Councillors back Lerwick hockey pitch proposal in close vote
Shetland captain Rhiannon Inkster said ‘for the first time I feel hopeful about Shetland hockey’s future’
COUNCILLORS have narrowly voted in favour of incorporating a hockey pitch at the Clickimin in Lerwick into the full business case for a new Brae High School.
The vote at today’s (Wednesday) full council meeting went 10-9 in favour of exploring the so-called ‘option two’, which would see the SIC take on the existing Brae hockey pitch and resurface it for football.
The deciding vote went down to convener Bryan Peterson, who supported option two.
Option one was to build a new synthetic football pitch on the current school site once the old buildings are demolished. This is because the new school is proposed to be built on the existing grass pitch nearby, which is used by Delting FC.
This would mean the existing Brae astroturf pitch, owned by Shetland Recreational Trust (SRT), would remain for hockey.
Councillors were asked which option to include in a full business case for the new Brae school, which is expected to come up for decision in January.
However there were last minute changes to the projected 25-year cost of the two options, with elected members given a briefing yesterday afternoon.
Option two was previously said to be around £1.3 million greater in cost over the 25-year period.
But finance manager Paul Fraser said the figures had incorrectly included the cost of building a new pitch entirely, and not just replacing the playing surface.
Under updated figures option two is said to be £76,000 cheaper than option one over 25 years.
Speaking after the meeting, Shetland hockey captain Rhiannon Inkster said she was delighted with the outcome.
“I am overwhelmed by the number of people who have shown support in helping us grow our sport,” she said.
“Obviously, this doesn’t mean we are definitely getting a pitch in Lerwick as it’s part of the new Brae school campus project that has to be approved first. However, for the first time I feel hopeful about Shetland hockey’s future.”
Meanwhile the meeting also heard that SRT says it does not have funds available for resurfacing the existing Brae synthetic pitch when it comes up for renewal in the future.
Estimates from the council show that it could cost £7.97 million to build a new 3G football pitch on the existing Brae school site but would cost £7.46 million to instead build a new 3G hockey pitch in Lerwick and play football on the former Brae hockey surface.
Questions had been raised over the 25-year cost projections by the hockey association and Wednesday’s meeting heard that figures have since been revised.
However North Isles member Robert Thomson highlighted that due to a challenging financial climate a new school was “far from certain” – and said if a new build did not happen, then the pitch proposals would not come to fruition.
Shetland Islands Council went out to consultation earlier this year on the two options.
Following consultation with its own members, Shetland Hockey Association had voted 13-2 in favour of supporting option two, with the Delting and Whalsay clubs against the proposal.
At Wednesday’s meeting councillors heard a statement from Shetland hockey captain Rhiannon Inkster and junior inter-county captain Ashley Hunter.
Inkster said option two would reduce costs for the Brae school project as well as give the village a new pitch without further delay, as work could take place on resurfacing the existing synthetic pitch and constructing a new hockey surface in Lerwick simultaneously.
She also highlighted accessibility concerns with the hockey pitch in Brae, including around public transport, while Inkster said there has been a 44 per cent decrease in the number of senior hockey teams and a “complete collapse” of a junior league since the sport moved to the North Mainland.
Hunter meanwhile said there is a desire for hockey to be accessible to the widest group of people, adding that she and her sisters are the only hockey players aged under 35 west of Tresta.
Leading the charge for option one was Shetland North councillor Andrew Hall, who said option two would not have the best outcome for his community.
He questioned the long-term finance projections, given the last minute changes, and also said the SIC would be liable to pay recurring non-domestic rates which was not included in figures.
Hall also reiterated his view that with large-scale energy infrastructure development planned in the North Mainland, it was “not right” that the area could lose its hockey pitch.
Also on Hall’s side was ward colleague Andrea Manson, who said she was worried the SRT-run Brae swimming pool could be at risk in the future if the trust handed over its hockey pitch and lost income.
However it was previously highlighted that the SRT said that income for the pitch is around £15,000 per annum, but that running costs were around £20,000.
Lerwick North and Bressay member Gary Robinson said he wanted to be convinced by option two but said the case behind it was incomplete and risked councillors making a “rushed” decision.
He also raised the idea of having both options in the business case but the meeting heard that was not possible due to the time constraints.
Shetland Central councillor Moraig Lyall said her key consideration was the ongoing cost to the SIC, and she said she did not have sufficient confidence in what was before members because figures kept changing.
Education and families committee chairman Davie Sandison said while he did not want the SIC to lose focus on the overall Brae school project, option two was a “win-win situation”.
He advocated the SIC taking a pragmatic approach and added that option two would create a “smarter” construction programme while also offering a solution to the long-held call for a Lerwick hockey facility.
Shetland Central member Ian Scott, however, questioned who first came up with the idea to relocate the hockey pitch to Lerwick – with Sandison saying it was the new Brae school project team.
Lerwick councillors John Fraser and Dennis Leask also spoke up in support of option two, with the latter saying it seemed like a no brainer.
That term was also used by Shetland West councillor Mark Robinson, who backed option two despite “not being famed for my love of centralising things to Lerwick”.
Shetland South members Alex Armitage and Robbie McGregor were also among those speaking up for option two, with the former saying the positive impact sport can have, particularly on girls and women when it comes to hockey.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its readers to consider paying for membership to get additional perks:
- Removal of third-party ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
