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A NEW all weather sports pitch and activity trail at Port Ellen Primary School, costing more than £75,000 to build was opened with over 100 people in attendance last week.
Karen Sloss from the island’s Royal Bank of Scotland officially opened the pitch in Islay.
The funds were gathered from donations of £4,000 by the Royal Bank of Scotland’s Supergrounds grant scheme and £50,000 was provided by The Big Lottery Fund’s ‘People’s Millions’. The rest of the money was raised within the local community at various fundraising events around the island.
Argyll and Bute Council’s spokeswoman for Education and Lifelong Learning, Councillor Isobel Strong, said ‘I am delighted that all the fundraising work and dedication shown by the people of Port Ellen has finally paid off and they now have the all weather sports pitch and activity trail they have been working so hard to get.’
Argyll and Bute Council are working in partnership with Brilliant Beginnings by giving advice and support to the group and insuring the sports pitch.
Together, Brilliant Beginnings and a pitch management group, made up of representatives from local sporting groups, will oversee the running of the pitch. ‘This sets an excellent example to the island’s young people of what can be achieved by setting your mind to something and puts them on the right road for the future,’ Councillor Strong said.
