A FUNDING boost could see beach volleyball come to Ayr as every community across South Ayrshire is set to see a slice of £2million pledged to leisure projects.
Ayrshire’s own club ‘West Coast Beach Volleyball’ are hoping to create a new permanent hub in Ayr which will build on a successful debut year despite COVID denting big plans.
The club were included in a list of projects set to benefit, with Councillor Siobhian Brown confirming they will reap the rewards of £270,000 being injected into the Ayr West ward.
Sam Fowler, 31, runs the club with newlyweds Stewart and Kelsie Caldwell, who wanted to give keen players somewhere local to play.
Sam said: “It’s great news, we’ve spoken to Cllr Brown before about our plans.
“Ultimately we’d like to get a permanent space on the beach. To get a spot on Ayr beach would be huge for us.
“It would mean we could say that’s our club space and people know where we are. It raises the profile of the game.”
The sport has been growing in popularity post lockdown as newcomers sign up to free classes and regulars take to the sand courts to play at the current pop up site in Troon.
Sam told the Advertiser: “The main centre is in Portobello beach in Edinburgh. They have a great set up.
“There’s quite a few Ayrshire schools who have a big volleyball presence, but there’s no real outlet for beach volleyball.
“We thought it would be great to open up the sport to people in the West Coast. We are seeing a lot of people who have never played it before, getting involved and trying something new.
“COVID disrupted our plans slightly but there’s been a huge big drive to get people active and outside.”
Other council wards set to benefit include Ayr East, who will see improvements to a skate park and play park.
Ayr North will have a £270,000 boost to improve an outdoor adult gym.
A new adventure playground is set for Kyle
and a community play park will be created in in Maybole after a £200,000 investment.
Council Leader Peter Henderson said: “These
facilities will help make South Ayrshire a better place to live, providing access to healthy activities which will help people across all our communities to grow well, live well and age well.”
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