Edinburgh coaches hit out over councils’ failure to open up their sports facilities

Edinburgh coaches hit out over councils’ failure to open up their leisure and sports facilities leaving youth sports struggling to exit lockdown

The pace of youth sport return is a cause of frustration for some. Picture: Chris Watt

Coaches from across the Lothians have expressed their frustration at the slow pace of Edinburgh Leisure and Midlothian Council in opening up for youth sport.

As it was announced that team sports could return in a much altered capacity as part of stage three of leaving lockdown, many coaches expected an instant return.

But it was not to be for those relying on booking out school facilities or council run grass pitches to coach their sport.

The pace of youth sport return is a cause of frustration for some. Picture: Rachel Keenan

Gary Guy, president of East District youth hockey, accepts that this is a difficult time for all but believes that the hockey community should already be running their own summer camps.

He said: “I’m the president of East District youth hockey – myself along with three or four others run camps during the Summer. All of us rely on the schools and the council to provide us with facilities.

“These camps are vital for working parents. It gives them somewhere safe to put their children, is relatively inexpensive, and is in a safeenvironment and trusted environment.

“We need the cooperation of Edinburgh Leisure to use facilities such as Meggetland and other school facilities.

“But there has been very little update from Edinburgh Leisure, their website has been vague, and we feel there has to be better communication.

“Despite Sport Scotland coming up with guidelines for the four major team sports to return we are still waiting to be given the opportunity to provide our vital service.

“We fully appreciate that this pandemic is creating new problems but please let us get back to doing what we do and teaching kids hockey.”

Dalkeith Amateur Football Club have around 500 players in their ranks and are welcoming more by the day after several local clubs folded in their area.

They have been frustrated as they are unable to get the green light from Midlothian Council to start putting sessions on again at Cowden Park.

James Currie, U-14s Dalkeith coach, said: “We have spent well over £1,000 getting our coaches qualified and our teams kitted out with the relevant equipment to be able to operate safely. Everything is in place for us to get going but yet we cannot seem to get an update from Midlothian Council on what is going on.

“We accept this is a very difficult time for everyone but there has to be more communication. The kids are itching to get back and the benefits to their mental and physical health are incredible.”

Edinburgh Leisure Spokesperson said: “We are aware of the statement ‘organised outdoor contact sports, play and physical activity can resume for children and young people under 18 (subject to guidance) from 13 July’.

“We are in regular dialogue with sport governing bodies and are discussing what this means for our outdoor venues.

“We have been carrying out essential maintenance tasks on the venues since lockdown, however there will be significant work required to prepare our venues for opening to ensure a safe environment.

“All reopening plans will be informed by Scottish Government and Sportscotland guidance. We understand that everyone is anxious to get back but at this juncture we are unable to say which venues and services we will be reopening on specific dates. Please be assured we are working as hard as we can with the information currently available and will update customers as soon as we can.”

A Midlothian Council spokesperson, said: “We are currently working on procedures to allow booking and training to start by the middle of next week. Clubs will be contacted directly early next week with the information they need.

“We’re all looking forward to having football boots on the ground again next week.”

It is understood that several of Midlothian Council’s leisure staff were redeployed during Covid and that there may be some delays as workers return to their traditional roles.

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