People power has generated a new pitch in North Queensferry.
The village’s community centre’s new large and unique multi-use games area (MUGA) has opened for football, netball, tennis, hockey, basketball and other sports.
Locals have been working together to find a way to build a sports facility for the village since 2011.
With funding of £175,000 from Fife Council and £50,000 from Fife Environment Trust their ambitions have been realised and a brand new 2G pitch, with floodlighting, is open to the public.
The hilly village has long been in need of a level playing field – its football pitch is on a substantial gradient and the school only has a small sloping tarmac area for sports.
The community centre, built 25 years ago by village volunteers from donated potable cabins and managed by residents ever since, received planning permission to build a MUGA behind the building.
Three years of fundraising followed and the ribbon on the new facility was cut by SNP councilor Alice McGarry.
Danny Howie, chair of the management committee said: “The whole community have got behind this project and we now have a top quality facility that will really add to what the community centre already has to offer.”
North Queensferry FC secretary Gordon Hay said it would make a massive difference.
“Until now we have had to book different pitches at different sites around Fife and now we will be able to provide our sessions locally and know we are supporting the community centre.”
North Queensferry community trustee Lucie Macaulay said: “Local voluntary organisations run the harbour, the train station building and the community centre in North Queensferry and there is a new project with a local group redesigning and upgrading one of the playgrounds.
“Fife Council have made it a priority to help communities use their skills and assets to address local needs and the MUGA is a great example of this.”
Mrs McGarry added: “It’s great to see the hard work and dedication of the local community paying off.
“Improving access to physical activity is a priority for Fife Council and it’s important to maximise partnership opportunities like this in helping us deliver on that ambition.
“This is set to be a fantastic example of how community-led services can be delivered.”
The MUGA is free and available to use by all members of the public. For more information visit www.nqcommunitycentre.org.uk or email nqmuga@gmail.com
