporting opportunities in Shetland.”

Graham added: “It will allow for greater balance between summer and winter football with its size being adaptable to suit different group numbers and structures.

“The environment this will create will be perfect for the training and playing of football, but we believe even more importantly for increased levels of participation and enjoyment as well as retaining even more of the young people in our sport.”

Johnston said SRT hoped to be able to submit a planning application for the building by the end of November. 

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