Calls for community to take back Ardrishaig's KGV park

And it has been claimed that this responsibility has not been properly carried out in line with the agreement made when the park was transferred in 1980 from the Ardrishaig Vigilance and Improvement Association to Argyll and Bute District Council as it was at that time.

The legal document stipulated that: “The council shall be bound to maintain the ground in good condition for recreation purposes and also the buildings, walls, fences and conveniences erected thereon.”

Secretary of the Ardrishaig KGV Community Park Association Blair Johnston said: “The conditions of the transfer mean the council is duty-bound to maintain all the assets including buildings, the field and the fences, but the changing rooms, showers etc were all knocked down and never replaced.

"There are drainage issues which need to be sorted out, and fencing which was half-constructed then condemned as it was too close to the edge of the field. We believe this asset would have a brighter future if it were transferred back to the community.”

When asked about the condition of the Ardrishaig park an Argyll and Bute Council spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government Play Park Renewal Fund allocated £938,000 to Argyll and Bute Council for upgrading local play parks. In November 2023, councillors agreed that £33,000 will be used to refurbish and replace existing equipment at King George V play park.

“We invest as much in our parks as our limited budgets allow, and we have already cleared trees and paths, replaced goalposts, and are looking at improving drainage at KGV.

"Sadly we can’t do everything our communities would like us to do and that’s why we are keen to develop local partnerships to help our limited resources go much further, and often help draw down additional funding that the council cannot access

"Successes range from partnerships with Friends of Hermitage Park, which levered in over £3m in funding for heritage-led regeneration, to fantastic groups in Bute, Cowal, Oban and Kintyre who support our gardens and parks.”

However, Mid Argyll councillor and Argyll and Bute provost Dougie Philand shares the community’s ambition for more to be done with the Ardishaig facility and believes its future could be brighter in the hands of local residents. 

He told the Advertiser: “The King George V Field in Ardrishaig has long been a focal point for the community of Ardrishaig.

“Sadly for a number of reasons the upkeep and investment has not been forthcoming to take a project forward.

"I do believe we have very passionate community members who appear committed to take a project forward if this is the will of the village I would happily support the transfer of the park to the community to take forward and develop.”

The Ardrishaig park is also protected by its designation as a King George V field as part of the foundation created in 1936 in memory of the king to "promote and assist in the establishment of playing fields for the use and enjoyment of the people".

The organisation that now protects these parks is Fields in Trust which has recently expressed its concerns to the council about the stewardship of the Ardrishaig park.

Its Scotland chair Ewan Gillies told the Advertiser: “Fields in Trust is concerned that Argyll and Bute Council is not currently, and possibly historically, meeting the terms of the disposition in favour of Argyll and Bute Council as the disposition contains an obligation on the part of the council to maintain the field in good condition.”

Mr Gillies explained that the organisation had emailed the council in November and December but has received no response.

He said: “Fields in Trust has not had any response from Argyll and Bute Council.

“The Scottish Committee of Fields in Trust will discuss this at an early opportunity and do what is required to ensure that Argyll and Bute Council respects what its forebears put in place for  this protected site.”

The survey looking for residents’ ideas for the park can be accessed here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/ardrishaig?fbclid=IwY2xjawH0an5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdsibL-Quj0_sWo9Rkfk1TYnuGlmpvX1g5MMHw-7ldJZ1jlGQ4at6Mnwog_aem_CnMhGxniIY-OPk4SS366mA