A sports and activity court, inspired by the late Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff, is to be built at Heathfield Primary School in Ayr.
Ayrshire Live can reveal that a planning application for a ‘Cruyff Court,’ has been unanimously approved by South Ayrshire Council’s Regulatory Panel.
The Cruyff Court is expected to boast an all-weather five-a-side pitch, climbing wall and sunken trampolines.
Outlining the proposals the agent, Bill Gillespie, of Professional Sportsturf Design Limited, previously said in an operational statement: “The Cruyff Special Court will be used by the pupils at Heathfield Primary School during normal school hours.
“This will include children from the Extended Learning Unit.”
According to the plans, the floodlights will operate with a solar switch to turn on and will be programmed to turn off later in the evening, “typically at 9.30pm.”
This will prevent the use of the pitch beyond this time.
The statement continues: “The court will be particularly beneficial for the children with additional support needs attending the Extended Learning Unit as they did not have access to this type of facility at Dalmilling Primary.”
Plans show a 4m fence running along the breadth of the pitch and a 1.2m fence running the entire length of the area, along with other associated features.
Outlining the benefits of the court, the Cruyff Foundation say: “Children need a safe place that encourages them to play outside. That’s what Cruyff Courts are: a safe place to get together and where children get to know the importance of togetherness, making friends, discovering your own talents, and winning and losing. These are valuable experiences that they carry with them as they develop physically and mentally, and as they move into society.”
South Ayrshire Councillor Alec Clark said: “I’m delighted to see proposals such as this that provide great facilities for the school children and for the community. When you give this type of thing to the community you see a drop in anti-social behaviour and vandalism.”
Councillor Martin Kilbride said: “It’s another example of the council enhancing the school estate. We are investing a lot of money into a play area and I think it’s a great design.
“The key thing is it’s going to be open to the public to use at night, holidays and weekends and the whole point is being outside and getting kids active, so it ticks all the boxes for me.”
Fellow Councillor Lee Lyons said: “Over the piece I think this is a really good move, to make the place a bit safer for the community.”