August 17, 2010
Partnership that produces results
10 years of hard work by the volunteers of Broxburn United Sports Club finally paid off last week with the official opening of a £2.6m state of the art sports complex. This is the latest example of a new generation of community led sports clubs that are springing up all round the country. The active support of West Lothian Council and Sportscotland was central to getting this project off the ground – a great example of public sector partners really getting behind a community’s ambitions
Aug 12 2010 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier
NEW £2.6 million sports facilities have been unveiled in a West Lothian community.
Broxburn United Sports Club’s (BUSC) new clubhouse and FIFA two star synthetic pitch at Albyn Park were officially opened by West Lothian Council’s leader Peter Johnston, and sportscotland chief executive Stewart Harris.
The ambitious project is the culmination of over a decade of hard work by local community volunteers, and will deliver excellent facilities to the club’s 650 members and the wider community in the Broxburn area.
It has been funded through an innovative partnership approach, with West Lothian Council providing £1.6 million in full, sportscotland contributing £500,000 and a £150,000 donation from the Scottish Government’s Cashback For Communities scheme.
The club themselves also put £100,000 towards the total, with other contributions including the Robertson Trust (£60,000), Social Investment Scotland (£50,000) and Gannochy Trust (£10,000).
Council leader Peter Johnston said he was pleased to see the project reach fruition and praised everyone involved.
He continued : “I am also absolutely delighted that West Lothian Council was able to provide substantial support for this excellent project, which will provide more quality sporting opportunities for the whole Broxburn community.
“The project is an excellent example of how partnership working can deliver huge benefits to our communities and how, by working closely together, our council and our community can deliver sports facilities that everyone can be proud of.
“I congratulate Broxburn United for their commitment and determination which has delivered their dream and wish them well.
“On behalf of West Lothian Council I also wish all who will use these wonderful facilities, every success in the years ahead.”
As well as the pitch, the new facilities include a 10 changing room pavilion plus officials room, community club room/social space, and a physiotherapy centre.
Stewart Harris, chief executive of sportscotland, said: “At sportscotland we recognise the importance of strong clubs and community initiatives in helping to build a sustainable future for Scottish sport.
“The community-led approach taken by Broxburn United and its partners, including West Lothian Council, is a great example of how we see facilities developing in the future.
“For these reasons we were delighted to support the project with advice and guidance, in addition to an investment of £500,000 from the Sports Facilities Fund.
“With the club operating and managing the facility and strong links with schools in the local area, I am sure that BUSC will be at the heart of the community for many years to come.”
BUSC is a charitable, not-for-profit social enterprise company, which brings together local clubs with the aim of creating sporting pathways and opportunities for young people in the area.
They will run the new resource on behalf of the council on a 50 year lease, in one of the first community-led projects of its type in West Lothian.
BUSC club secretary Alan Cunningham said: “Today marks the celebration of our long journey and a lot of hard work by many people in our club over the last decade.
“The new facilities are superb and will make a real difference to the whole Broxburn community, as the clubhouse will now become a sporting and social hub.
“Our youngsters will at last have fit-for-purpose playing and changing facilities, which will allow us to cater for many more youngsters in the years to come as well as provide quality facilities for our local schools to use.
“A huge number of people have contributed to make this project happen, but I’d especially like to thank West Lothian Council and sportscotland, who have worked closely with us to bring our project to fruition, and also our consulting partners PMR Leisure, who have worked with us closely for many years helping turn our dreams into a reality.”