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Sports report fails to cross the finish line

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"The reason this report hasn't come out yet is simply because no realistic options are on the table COUNCIL SOURCE"
Published Date:
15 November 2007
CITY COUNCIL REPORTER
CITY council leaders have failed to deliver a crucial report on the future of Meadowbank Stadium and the Royal Commonwealth Pool - for the second month in a row.
The future of both venues is still uncertain as concern mounts about the ability of the authority to deliver a revamped pool for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, for which it will host some events.

Officials were ordered in August to produce a series
of options for Meadowbank, including selling off all or part of it for housing to pay for new facilities.

A proposed new arena in Sighthill has been shelved in favour of looking at redeveloping Meadowbank with new sports facilities, or refurbishing the existing complex and athletics arena.

The council is facing a black hole of at least £16 million to revamp the pool, while revamping Meadowbank has been priced at £40m. No price has yet been put on any new facilities on the site.

Sources within the council say the Lib Dem-SNP administration is banking on the Government bailing out the RCP project by filling in the black hole.

However, that would still leave a major headache on how to deliver first-class athletics training facilities in the Meadowbank area, particularly when campaigners are battling to prevent the sell-off of any land in the area for housing.

One senior council insider said: "The reason this report hasn't come out yet is simply because no realistic options are on the table.

"There are so many factors to consider, including Glasgow's successful Games bid.

"On the one hand, it would appear to be good news for the pool that it will host events, but Edinburgh has promised to deliver a revamped complex, and its plans have already had funding.

"However, it is even more difficult to see how on earth money is going to be found to get a decent scheme at Meadowbank off the ground."

Labour's sport and culture spokesman Paul Godzik said: "As usual with this administration, it's a case of delay, defer and indecision."

Tory counterpart Gordon Buchan added: "We were told that a report would be ready this month, and the whole thing does seem to be dragging on and on."

The decision to shelve the proposed Sighthill Stadium means the council has also had to approach both sportscotland and the Scottish Government for help.

City sports leader Deidre Brock said: "We're absolutely committed to the development of sports facilities in Edinburgh, but we have a range of complex options to consider for what is a multi-million pound investment. We're committed to making a decision that is right for city."



Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 15 November 2007 10:29 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Meadowbank , Commonwealth Pool
 
1

Randan,

15/11/2007 12:12:55

They are in the keech and don't want to have to admit it.

2

,

15/11/2007 12:34:15
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason: Scotsman Import, Original comment id: 1144880, Article id was mapped to record!
3

Ted Kord,

Edinburgh 15/11/2007 13:30:16

This is getting ridiculous; Meadowbank stadium is not in a state to refurbish without knocking the whole place down to start again. Which would leave sports clubs who use the venue homeless for at least 2 maybe more years.

The “Save Meadowbank” lobby have completely missed the point of the debate. There are no other funds coming, which is a shame, so the only option is to sell off the venue and use the proceeds to build something new. It can’t be at Meadowbank, because the site would be sold off. The council have always said there would be provision for a smaller sports centre on the site anyway so really what IS the issue?

Most of the local residents don’t actually want the stadium to stay they just don’t want more houses built on the site. That’s the real story here. Most sports clubs want the best facilities going and Meadowbank while better than nothing is not better than a brand new facility.

The council need to be bold over this and get on with things. Build the new stadium at Sighthill, knock down meadowbank, build a smaller sports centre at Meadowbank and then sort out the fact that Edinburgh has the LOWEST sports spend per head of population in Scotland. It’s not just building the new place that counts – it’s maintaining it. If the council had bothered to maintain Meadowbank for the last 30 years it would still be viable. But they didn’t so we have to start again and hopefully learn from the mistakes.

4

Randan,

15/11/2007 13:57:11

#3 THERE ARE NO OTHER DECENT SPORTS FACILITIES ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN.
Where are teenagers to go for sport? Should they just hang about the streets causing trouble?
What about the obesity problem? Should we just let everyone get fatter by knocking down any hope of them getting fit?
Us locals don't just want to avoid new housing there, if you spent any time around Meadowbank you would know how popular it is.
That is why we want it kept. Facilities at Sighthill are pointless for over half the population as they are too far away. Yes better facilities are needed, but some are better than none.
So away and have a rethink. You're niave at best, ignorant at worst.

5

Boy Wonder,

15/11/2007 14:25:54

You have to wonder how this whole affair would have been approached if Labour had stayed in power after May. What would the report say then??

6

Boy Wonder,

15/11/2007 14:26:47

Sorry ... I said 'approached' when I meant 'stage-managed'!

7

Jams,

15/11/2007 14:37:05

Randan #1 - your first comment sums it all up perfectly. They are sitting on their......hands until someone hands them the cash. Much easier than making any difficult choices that they might be held accountable for.

8

Ted Kord,

15/11/2007 14:50:46

#4
I use Meadowbank regularly. The place isn't going to last the end of the decade. And it cannot be refurbished.
There is STILL GOING TO BE a sports venue at Meadowbank at the end of all this. Just smaller than the one that is currently in place.
I know the venue is popular, no-one is saying that nothing should be put in place. But for a proper fit for purpose stadium used by sports club a new build somewhere else is needed.
Your complaints sound just like the complaints many people had at the public meeting. Seriously how many LOCAL residents are using the running track - compared to how many that are using the gym and the 5 a sides.
As there is to be a new facility on site which has a couple of sports halls, some five a side pitches and a gym - as the plan has always been - then you still get decent facilities to use in the "east" and while we are discussing the east/west debate - where are the decent facilities in the west of the city for non specialised use (Ie not counting Ratho and the Tennis centre)
The bigger picture here is that there aren't enough decent facilities in Edinburgh full stop.

9

AaronL,

Hillside 16/11/2007 15:49:10

To be fair to CEC the original timescale given to the workshop was not workable. Everyone knew it would overrun and it has.

Don't know where EN got the £40m quote for revamping Meadowbank. Even the officials most expensive figures are around £30m and there are plenty of ways to reduce that figure by several more millions. More EN comic fantasy?

Care to name your "senior" council insider? Haven't the council learnt yet that shady comments don't carry any credence? My guess EN just made him up since who's to say otherwise?

Deidre Brock does have a point. You don't want to be spending millions without making sure it's the right choice. It seems EN and opposition parties are trying to goad the SNP/LD coalition into making mistakes. Sour grapes perhaps?

10

heatherp,

Mish mash 16/11/2007 16:01:07

#3 and #8 you must be in the minority if you are a regular user who wants rid of Meadowbank. Did you come to the 2 public meetings to put your side of things? At least SMC gave you the opportunity to say something. At least we have opened a proper debate about sports facilities in Edinburgh. If you think there are financial problems with the range of options being contemplated God knows where we would have been if the original SIghthill plan had gone ahead, shortfall of 16 million is nothing, they had a shortfall of 50 million even with the sale of Meadowbank. That is the nub of the matter, even if you sell Meadowbank it is not enough. We have to provide sports facilities fit for purpose not grandiose schemes. Let us see what the options that the planning working group have come up with and have an honest open debate thereafter. Please EN stop jumping the gun and putting your biased slant on things. Sometimes it is really important to get your facts right, have an honest open debate and shoose the right option that will give Edinburgh citizens 21st century sports facilities, fit for purpose and affordable on the Meadowbank site

11

AaronL,

Hillside 16/11/2007 16:02:04

#3 & #8

One problem I have experienced is that the facilities at Meadowbank are continuously overbooked and they have to keep turning people away. A larger set of facilities are needed, especially since the population of Edinburgh is increasing so quickly.

Most people who are pushing for Meadowbank to go for housing are either in it for the money directly or want a quick fix to make money for something else. There is a price to pay for that short term view, which is once you've gone down that route you can't turn back. Try telling 1500 new residents that we want their homes so we can put the sports back into Meadowbank.

12

Vanesa,

16/11/2007 16:34:14

Ted Kord

The reality is that the new Council administration cancelled the Sighthill plan for two main reasons:

1. The vast majority of the people of Edinburgh were against the idea

2. even if MB had been sold, there was still a huge black hole in the funding plan (see #10).

Unfortunately, the options are whether we maintain the current (but refurbished) level of facility at MB, or whether we settle for a small local facility surrounded by luxury flats.

Neither option comes with a fancy arena elsewhere.

The level of media misinformation on this issue has been intense; it is not surprising that people are confused. But the reality is that we are up against the sell-off of the sports facilities that you use, not the relocation of these facilities and the construction of a local centre for local people at MB.

13

AaronL,

Hillside 16/11/2007 16:49:35

Sorry, my comment #9 implies that the current estimate for refurbishing Meadowbank has already been reduced by "several millions". Is hasn't but it can be.

Also my comment #9 implies that the council haven't learnt to stop making shady statements. I'm not convinced that it isn't just EN making it up.

Think about it, if they quote an unnamed source, no one in CEC will challenge it and EN never need to release the name. So what's to stop them just making it up?

In the future EN, please name your sources so that they can be confirmed.

Also, if these sources are genuine, why are they hiding their name? I'm guessing because they'd get in trouble for breaking the Councillor's code of conduct, and personally, I wouldn't trust the word of any councillor willing to do this.

I wonder if the reason CEC don't bother investigating ENs dodgy quotes because they think they are just fantasy in the first place?

Anyway, I'm done correcting myself, for now :o)


 

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Is £37m too much to pay to bring the Commonwealth Pool up to scratch?
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