SPORTS MINISTER VISITS JOHNSTONEBRIDGE
The Minister was welcomed to the region on Monday by South of Scotland MSP Joan McAlpine who accompanied Ms Robison to see the work of Johnstonebridge Community Development Trust near Lockerbie.
Ms McAlpine has been championing the work of the Development Trust since she was contacted by Chairman Fred Dale regarding the community driven project to create a sports hub where community, leisure, sport and education facilities are on the same site.
The Minister was greeted at Johnstonebridge Primary School by members of the trust, and was treated to a demonstration of the Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) pitch, by pupils from Johnstonebridge primary.
Ms McAlpine commented:
“I was thrilled to welcome the Minister to the region and to Johnstonebridge.
“It was great to see the children out making use of their MUGA pitch and getting lots of exercise.
“The Community development Trust members are an inspiration. What they have achieved as a small group of people is incredible and I know that the Minister was particularly impressed – as I am – by the self sustainability of the development.
“Four sites of land recently purchased by the Trust with the help of the Scottish Land Fund will be used to generate income to support other activities.
“The Trust have also done brilliantly to secure £50’000 from wind farm community benefit funds and have put the money to good use.
“I will continue to support the community in their current venture to raise funds for a new village hall in any way I can.”
NOTES:
The Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport visited Dumfries and Galloway on Monday the 31st March to see a number of Legacy 2014 projects and programmes already benefiting local people. As well as her visit to Johnstonebridge Ms Robison also went to Maxwelltown High School, Dumfries and Galloway College and Gracefield Arts Centre.
