Plans for new pitches next to Airdrie United stadium

May 27 2009 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

RECESSION-BUSTING plans for a five-a-side football facility at Airdrie’s Excelsior Stadium have been recommended for approval by council officials.

The £1 million project would see nine pitches installed on land around the ground if given the go-ahead by planning committee councillors at a meeting in Motherwell tomorrow (Thursday).

New car parking areas, fencing, floodlighting and changing facilities within the stadium’s South Stand also form part of the ambitious proposal.

The applicants, Excelsior Stadium Ltd, had wanted to build 11 pitches, but this figure has been reduced to nine after concerns were raised over loss of internal parking.

Airdrie South councillor, Michael Coyle, has written a letter to the committee supporting the development and says it would enhance the area and create jobs.

Sharon Craig, chairperson of the Craigneuk and old Petersburn Road Tenants and Residents’ Association, has also backed the scheme and believes it will bring employment and added facilities to the local community.

Strathclyde Police’s Monklands Sub-Division said the surrounding neighbourhood currently experiences “significant youth disorder”.

They added that any proposal designed to attract local youngsters is welcomed as an “attractive proposition”.

If the proposal receives the green light, the pitches would be built on land at the rear of the East Stand, near Howletnest Road, and between Petersburn Road and the South Stand.

All of the pitches will be laid using hi-tech third generation synthetic artificial turf, be floodlit with six-metre high lighting columns and bounded by five-metre high netting.

The entire area will be sealed off with a 3.2 metre high galvanised steel fence.

Three-metre high turfed mounds would be created along the eastern boundary with Howletnest Road to prevent local residents losing privacy and being subject to increased noise.

It’s estimated that up to 200 parking spaces will be lost, but there will still be provision for 444 cars and nine coach bays.

The applicants say the five-a-side complex would only operate at limited periods on matchdays, thus reducing demands on the spaces available.