Tag: Sport

The public are being invited to give their views on a new sports complex to replace the existing Meadowbank Stadium and Sports Centre.

The City of Edinburgh Council is intending to submit a planning application early next year as the kick-start for the project to deliver a modern, fully accessible high quality sports complex for sports clubs and the local community.

To help the Council shape the planning application they are asking people to let them know their views to ensure everyone’s needs are taken into account.

There is an online survey for people to take part in and two public information events will be held at Meadowbank Sports Centre on Thursday 17 and Tuesday 22 November both between 3pm and 8pm.

Current proposals for the new sports centre include:

• An outdoor athletics track with a 500 seat stand
• Two multi sport games halls
• Three fitness studios
• A gym
• A gymnastics hall
• Two squash courts
• A combat studio for martial arts
• A  boxing gym with ring
• A 60m 6 lane indoor athletics track and jumps space
• An outdoor athletics track with jumps space
• An outdoor throwing area
• Two FIFA 1 3G (all weather) pitches – one which will be in the centre of the athletics track
• Cafe and meeting rooms

The first multi sport games hall would be equivalent in size to an eight court badminton hall with permanent seating for 420 and additional bleacher seating for 725. The second hall is set to be the equivalent of a four court badminton hall with permanent seating for 430.

The new centre will be partly funded by residential and commercial development on parts of the existing site that are not required for the new sports complex. This will include development of affordable and low cost housing through the Council’s 21st Century Homes Programme.

In addition to the planning application for the new sports complex, a masterplan for the wider site development will be submitted with the aim of gaining outline planning permission.

Councillor Richard Lewis, Culture and Sport Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We want the new Meadowbank Stadium and Sports Centre to be a venue fit for the 21st Century and the public’s views on our proposals are key to this.

“Transforming Meadowbank into a brand new sports complex would provide a modern, fully accessible high quality sports centre for sports clubs and the local community.

“I would urge everyone to tell us what they think about the range of facilities being proposed and the masterplan. The public can either take part in our online survey or come along to one of our two public information events.

“Not only would we see a new Meadowbank but more homes would be built to meet the city’s housing needs. The new venue will also bring health and wellbeing benefits across the city by supporting even more people to become and stay active.

“Public consultation on our proposals and submitting a planning application are the next important steps to realise our ambition of redeveloping Meadowbank.”

June Peebles, chief executive of Edinburgh Leisure, added: “Meadowbank is part of Edinburgh’s sporting heritage and continues to attract thousands of customers, participating in a wide range of physical activities, through its doors every week. However, appreciating the age of the venue and the changing needs of customers, it is in need of attention.

“Edinburgh Leisure is therefore delighted to be working with the Council on this exciting project which could create a new Meadowbank for the city, creating an inspiring and welcoming venue that supports even more people to get active, stay active and achieve more.”

The existing Meadowbank was originally built for Edinburgh’s 1970 Commonwealth Games (