Ambitious scheme to transform Helmsdale tennis courts reaches planning application stage
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A PLANNING application has been submitted to upgrade Helmsdale’s dilapidated tennis courts on Shore Street to a multi-use games area (MUGA).
The project is being progressed by Helmsdale and District Development Trust which has already secured some funding but is in need of more.
An extensive community consultation exercise was undertaken prior to going forward with the upgrade.
Development manager Mary Stewart said: “The trust discussed the plans with the local schools and Connecting Communities group, along with several local sports clubs.
"All have been supportive of our plans and are very much looking forward to having the use of this state-of-the-art sports facility in Helmsdale."
She said it had taken a long time to amass funding and reach the planning stage and there had been obstacles along the way.
Awards have been made by the Jordan Charitable Foundation, Sport Scotland, Caithness North Sutherland Fund, Coastal Communities, the Robertson Trust and SSE Gordonbush.
“We’re hugely grateful to the funders for their financial support,” said Mrs Stewart. “We have also received a donation from the local youth club.”
However she added that there was a shortfall in funding due to the rising cost of building materials.
“We find ourselves in a position where the total build cost has increased,” she said. “We are working with the existing funders and have submitted further funding applications to try to fill the gap.”
The plan is to convert the site of the existing courts into a two court, multi-use facility, including floodlighting, covered area and disability access.
It will consist of a 3G Astro turf pitch for football, hockey and shinty and a porous macadam surface for tennis, basket ball and netball.
Continued Mrs Stewart: “DG Sport have been awarded the contract and the trust is working through the details with them.
“It has been a long time coming but we are very much looking forward to the day we get the diggers on site. We are currently projecting a completion date by the end of April, 2022.”
