Elgin looks set to end a 17-year wait for a modern athletics surface after the Elgin Neighbourhood Board approved in excess of £1 million towards a proposed synthetic track at Moray Sports Centre. Local clubs, council representatives and Scottish Athletics met at the centre this week to map out the next steps towards delivering the facility, which proponents hope will be a regional asset.
Funding breakthrough but more needed to start work
The neighbourhood board award, made under the UK Government-backed Pride in Place programme, comprises an agreed package of payments stretching into the next decade. Organisers say this makes the new surface the most viable option yet for Moray, the only mainland local authority area in Scotland currently without a synthetic athletics track.
| Funding element | Amount |
|---|---|
| 2027/28 | £560,000 |
| 2028/29 | £440,000 |
| Management support through to | 2033/34 |
Project partners say the package leaves roughly £1 million outstanding before construction can begin on the preferred option at Moray Sports Centre, which would own and operate the facility once complete. Applications are being prepared for further grants, including Sportscotland and the Regional Capital Grant Fund, to close the gap.
Long campaign from local athletics clubs
Representatives of Moray Sports Centre, Scottish Athletics, Moray Council, the Elgin Neighbourhood Board and local athletics clubs met at the centre to discuss delivery plans. The surface currently used at Morriston Playing Fields is an ageing limestone and cinder track, forcing athletes either to train on an outdated surface or travel to Aberdeen or Inverness for modern facilities.
Elgin Amateur Athletics Club has campaigned for years to bring a synthetic track to the town. In a meeting earlier this week the club's chairwoman described the funding decision as a pivotal moment for the scheme.
"This is a major milestone. Getting that £1 million means when you go to other funders and say you've already got a million pounds in the bank, they know you're serious about the project."
She noted the long-running nature of the campaign, which dates back to 2009, and said the new facility would remove a barrier for children and young people who wish to take part in athletics locally.
Local and regional impact
Supporters argue a synthetic track in Elgin would not only benefit athletics clubs but also schools and community groups, improving access to modern sporting infrastructure across Moray. Moray Sports Centre would operate the track, offering a focal point for training and competitions in the region.
- Moray currently lacks a mainland synthetic athletics track in Scotland.
- Preferred site: Moray Sports Centre, which would manage the facility.
- Funding gap: Approximately £1 million still required before construction can begin.
Project partners have emphasised that the neighbourhood board funding strengthens the case for external grant awards by demonstrating local commitment. The coming months will focus on finalising funding applications and progressing detailed designs and governance arrangements to move the scheme from aspiration towards delivery.
As the planned scheme advances, questions will centre on the timeline for construction, the bookable availability of the track for clubs and schools, and the capital and revenue model Moray Sports Centre will use to operate the facility sustainably. For many local athletes and coaches, the neighbourhood board decision marks a tangible step towards ending a longstanding inequity in sporting provision across the region.
