A transformative £200,000 upgrade at the historic home of Scottish curling will help generate fresh enthusiasm for the sport – particularly among disabled athletes.
The ice rink at Kinross, which was built in 1977 as an extension of the Green Hotel, was relaunched in November 2014 following a £1 million upgrade.
The Kinross Curling Trust, which operates the facility, is now working on plans for further improvements, including making the lounge area more accessible to disabled players. At present, the only way to reach the lounge is by stairs.
The trust’s project involves installing a lift, as well as improving the lounge entrance and upgrading changing and staff facilities.
The entire upgrade will cost around £200,000 including £40,000 for the new lift.
The trust has already raised more than 85% of its total and recently secured an award of £852 from the town’s common good fund – the entire available balance at the end of the year.
The work will help mark the 350th anniversary of the Kinross Curling Club which uses the rink. The club is reputedly one of the oldest of its kind.
Local councillor Callum Purves and MSP Liz Smith met with members of the trust to hear more about their plans for the future.
Mr Purves, a Conservative councillor for Kinross-shire, said: “As someone who used to play at the curling club in Kinross, I am extremely excited about these new plans to improve their facilities.
“This will ensure that the rink continues to be enjoyed by people from Kinross-shire and beyond for years to come.”
He said: “Kinross is home to the oldest curling club in the world and there would be no better way to mark its 350th anniversary than this project. I’m very optimistic that the trustees will be able to secure the remaining funding and look forward to seeing progress.”
Ms Smith, Mid-Scotland and Fife Tory MSP added: “It was great to meet with members and trustees at the rink today to learn more about their ambitious plans for the future.
She said: “The proposed redevelopment at the rink would transform it into one of Scotland’s best facilities and it’s important that they are able to raise the final 15% required to get the project off the ground.
“It’s also important that more people from Kinross and the surrounding area are made aware of the rink to increase usage and I was pleased to hear about the trust’s outreach efforts.”
She added: “Curling is a distinctively Scottish sport and I would like to see local schools in the area make better use of the rink by incorporating curling sessions into their PE curriculum which might unearth the next Eve Muirhead.”
There are about 800 people who live locally and enjoy curling.
The British Curling Elite team have used the rink at Kinross and trustees hope the upgrade will help attract more events.
