Scotland

Parklea transformation nears its goal

Parklea Sports

A £6 million redevelopment project to transform Parklea Community Sports Facility is nearing completion.

The sports facility in Port Glasgow is currently undergoing a makeover that includes the construction of a brand new £2.9 million football pavilion. The project includes improving changing facilities as well as constructing two brand new 3G synthetic pitches with associated flood lighting. A major overhaul of drainage services to eight grass football pitches is also being carried out as part of the project.

Work began in July 2009 and the project has been funded by Inverclyde Council’s capital programme, Sportscotland. Barr Ltd is the main contractor, whilst S&P Architects is the architect.

Extra care is being taken throughout the lifespan of the Parklea project to meet the requirements of a Special Protection Area (SPA) that sits adjacent to the site. For six months of the year the adjacent site is frequented by migrating Redshank, therefore construction work has been carried out around the migratory habits of the birds.

Construction Director of Barr Construction, Paul Griffen, said:

“The schedule we have developed with Inverclyde Council and Scottish Natural Heritage is very demanding and presents considerable challenges as a result of the arrival of the Redshank.

“However, because the project team had already completed the building envelope, viewing stand works and the erection of an acoustic fence prior to the birds’ arrival, we were able to ensure that work on the site could continue without disturbing the birds.”

As the Parklea project nears completion, remaining work includes the connecting of utilities and the completion of one of the 3G synthetic pitches. The drainage work on the eight pitches is almost complete.

Leader of Inverclyde Council, Councillor Stephen McCabe, said:

“Parklea is very much the jewel in the crown of our investment in leisure and it is very exciting to think that it is so near to completion. Football players and fans from across Inverclyde and beyond will come here to make use of these quality facilities and that can only be good news on sporting, social and health grounds.

“We said from the very beginning we were committed to providing the best possible leisure facilities to improve the health and quality of life for our communities and I believe that the development here at Parklea is a perfect example of that commitment.”

Parklea Community Sports Facility will be completed in summer 2012.

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