An MSP has urged the Scottish Government and Glasgow Live to up their game and pump funds into the city’s cultural and sporting assets, including Glasgow’s National Hockey Centre.
Dr Sandesh Gulhane spotlighted the National Hockey Centre on Glasgow Green as one installation which urgently needs support.
He said changing rooms were closed, the first aid centre is closed and the cafe is closed and said: “Support Scottish Hockey, it is a key sport.”
Dr Gulhane said the hockey centre was a “great facility” and a legacy from the 2014 Commonwealth Games. It was completed in 2013 at a cost of £5m.
He added: “There are real concerns about its future viability. The site was leased to the National Health Service during the pandemic as a COVID testing centre but he added: “It has not fully reopened since the testing centre closed last year.
“Since September, Glasgow Life, which is owned by the City of Glasgow to run its culture and sports facilities has continued to rent pitches for training and competitve matches but it has not opened the changing facilities, the first aid room and the cafe.
“This despite the fact that Scottish Hockey’s governing body is a legal tenant of the facility until 2032.”
He said: “With no changing and other facilities, hockey players are expected to walk to the neighbouring football ground to change before and after matches.
“Glasgow Life currently seems happy to take payments for pitch bookings, but it is not that keen on providing the full facilities.
“Surely, we want to encourage as many people as possible to participate in sports of all sorts and it is great for our physical health, but it is also great for our mental health.”
He pledged to raise the situation with both Glasgow Life and the Scottish Government and added: “Too many of Scotland’s cultural and sporting assets which are based in Glasgow do not receive the national funding they need to operate and are often squeezed through Scottish Government funding cuts to our local authorities.
“This is why we are seeing closures, restricted openings or potential job losses in facilities across Glasgow.
“My message to the Scottish Government and Glasgow Life is clear, please fund Glasgow’s cultural and sporting facilities properly.”
Hockey in the West & Scotland as a whole needs GNHC. Let’s get it restored to its pre-Covid state & remember it is a LEGACY for CWG 2014 when we showcased hockey to the world. Not only is it important for international hockey & senior clubs, as it facility it can support 2 of the growth areas of Scottish Hockey juniors & masters – ultimately contributing to health & wellbeing. I was at GNHC & comparing condition of facilities to CWG and pre-COVID times broke my heart.