The Council have agreed for Murrayfield Wanderers to have drainage at the rugby pitches improved in the park, using funding from the SRU at Murrayfield. They are providing £150,000 to pay for contractors to dig up the two rugby pitches, put in drainage, and then reinstate them. The investment is a planning condition imposed by the Council arising from the Edinburgh Rugby development on the training pitches at Murrayfield, where the SRU are erecting a new stadium.

The works would happen in two phases, with one pitch developed while the second remains playable. Once pitch one is complete the works would move to pitch two. At present there is drainage in the east side of the park but none in the west. The weather over the past couple of years has highlighted the vulnerabilities of the current poor drainage, with the grounds becoming boggy after heavy downpours. 

The works are scheduled to go out shortly to tender before commencing later in 2020. Access to and from the site will be via the existing access road at Roseburn Crescent.

The Council have given FoRP the tender documents in advance and asked us to circulate them. The specifications for the work can be downloaded here.MWRFC_Section B_Specification_DRAFT

The Conditions of the contract can be downloaded here MWRFC_Section A_Conditions_DRAFT

The location plan showing the extent of works can be downloaded here 101_Location Plan with more information on the layout of each pitch here 102_General Layout

Pitch construction details are here103_Pitch Construction Detail and drainage layout 104_Drainage Layout and drainage details 105_Drainage Details

The Bill of Quantities, with more details of what the work entails, is here MWRFC_Section C_BoQ_DRAFT

Please submit all queries, questions or comments on the proposed work to Graham Croucher in the Council’s Sports Development Team at Graham.Croucher@edinburgh.gov.uk  with a copy to Ritchie Fraser, the local Parks officer, at ritchie.fraser@edinburgh.gov.uk   and a copy to the Friends of Roseburn Park at secretary@friendsofroseburnpark.org.uk  . There is no deadline, but the sooner the better.

Friends of Roseburn Park comment: Whilst generally welcoming improvements to the  park’s amenity, we are concerned about plans to use glyphosate herbicide to clear the turf initially, pointing to the Council and SEPA’s restrictions. There are procedures which have to be followed if it is permissible to use it in a public park where people including small children are going to be walking/exercising nearby, dogs are able to exercise unleashed etc. We will request as an alternative that the turf be cut and removed.

We are also pointing out there’s a concrete slab under the flood wall that extends a few metres underneath the grass.  We are asking the Council to ensure that none of the trees planted are damaged during building works.  Also access to the site for trucks sits on the route to school taken by Roseburn Primary School pupils and we want assurances on safety. We also don’t believe the path there, with the sharp bend at the old playpark, is wide enough to get vehicles round.

CRICKET CLUB PLANS THIRD NET LANE

Also in a much smaller development, the Council have given Murrayfields DAFs Cricket Club the green light to construct a third net lane along side the existing 2 they have already. All 3 will also be resurfaced. The 3rd lane is in response to the huge upsurge and success of their junior section and is subject to the DAFs raising the necessary funds.  The earliest the work would go ahead is spring 2021.