Work Set To Start On Wick High School Synthetic All Weather Pitch

24th March 2006

Work begins next week Monday 27th March, 2006 on a �584,000 floodlit synthetic sport pitch for Wick High School.

Funding for the development has been provided by The Highland Council's Education Culture and Sports Service.

Construction of the pitch will be carried out by Malcolm Construction Services Ltd. and it will be due completion by late summer 2006.

The pitch will be developed as a multi-sports use playing surface for use by the school and the community by arrangement through the school.

The types of sports which can be played on the pitch include football, hockey, shinty and netball.

Highland Councillor Roger Saxon, Chairman for Education, Culture and Sport said: "This is the start of work on something which Wick has campaigned for a long time. I know from representations that it will well used both by the school and local community and sport clubs. I would like to thank all the officials and others who have helped get this project to its start."

Ian Manson, Head Teacher, Wick High School said: "It has long been recognised that there is a need for sporting facilities in the County and it has been proven that we have a lot of sporting talent in the community and when our pupils compete they do very well as recent results in rugby and badminton have shown.

"Encouraging healthy lifestyles and activity from a young age is key to our pupils' health and wellbeing. The all-weather pitch will be a huge advantage to Wick High school in meeting our PE requirements all year round and I know that that the pupils are looking forward to using it."

Bill Fernie the councillor for Wick West and in whose ward the school is located said "I am delighted we are finally at this stage and that the pitch that has been at the heart of many discussions at council and community council level for many years is finally about to become a reality. There is still work to do to see if changing facilities can be added and make the football pitch facility even better. There have been representations througout the whole process about the over crowding that will happen from time to time in the currently busy school gym facilities. The many football clubs in the area as well as the school should derive great benefit from a completely new facility for sport in the town."