The Kintyre Forum

Received a copy of this letter from the Sports Council in their bid to form a Steering Group to ensure Campbeltown gets an all weather facility.

Many of you may have read this in the Courier last week and the Sports Council would urge anyone with an interest in this project to either post their views on here or come along to their meeting on Monday 3rd July 2006, 7.30pm at Aqualibrium.

Dear Representative,

Argyll & Bute Council’s Playing Field Programme – All Weather Playing Field

Following on from a recent meeting held by South Kintyre Sports Council with Argyll and Bute Council in connection with the Council’s playing field programme the Sports Council would like to form a Steering Group which will assist the Council in their investigation into the provision of an all weather outdoor sports facility in Campbeltown. The Council’s playing field programme has identified the construction of a full sized all weather pitch at Campbeltown, as a regional centre, as the next strategic priority in 2007-08. In 2006-07, the Council’s Playing Field Unit will develop this project to a stage at which an application could be submitted to Sportscotland for match funding at a future date, or taken forward, if an alternative funding source can be identified.

Although the Council’s playing field programme has identified Campbeltown as its next priority in 2007-08 the reality is the Council may be unable fund such a facility until at least 2012, leaving Campbeltown as the only major settlement in Argyll & Bute Council area without an all-weather surface. Council officers have already confirmed they will continue to draw up a development and business plan, which will be presented to the Council later in the year and it is imperative to the whole project that a Steering Group is formed and that we, as a community, demonstrate the need for such a facility in Kintyre. It is also important that we raise awareness throughout the community and ensure Argyll & Bute Council moves forward with this project which is critical to sports development in Kintyre. In addition we will be able to ensure the views of the community are heard and these are taken forward (in terms of what is required, location etc).

It is without doubt that an all weather floodlit surface in Campbeltown, and Kintyre on the whole, is required and is long overdue. At present it seems likely that football teams, shinty teams, athletics groups and local schools are those most likely to have an interest in such a facility. However, we are happy to receive suggestions of others that might be interested in using such a facility. This is an important opportunity; we need to show that there is a strong local interest in getting an all weather facility. If we can demonstrate this and make ourselves heard then the Council are more likely to move forward with the project.

To this end, please nominate one representative to attend the next Sports Council meeting, which will be held in the conference facility at Aquilibrium on Monday 3rd July 2006 at 7.30pm. In addition as a newly reformed Sports Council we would also like to take this opportunity to invite you to join the Sports Council and help shape sport in our community.


Yours in sport,

It would be good to have any general thoughts or comments posted on this.

Even if it is just to say you support the idea (or even not!)

The Sports Council will have to demonstrate the need for such a facility so all support is needed

A copy of the agenda for the Sports Council meeting this Monday can be found at

http://www.southkintyresportscouncil.co ... 2006v0.pdf

If there is ANYTHING you wish the sports council to bring up or follow up please let us know and we will add this to the agenda and take it up on your - or your organisation's behalf.

Its hard to believe no-one who uses the forum would back the idea of an all weather pitch? We have to demonstrate the need for this so please post your support or thoughts!

Steering Group formed on Monday night and will take this forward but as much local support as possible is needed.

I visited the new all weather pitch in Oban yesterday and my immediate wish was to be able to put the boots and gloves back on. It is a superb facility that is used by the school during the day and by the community at night and weekends. It is a full sized football pitch with ample surrounds and 4 sets of floodlights on either side of the pitch with 3 lights on each standard and is obviously adaptable for five-a-sides, hockey, volleyball etc, although it could only be used by athletes for sprint training. It has been in use by the school since early April and is still in pristine condition obviously helped by the secure five metre high fence. The school changing rooms have been modernised and upgraded to accommodate the facility.

Possibly the Steering Group should consider liaising with Argyll & Bute's Education Department to advance their cause.

oorly

Yes - sounds like an excellent facility right enough and one we should have here too.

The whole project is actually being taken forward by Argyll & Bute Council as part of their playing field programme. The council have highlighted the need for a steering group to be formed to bring as much support for the venture forward.

Our main problem is, although Campbeltown is next in line they have highlighted there could be no money to take the project forward other than drawing up a business plan to take the application to the grant stages.

What is crucial is for the community to demonstrate the need for this and by simply even saying on here you wish we had an all weather playing surface will help the steering group raise awareness within the council circles.

As someone who is not "from the town" and whose children are grown up and away, I am reluctant to comment on this. However, as an observer of what is going on in the town, it seems to me that it is a great pity that there is so little support from the Council for the boys football teams etc. I was appalled to be told recently that the Council charged £50 for a session on the Meadows playing field and that the football teams were no longer allowed to use the changing rooms or playing field at Kinloch Park.This appears to be another reason why the junior football teams etc no longer exist and it seems to me to be absolute madness when it would cost the Council relatively little to provide affordable facilities for the young of the town to be able to play football and other team games.
With this in mind, I would support an all-weather pitch, as it would be a wonderful asset to the town, but I would also strongly support the premise that from the outset, provision should be made for all the young of the town to be able to use it irrespective of their ability to pay.

Good posting Mary and thanks for the support - yes, indeed it is paramount that pricing does not affect the use etc. I believe the Oban pitch is £40 per hour which could put alot of organisations off but others would argue this is good in comparison to private companies like The Goals etc. We are keen to ensure the best use of such a facility is maintained and we believe sensible pricing will be crucial to this.

Location etc is important too and Sports Council wishes to take the view of the public on this too. The three suggested places are Kinloch Green, The Meadows and the Grammar School.

We have more football, shinty and athletics that in recent years and this is a must for the area. We know the Councillors read this so please post your support!

On another note, the price of an 11 a side park is around £28.00 for a match on the Meadows. The use of the changing rooms is an additional charge separate to Campbeltown and District Junior Football Association and is probably one of the best changing facilities in Argyll. (well done to the local guys who worked hard for many years to get this in the town!)

As for Kinloch Green the latest update is the pitch will be opened Septemberish!

I'm quite surprised none of the boys who play football etc have supported this idea

How about a running track? surely in these health concious days that is exactly the sort of thing that would be a huge asset to the area .........would not take much maintenance once it is in place.
All of a sudden there is always something for youngsters to do. A proper running club could be established or casual runners could run the track whenever they feel like it........

Running could be made a COOL activity. it was not always cool to be a piper and now it most certainly IS....running could go the same way............why not?

Just a thought

The Sports Council will be writing to the Council over the next week or so urging them to support the development of the All Weather Pitch in Campbeltown in 2007/08.

If we don't get any commitment from the Council this could fall as far back as 2011!!!

Campbeltown is the only main settlement in Argyll now without an all weather pitch despite being a priority 1 when the project started!

It seems as no-one has been shouting from our corner the project has fell behind others and is not bottom of the pile!

Please support our efforts by posting your thoughts on here!

De we need one?

Sport wrote:The Sports Council will be writing to the Council over the next week or so urging them to support the development of the All Weather Pitch in Campbeltown in 2007/08.

If we don't get any commitment from the Council this could fall as far back as 2011!!!

Campbeltown is the only main settlement in Argyll now without an all weather pitch despite being a priority 1 when the project started!

It seems as no-one has been shouting from our corner the project has fell behind others and is not bottom of the pile!

Please support our efforts by posting your thoughts on here!

Do we need one?

I am genuinely shocked by the lack of support this post has. Surely an all weather pitch is an invaluable resource to the local community and more so to the kids and their future development and health?

Any parents out there?