Inverurie park set for major new addition as Garioch Rugby Club hub approved

Garioch Rugby Club has been given the go-ahead to build a much-needed new flagship base to meet demand and its ever increasing membership.

The group will build the sports and community centre at Kellands Park in Inverurie on ground currently used as a skate park.

Ramps there will be removed but the rugby club is willing to replace them and create an official skate park somewhere else to make up for it.

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Club president Peter Grant said there was “sufficient demand” for a new facility, given it has more than 20 teams and 850 members.

The club currently operates from the park pavilion but it has been deemed to be “in a poor state of repair”.

Mr Grant also explained that it was struggling to balance the needs of teams as the facility is “just too small”.

The proposal proved to be hugely popular, with a whopping 148 letters of support submitted to Aberdeenshire Council.

The new sports centre will have changing rooms, community space and a games hall.

A first aid room has also been included should any players receive an injury during a game.

However, it will not impact the rugby, football or cricket pitches found in the park.

The club will keep its existing pavilion and upgrade it by creating a fitness studio, treatment room, and an enhanced strength and conditioning suite.

It is hoped that the two buildings would provide a “full suite” of community facilities once work has been completed.

However, the club won’t be able to do anything until it takes ownership of the site.

This will only be possible through a community asset transfer, and the rugby club has already submitted an application for this process.

The planning application for the new state-of-the-art sports venue recently went before the Garioch area committee.

However, members were told that the rugby club wouldn’t be the only group to benefit from the building.

“It’s more than just a sporting facility, it’s a community facility, one where we look to bring people together which is an ethos of what rugby is all about,” Mr Grant stated.

While it was putting its plans together, the club reached out to various groups in the area including bridge and camera clubs, as well as the community cinema.

On Friday nights, it welcomes residents of the nearby St James’s Court assisted living facility.

The club president explained: “We invite them in to play and provide pizza in the club afterwards, and that has been absolutely transformational for some of the adults that are there.

“That’s why we do what we do…and that’s what we want to develop and grow.”

Mr Grant also revealed that the indoor training centre had been specifically designed to ensure cricket clubs can use it in the winter.

Committee chairwoman Marion Ewenson gave the plan her full support as she believed it would encourage more members to join from across the region.

“The work that goes on and the development of Garioch rugby in recent years has been quite something and you can tell by the numbers using it,” she said.

“The current facility is not very encouraging and is badly needing replaced or upgraded.”

The Inverurie councillor also welcomed the opportunity to “do something better” with a new skate park.

Fellow member Dominic Lonchay praised the new building as he said it would replace the existing “eyesore” pavilion.

The committee went on to unanimously approve the application.