IMPROVEMENTS to Victoria Park are vital to Innerleithen, says the town’s community council chairman, George Brown.
A meeting between stakeholders was held last week to discuss the upgrading of the current facilities. Included in the project has been new drainage for Leithen Rovers’ pitch, after the surface was ruined last July following constant rain during the St Ronan’s Games Week celebrations, which include a funfair being sited on the park.
Among those at the meeting were Paul Graham, of Leithen Rovers, and funfair operator Owen Taylor.
Mr Brown said: “The community council sees these types of improvements as essential to the prosperity of the town. Games Week provides such a focus for the whole town and offers extra appeal to the visitors that choose to join us. The designation of Victoria Park as a Field in Trust is a most suitable gesture by the town to mark Queen Elizabeth’s diamond jubilee, effectively safeguarding the park in perpetuity.”
Other project work saw tree felling and replacement planting, access improvements, upgrade of public toilets and landscaping works. A new seating area is also being created and trees planted to commemorate the Fields in Trust initiative to mark the jubilee. A new perimeter fence has been erected around Vale of Leithen’s adjacent pitch, thanks to support from Scottish Borders Council’s criminal justice team.