Local MP Martin Docherty-Hughes has hailed the impact of Clydebank Community Sport Hub (CSH) following a visit to the multi-million pound facility in Whitecrook.
The MP for West Dunbartonshire spoke after meeting with local groups to see first-hand how the state-of-the-art community sports facility which opened in October last year is benefiting the local area.
The site at the former Dean Street playing fields has been transformed into a multi-use sports complex for Gaelic football, rugby, Tae Kwon do, football and a range of other sporting activities. It includes a full-size all weather synthetic pitch, renovated indoor sports hall and social area, new changing facilities, and redeveloped grass pitches.
The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland invited Martin Docherty-Hughes MP to meet with local groups including Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club the Glaschu Gaels who train and play their home matches at the hub. The local MP was given a tour of the facilities by CSH General Manager Fred Wallace and heard about local initiatives to get more young people involved in sport and physical activities.
The £3.8m regeneration project was funded by West Dunbartonshire Council and the Scottish Government in conjunction with sportscotland, the Gaelic Athletic Association, Cashback for Communities, Clydebank Community Sport Hub, Social Investment Scotland, Scottish Rugby, The Robertson Trust and Barr Environmental Limited, through the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund.
The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland is providing £90,000 of funding to support the facility and help develop links and partnerships with local schools, community groups and sports clubs.
Clydebank Community Sport Hub will be hosting a weekend of activities on 26-27 October 2019 to celebrate a year since the opening of the complex.
Martin Docherty-Hughes MP said:
“It was great to see first-hand the benefits that these first-class sporting facilities are bringing to Whitecrook and the communities of Clydebank. This ambitious regeneration project now offers great opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to get involved in different sports including Gaelic Football, rugby, Tae Kwon-Do and football.
“Local sports clubs like the Glaschu Gaels are running a range of projects to encourage more young people to get involved in sport, including its Gaelic4Girls programme which aims to give girls aged 8-12 a chance to try out Gaelic Football. It was also great to see the summer multi-activity sport camp in action which offers good opportunities for youngsters to enjoy the benefits of these facilities during the school holidays.
“Clydebank Community Sport Hub has become a real asset for the community as it approaches its first birthday and I look forward to it serving the area well for many years to come.”
A National Lottery Community Fund Scotland spokesperson said:
“We were delighted to welcome Martin Docherty-Hughes MP to the amazing Clydebank Community Sport Hub. It’s a great example of how National Lottery funding is helping to develop links and partnerships within the local community in Clydebank and across West Dunbartonshire.”
