A COUNCIL director has revealed upgrading the red blaes pitch at a school in Houston would’ve cost a mammoth £700,000, writes Jack Thomson.
Gordon McNeil told councillors that tearing up the mineral surface at Gryffe High School in favour of a synthetic pitch would have been an expensive exercise.
The director of Environment and Infrastructure had been speaking after a council audit of the red blaes pitches at Gryffe, Linwood and St Benedict’s high schools found them all to be in a “satisfactory” condition.
Speaking about the surface at Gryffe – which was the subject of a high profile campaign for investment – Mr McNeil said turning it into an astro turf would have been “nearer the cost of £700,000”.
His report did not advocate immediate investment.
It said: “The mineral-based pitch at Gryffe High School is not at the point in its asset life where long-term investment is required to improve the drainage and playing surface.
“The mineral pitch at the school will be inspected on an annual basis to update the asset condition.
“At the point when the asset condition survey recommends long-term investment, the future pitch requirements will be reviewed in conjunction with the school and Renfrewshire Leisure to provide a facility that meets the future needs of the school and the community.”
Labour’s Councillor Jim Sheridan, who represents Houston, wanted to see £200,000 invested into the outdoor facilities and claimed there had been “no serious attempt” to upgrade them “for the future stars of Scotland”.
He then called for the report to be rejected at Thursdsay's full council meeting.
However, Mr McNeil and Councillor Jim Paterson, the education convener, assured the pitches were inspected properly.
Mr McNeil said: “The pitches were all assessed against the required standards.”
Councillor Paterson told Councillor Sheridan: “All of our pitches were found to be satisfactory, which is the highest standard, except for one school which isn’t the one you’re focusing on.”
A vote was then held, with 22 people voting in favour of approving the report and 19 voting to reject it.
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