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I want to
see further improvements in the range and quality of what is available.
The Kilbirnie Community Football Club and Ardrossan
Winton models demonstrated how enormous strides could be taken through local
partnership in creating a "community base" for improving facilities.
Labour candidate for
Cunninghame North, Allan Wilson, has promised a local "sporting renewal ' if
Labour wins the Scottish Parliament elections and forms the next Scottish
government. He wants to build on existing centres of excellence like
Inverclyde in Largs and pioneering initiatives which link junior football
clubs closer to their communities.
He said: "as a local sports fan and lifelong user of the facilities
available, I want to see further improvements in the range and quality of
what is available. Investment in sport is good for the health of the
community as well as opening up new opportunities for all and ensuring that
talents are allowed to flourish."
Nationally, said Mr Wilson, Scottish Labour is committed to an ambitious
ten-year programme of pitch upgrades, sports halls and changing facilities.
Additional funding will be made available to create new facilities which
will be complemented by community access to new and enhanced provision
within schools.
"Plans being considered nationally include the upgrading of 1500 grass
pitches, the improvement of 500 changing facilities, new community 'hubs' -
multi -sport venues across the country, some with indoor halls adjacent, 200
synthetic pitches and a sixth regional centre."
"We have Inverclyde and additional investment there could serve the West of
Scotland south of Glasgow, as well as the local community. It is also
important to establish a community model in Largs and West Kilbride on the
same basis as those recently established in Ardrossan and Kilbirnie at
Winton Park and the Valefield to add to the range of local facilities
available and help increase participation," said Mr Wilson.
He said that the Kilbirnie Community Football Club and Ardrossan Winton
models demonstrated how enormous strides could be taken through local
partnership in creating a "community base" for improving facilities,
bringing different sports together and developing playing and coaching
skills.
Mr Wilson added: "Labour has already announced a 'University for Sport'
which will build on our Commonwealth Games swimming success by investing in
professional swimming coaches and giving every child swimming lessons”.
"Looking further ahead, the plan is to designate 2014 - the year we host the
Ryder Cup and hope to host the Commonwealth Games - as Scotland's year of
sport”.
"This area has produced outstanding sports personalities in the past like
Bobby Lennox , Gordon McQueen, Roy Aitken and Raymond Montgomery to name but
four as well as internationally recognised swimmers, golfers and rugby
players and I am sure that with the right level of investment in local
facilities and in player and coach development, we will do so again" said Mr
Wilson.
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