A new all-weather athletics training area has been announced for Montrose in Angus.

The facility will be built next to the Montrose Sports Centre and Montrose Academy campus and is expected to cost about £100,000.

Funding will be provided from various sources including £44,000 from sportscotland, Angus Council and Montrose Common Good Fund.

Montrose and District Athletics Club will also contribute to the cost.

The three lane all-weather, floodlit sprint/hurdle track and pole vault and high/triple/long jump facilities will be built on the site of the existing playing fields.

It will be used by athletics clubs, schools, sports development and the local community.


Angus Council leisure spokesperson, Councillor Jeanette Gaul said: "We are delighted that this project can now go forward for the benefit of people of all ages in the community."

She explained: "When the playing fields were established around ten years ago, consideration was given as to what could be done for athletics. Original plans indicated that a training area away from the main pitches would be advantageous. Unfortunately, due to costs, this couldn’t be done at the time and the project was put on hold.

"In 2011 the local Montrose and District Athletics Club, along with the council, revived the project, which will now go out to tender, with expected completion this autumn."

Stewart Harris, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said: "After the opening of the new Montrose Sports Centre in November last year, we are delighted to be supporting further improvements at the site, which will benefit the whole community.

"sportscotland’s latest investment of £44,000 will assist Montrose and District Athletics Club in providing a new three-lane all-weather floodlit sprint track for training, a long jump pit, and a high jump fan and pole vault box.

"These improvements will take the athletics facilities in Montrose to the next level, and will help encourage more people to become involved in sport and physical activity."

(IT)