MEADOWBANK Stadium was originally built for Edinburgh’s 1970 Commonwealth Games and hosted the Games again in 1986.
The complex has been showing signs of its age for many years, however, and yesterday the starting gun was fired in the process that will see a replacement for the existing Meadowbank.
Edinburgh Council has pledged to deliver a modern, fully accessible, high quality sports complex for sports clubs and the local community. And ahead of a planning application, the council yesterday began asking people for their views to ensure everyone’s needs are taken into account.
There is an online survey up and running, and two public information events will be held at Meadowbank Sports Centre on Thursday, November 17 and Tuesday, November 22, both between 3pm and 8pm.
Current proposals for the new sports centre include an outdoor athletics track with a 500-seat stand plus an outdoor throwing area, as well as two multi-sport games halls, three fitness studios, a gym and gymnastics hall, two squash courts and a 60m six-lane indoor athletics track and jumps space.
For the combat sports contingent there will be a studio for martial arts and a boxing gym with a ring. There will also be a café and meeting rooms.
Outdoors there will be two all-weather pitches constructed to Fifa G3 standard, one of which will be in the centre of the athletics track.
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.
According to the council, the new centre – last estimated at £41 million – 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.
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.
“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.”
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 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.”
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