response from minister for commonwealth games and sport

7/28/2019 Response from Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport

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Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport

Shona Robison MSP

T:0845 774 1741

E: [email protected]

Kezia Dugdale MSPThe Scottish ParliamentEDINBURGHEH991SP

Your ref: J M110213Our ref: 2013/00050684 April 2013

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The ScottishGovernmentRiaghaltas na h-Alba

n-LEG ACY 2014

X X CO M M ON W EA L T H G A M ES

SCO T LA ND

~ I~~~Q .Thank you for your letter of 18 February regarding Commonwealth Games facilities for our

elite Scottish athletes in Edinburgh, and the associated benefits for Edinburgh and

Edinburgh-based athletes from the 2014 Games and their legacy.

You may be aware sportscotland has a strategic relationship with all local authorities

including Edinburgh and we have invested significantly in sports facilities in the city. This

includes the 5 million investment into the Commonwealth Pool refurbishment, which cost a

total of 37 million, to make it ready for the diving event for the Commonwealth Games. The

Scottish Government is committed to supporting local authorities and others to ensure thatwe provide facilities that are fit for purpose and that help us achieve our ambition of creating

a healthier, more active nation. As you will know, local authorities have a statutory

responsibility to ensure there is adequate provision of sporting and recreational facilities for

their residents. Therefore local authorities must determine the level and range of these

facilities taking into account local needs and circumstances.

It is disappointing to hear the decision from one of our elite Scottish athletes, Lynsey Sharp

that the Meadowbank Stadium facilities are not fit for her needs. Scottish athletes train

around the world, not just in Scotland for 2014 and Lynsey continues to be financially

supported and receives high performance expertise through the sportscotland Institute of

Sport. I understand Meadowbank is costing the City of Edinburgh Council 1 million perannum to maintain which has resulted in the local authority providing 60,000 for a feasibility

study to consider the future of the stadium, and be completed by the end of this year. It is

important to stress that any replacement of Meadowbank Stadium is a matter for City ofEdinburgh Council and any consideration of such a move will be taken against the current

economic background and the authority's ability to afford and prioritise such a move.

St Andrew's House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH13DG

www.scotland.gov.uk
mailto:[email protected]://www.scotland.gov.uk/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/mailto:[email protected]


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I met with Councillor Richard Lewis, Convenor of the Council's Culture and Sport Committee

on 5 December and discussed a range of issues on facility provision in Edinburgh includingthe future of Meadowbank Stadium. Councillor Lewis advised that Council officials' had'developed a facilities strategy but at that time it had not yet been formally endorsed by theCouncil. I encouraged him to seek the formal approval of the Council as this would be aclear statement of the Council's policy on facility provision and crucial in securing supportfrom sportscotland for any funding application. .

I note on your other point that Edinburgh and Edinburgh-based athletes are benefitingtremendously from the 2014 Commonwealth Games; not only has the Commonwealth Poolundergone a significant renovation for the Games, there are five Edinburgh Community

Sport Hubs (CSH) already operational in Broughton High, Inch Park, Royal High, ColintonCorridor, and Forresters I St Augustines High.

A further CSH is being developed at Heriot Watt University, and all these hubs are providing'or will provide opportunities for members of the communities to participate in multi-sportsand physical activities, in excellent facilities andtolearn from qualified coaches. The sportsand "activities currentlyavaiTablem~Edinbu;gt1~ "COmmunity sport Hubs include athletics~-' --- ._.-

rugby, football, hockey, rowing, swimming, basketball, netball, gymnastics, volleyball,badminton, cricket, dancing, fitness, tae kwon do, road cycling, ballroom dancing, canoeing,bowling, trampolining, baton twirling, and fencing.

I hope this is helpful.

SHONA ROBISON

1

St Andrew's House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH 1 30G

www.scotland.gov.uk
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/


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response from minister for commonwealth games and sport

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