Football fans have hailed an £800,000 project to redevelop a north-east town’s sports pitches.
They turned out in big numbers last night for the official launch of the Catto Park all-weather facility.
Youngsters who had the privilege of playing the first games on the new surface were cheered on form the sidelines.
Catto Park, which also has a grass pitch, was closed over the summer as work was carried out to completely replace the playing surfaces at the site and instal floodlights.
The revamped complex is close Balmoor Stadium – home of Scottish League One Peterhead Football Club.
Aberdeenshire Council has described the upgrades as “significant”, and invited local primary schools and players from Peterhead Boys’ Club to be among the first to try out the pitch.
Chairwoman of the local authority’s education, learning and leisure committee, Councillor Alison Evison, said: “By replacing the all-weather surface and grass pitch at Catto Park the council is making sure school pupils as well as local community groups have access to high-quality pitches for lots of different sports.
“Over the past year we’ve seen a great boost in the number of people using our sports facilities in Aberdeenshire.
“These new pitches add to the long list of new projects the council is investing in and I’m sure they will be just as much of a success as others have been.”
As part of the investment, drainage and new fencing was also installed.
Last night, local councillors welcomed the new facilities.
Anne Allan said: “I’m delighted to see these new pitches opening following the upgrading works and pleased that local teams will now be playing on top quality pitches.”
And Stuart Pratt, chairman of the council’s Buchan area committee, added: “This is good news for the town.
“I’m very pleased we are now seeing progress on a range of things from the Catto Park pitches, to plans for a new Peterhead Academy, to regeneration funding for the town.”
