Minister for Commonwealth Shona Robison MSP

Games and Sport

T:0845 774 1741

E: scottish.ministers@scotland.gsLgov.uk

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The Scottish Government

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Kezia Dugdale MSP The Scottish Parliament EDINBURGH EH991SP

LEGACY 2014
XX COMMONWEALTH SCOTLAND GAMES

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Your ref: JM110213 Our ref: 2013/0005068 April 2013

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Thank you for your letter of 18 February regarding Commonwealth Games facilities for our elite Scottish athletes in Edinburgh, and the associated benefits for Edinburgh and Edinburgh-based athletes from the 2014 Games and their legacy. You may be aware sportscotland has a strategic relationship with all local authorities including Edinburgh and we have invested significantly in sports facilities in the city. This includes the 5 million investment into the Commonwealth Pool refurbishment, which cost a total of 37 million, to make it ready for the diving event for the Commonwealth Games. The Scottish Government is committed to supporting local authorities and others to ensure that we provide facilities that are fit for purpose and that help us achieve our ambition of creating a healthier, more active nation. As you will know, local authorities have a statutory responsibility to ensure there is adequate provision of sporting and recreational facilities for their residents. Therefore local authorities must determine the level and range of these facilities taking into account local needs and circumstances. It is disappointing to hear the decision from one of our elite Scottish athletes, Lynsey Sharp that the Meadowbank Stadium facilities are not fit for her needs. Scottish athletes train around the world, not just in Scotland for 2014 and Lynsey continues to be financially supported and receives high performance expertise through the sportscotland Institute of Sport. I understand Meadowbank is costing the City of Edinburgh Council 1 million per annum to maintain which has resulted in the local authority providing 60,000 for a feasibility study to consider the future of the stadium, and be completed by the end of this year. It is important to stress that any replacement of Meadowbank Stadium is a matter for City of Edinburgh Council and any consideration of such a move will be taken against the current economic background and the authority's ability to afford and prioritise such a move.
St Andrew's House, Regent Road, Edinburgh www.scotland.gov.uk EH13DG

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I met with Councillor Richard Lewis, Convenor of the Council's Culture and Sport Committee on 5 December and discussed a range of issues on facility provision in Edinburgh including the future of Meadowbank Stadium. Councillor Lewis advised that Council officials' had' developed a facilities strategy but at that time it had not yet been formally endorsed by the Council. I encouraged him to seek the formal approval of the Council as this would be a clear statement of the Council's policy on facility provision and crucial in securing support from sportscotland for any funding application. . I note on your other point that Edinburgh and Edinburgh-based athletes are benefiting tremendously from the 2014 Commonwealth Games; not only has the Commonwealth Pool undergone a significant renovation for the Games, there are five Edinburgh Community Sport Hubs (CSH) already operational in Broughton High, Inch Park, Royal High, Colinton Corridor, and Forresters I St Augustines High. A further CSH is being developed at Heriot Watt University, and all these hubs are providing' or will provide opportunities for members of the communities to participate in multi-sports and physical activities, in excellent facilities and to learn from qualified coaches. The sports and "activities currentlyavaiTablem~Edinbu;gt1~ "COmmunity sport Hubs include athletics~-' --rugby, football, hockey, rowing, swimming, basketball, netball, gymnastics, volleyball, badminton, cricket, dancing, fitness, tae kwon do, road cycling, ballroom dancing, canoeing, bowling, trampolining, baton twirling, and fencing. I hope this is helpful.

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SHONA ROBISON
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St Andrew's House, Regent Road, Edinburgh www.scotland.gov.uk

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