‘No winners’ at King George V playing field

Sir, Please can I appeal through your letters page for support and action by Argyll and Bute Council to install a three metre high fence at the King George V playing field, Ardrishaig.

For the best part of three years, myself and Arthur Barclay have tried to persuade Argyll and Bute Council to support the fence project, which gained community backing from sports clubs and the public through the project's Facebook page, Ardrishaig Community Council and Ardrishaig Community Trust – which had awarded a grant to pay for the installation of a fence two years ago.

At the council’s request, we submitted a business plan for the project to show what benefit a new fence would have for pitch users. We also found a local contractor willing to install the fence within an allocated budget. However, as a result of the council’s insistence a new licence be drawn up – which meant the licensee (either the community council or the trust) had to maintain the fence after installation, with legal clauses drawn up – an agreement cannot be reached on those terms.

It is very disappointing, not only for people who have given up their time to try and improve a public facility, but more importantly for the people who use the pitch, or would use the pitch more if a better fence was installed which would improve safety and the enjoyment for those taking part. There are no winners in this situation – it does not need to be this way. Peter Laing, Lochgilphead. Response from an Argyll and Bute Council spokesperson: ‘Community involvement is something the council encourages and the approach we are taking to the works at King George V playing fields in Ardrishaig has been successfully adopted elsewhere.

‘Where work is undertaken on council property by someone else, it is often necessary to agree a non-exclusive licence to ensure all parties are protected and provide clarity on their rights and responsibilities.

‘In this case, the council believed a way forward had been agreed. However, we are happy to further discuss any queries the other parties involved may have as we would very much like to see the project progress.’