Work starts soon on play facility at Olympic Sailing Village on Portland (From Dorset Echo)

Work starts soon on play facility at Olympic Sailing Village on Portland

2:30pm Thursday 7th February 2013 in News By Diarmuid MacDonagh

Children attending the new school at the former Olympic Sailing Village on Portland will benefit from improved playing fields.

Work will start soon to turn the 7,500 sq m site at Officer’s Field, Osprey Quay, where the athletes’ dining quarters were based during the summer, into a high quality sports pitch.

The pitch will be used by students at the new Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy, local residents and community groups throughout the year.

The new school at Osprey Quay is also nearing completion.

VIPs will attend an event to mark the handover of buildings to the Portland Academy project next week.

An event will be held on February 12 to mark the transfer of buildings at Osprey Quay.

The buildings will be handed over from Dorset County Council to the Portland Academy.

It will complete the transformation of the site, which was home to more than 300 athletes and team members from around 60 countries during the Olympics, into a residential development with a school and community facilities.

The 77 homes, of which nearly 20 are classed as affordable, have already been converted from athletes’ quarters into residential accommodation.

The first families have recently moved into the properties.

The £40,000 project is being jointly funded by developers ZeroC, Olympic organisers LOCOG and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), which is working with partners on shaping long-term plans for the future of the Osprey Quay site. As part of the development of the new school accommodation, Dorset County Council and the academy are also looking to fund fencing on part of the site to keep it free from dogs and provide a surfaced footpath around the edge of the field. Esther Croft, HCA area manager, said: “We are committed to building on the success of the summer to deliver benefits for the people who played such an important part in the games.

“These new facilities, once complete, will have a key role in building a strong, successful community.

“I look forward to continuing to work with partners on this project to help it achieve its full potential.”

Kim Slowe, ZeroC managing director, said: “The sports field will complete a trio of investments by ZeroC into recreational facilities at Portland.

“ZeroC recently delivered the new skate park and has assisted in the refurbishment of Osprey Quay Leisure centre.

“We are pleased to be playing such a key role in the delivery of these excellent facilities.”

Toni Coombs, Dorset County Council cabinet member for children’s services, said: “This place served the competitors fantastically well during the games and will always hold some magical memories for those who stayed here at that time.

“We’re focused on looking forward to how we can build on that success and create something that will benefit local children and residents in the long term.

“I can’t think of a better legacy for partners to leave than a high quality space where children and local people can play sports and enjoy recreation.”