Could levelling up funding be the answer to sport pitch issues

Argyll and Bute Council has said it will address any issues pertaining to Campbeltown all-weather sports pitch and junior grass pitch.

 

"attachment_985717" "" "225"] The one remaining goal post at the grass pitch.

 

The Courier contacted the local authority after hearing concerns from users that the venues are showing 'all the signs of exhaustion and neglect'.

 

Both pitches have been devoid of any meaningful investment recent years. The damaged fixed goal at the John Street end of the grass pitch was removed and not replaced and the remaining goal is in dire need of some paint.

 

But when the Courier asked the question this week: "Does the council have any plans to remedy this?", the council responded that: "the football pitches are maintained on an ongoing rotational basis and any issues should be reported to the council where issues will be addressed. Any issues should be reported at www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/my-council/report-it".

 

The 3G AWP is a focal point for all ages wishing to play football and its place as an established and essential asset within Campbeltown and wider Kintyre cannot be disputed.

 

Questions of upkeep and maintenance, that it should be enlarged and improved upon, are always being debated.

 

Such playing surfaces reach an end of life and many in the community believe the Kinloch Road AWP has.

 

There are even rumours of remedial maintenance scavenging sections from the edges for the impacted centre areas.

 

South Kintyre councillor Tommy MacPherson has written to both the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove MP and Under Secretary Minister for Levelling Up Dehanna Davison MP to explore the options of funding for the AWP.

 

"You don't need an abacus to figure out that Kilmory is cash strapped looking for alternatives such as community driven ownership and potentially a private sector buy in," he told the Courier.

 

"Familiar language to that of the UK Government's Levelling Up initiative."

 

"There are monies out there we just need the wherewithal to access it," he said.

 

"My remit was to lobby on behalf of South Kintyre and make the introductions.

 

"The latest from the UK Treasury is that a £1billion, in one form or another, remains in the LUF.

 

"There are many worthwhile meaningful projects throughout Argyll but the task set me was a simple one. Make as strong a case for funding as possible."

 

The issue of pitch problems is an ongoing one which was highlighted in the Courier in January following a run of postponements for Campbeltown Pupils FC due to horrendous weather condition in December.

 

Speaking at the time Pupils chairman Alex McKinven said: "As the Pupils use the floodlit all-weather surface twice a week for training, the club is first to recognise the importance of this facility and how crucial it has been to the development of both youth and amateur football in the community – in fact, it’s an absolute godsend."