The Kintyre Forum

Received this wee press release from Councillor Donald Kelly which I believe appeared in The Courier today. Cllr Kelly is keen to point out his comments at the end with regards community consultation.

A group of parents, grandparents and Council officials have come together to look at relocating the existing Paddling Pool Play Park onto Quarry Green.

Over the last few years the play equipment at the Paddling Pool has deteriorated badly and is now in urgent need of replacement. However because the play area is built on what is now considered to be contaminated land at Kilkerran, the cost of groundwork and replacing this equipment could run into several hundred thousand pounds.

Instead, the Quarry Green Playpark Group has decided that the best option might be to extend the existing Jock’s Boat site. Not only is this a better site but it is also closer to public amenities and toilets.

The group is now looking at various options to try and raise funds for the new park and are asking that any local businesses or individuals who would be prepared to sponsor a piece of play equipment or indeed make a donation to contact Councillor Donald Kelly in the first instance.

Argyll First Councillor Donald Kelly said “I have been working on this project for some time and I am therefore delighted by the public response which has enabled a small fund raising committee to be set up. This is the very early stage of the proposed project therefore we will be consulting residents and carrying out a full Public Consultation as plans move forward”.

Councillor Donald Kelly Tel 01586810193

Hasn't been a paddling pool there for at least 10 years so why call in the "paddling pool playpark"!!!!

Same reason as people meet at Cooks Corner then grab a pint at The Clachan, or indeed go to the Quarry green.
Just as a matter of interest, what is the paddling pool ground contaminated with?
The proposed site is probably more logical, but back in the day, I think there was more fun in climbing the trees, sliding down the slopes and generally acting like kids.
I suppose the new playpark will coply with all relevant safety legislation, be multi coloured and sterile. Unavoidable but a shame.

gizmo wrote:Just as a matter of interest, what is the paddling pool ground contaminated with?

From Councillor Donald Kelly

It should be possible to keep the area as a green space with picnic tables etc. The contamination as far as I am led to believe has come from old oil tanks which have leaked into the ground.

howlsatthemoon wrote:Hasn't been a paddling pool there for at least 10 years so why call in the "paddling pool playpark"!!!!

Sorry Howls, I still call it "doon at the paddling pool" Must be my age

gizmo wrote:Same reason as people meet at Cooks Corner then grab a pint at The Clachan, or indeed go to the Quarry green.

....or off to the June show in August

Makes sense to move it. One up for Donald and one down for Rory even to put his face near that stupid idea of calling McCallum Street such a daft name. It's not the childs fault but the galoots that even thought it should be left to primary school children to decide this.

gizmo wrote:Just as a matter of interest, what is the paddling pool ground contaminated with?
The proposed site is probably more logical, but back in the day, I think there was more fun in climbing the trees, sliding down the slopes and generally acting like kids.
I suppose the new playpark will coply with all relevant safety legislation, be multi coloured and sterile. Unavoidable but a shame.

I gizmo, we or may i say myself have all been contaminated for the last 56 odd years.What will they come up with next?


Myself with the paddling pool behind me.

Gizmo, Isa, I still call it the paddling pool as well, but the thing is people were not very happy when the council decided to do away with the paddling pool and plant trees in it instead. Now we have an official press release from the council calling it the "paddling pool playpark" when there is no paddling pool.

I seem to recall there used to be two maybe three large oil/storage tanks in the area where they have built the houses, can't call them new as they have been there for a while now, could this be the cause of the contamination?

So far as I know, the only contaminated ground in that area was where the two (quite small) oil tanks were, ie, where the two new houses are now. My bet is that someone in the Council has just made an assumption that the whole area is affected when in fact it's not. I've been told that a condition of sale of the two houses is that no vegetables or other garden produce can be grown or consumed, as the site was never properly decontaminated. However, the people who buy the houses (assuming anyone ever buys them) could have their children playing in their un-decontaminated gardens, presumably perfectly safely and quite likely on their own play equipment, while the public and their kids can't use the land nearby which was never contaminated to begin with. Or am I missing something?

You are probably right about the size of the oil tanks WC1 but, at the time, when you are only knee high to a grasshopper everything looks big.

Wonder if the owners of the houses are some of the grandparents or parents who want to move the playpark, might help sell the houses if there is no playpark next to them

I think being so shady a spot and the voracious midges for which it's known may also be factors!

The whole area in which the wee pool is/was situated has been affectionately referred to as the Paddling Pool for many years, and I daresay will still continue for years to come.
Awe JD Carra how cute you look on that wee swing!!
Can you mind o' all the wee ankle socks and pairs of shoes that sat on the concrete around the pool ? Ah!Happy days.

Just a thought, might not Quarry Green also be "contaminated" as i belive it was "landfilled" for the railway !

Total agreement about the midges Willie,it was the first thing that went through my mind when I saw them being built.

It would be really good if Campbeltown had one really really good play park. Suitable for all ages. The one at Southend is a cracker and I often wonder why we can't have something like that in Campbeltown.

jdcarra wrote:

gizmo wrote:Just as a matter of interest, what is the paddling pool ground contaminated with?
The proposed site is probably more logical, but back in the day, I think there was more fun in climbing the trees, sliding down the slopes and generally acting like kids.
I suppose the new playpark will coply with all relevant safety legislation, be multi coloured and sterile. Unavoidable but a shame.

I gizmo, we or may i say myself have all been contaminated for the last 56 odd years.What will they come up with next?


Myself with the paddling pool behind me.

Note the wee area of concrete below the swing strategically placed to cause grazes and fractures and burst your heid open if you come off the swing.

And they're worried now about it being (possibly) contaminated?

Incidentally, I've always wondered what was the purpose of the concrete "boxing ring" kind of structure in the corner of the playpark.

Does anyone else know what this is?