Plans to construct a new 3G artificial sports pitch in Peebles are continuing to progress.

Last week, an event was held at Gytes Leisure Centre to allow representatives from local sports organisations – including local football, rugby and cricket clubs – to discuss suggested sites for the view facility.

The pitch would be located within the Gytes, Whitestone Park and Kerfield Park area, and the meeting follows an announcement from earlier this year when the Scottish Borders Council (SBC) approved funding plans to plan for new full-size 3G pitches in Peebles, Jedburgh and Kelso. The authority also agreed to take forward one new full sized 2G artificial pitch in Selkirk and a new 2G pitch in Peebles as part of the Peebles sports hall and facilities project.

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Currently, the Peebles 3G project is the one being looked at in detail, and three options have been proposed for the site:

• Option 1 would see it placed on the site of the Peebles RFC grass pitch, next to the Gytes Leisure Centre.
• Option 2 proposes it is created in the Whitestone Park area.
• Option 3 looks at constructing the artificial pitch in Kerfield Park, across two of the existing grass football pitches.

Councillor Vicky Davidson, Executive Member for Culture, Sport, Youth and Communities said: "This ambitious programme of synthetic pitches will bring a huge improvement for sport across the Borders and will take the number of all-weather pitches from six to 12.

"Friday's drop-in event was a good opportunity for representatives from various sports clubs to put their views forward on the three proposed sites for the 3G in Peebles. Staff at the Council will study these views carefully before consulting with neighbours of Whitestone and Kerfield parks and the local community.

"We hope to start construction in spring 2015 while the 2G at Peebles High School will be operational within months."

(JP/CD)