Rugby club puts up a ring of steel

A rugby club has ringed its pitches with an ugly six- foot high barrier for “security.”

Marr play in open parkland at Fullarton on the edge of Troon.

The public, including dog walkers, could wander at will across the pair of pitches, on the public land the club rent from South Ayrshire Council.

But now people have been barred from several acres of field.

One resident on the estate said: “The fence is an absolute eyesore.

“I have to drive its length every day and cannot believe they can do this.”

Council bosses are now looking to see if the club has the right to put a perimeter fence up.

Club President Kevin Quinn admits the fence has nothing to do with planning permission gained for future developments including stands.

He insists it is “temporary” while they work out how to create a beech hedge around the site.

They got the idea for the steel barrier from the Royal & Ancient’s fencing in of the free Open campsite on the pitches in July.

The fencing means there is only two access points to the pitches and the club can better control who watches games without paying £ 5.

When suggested it was an eyesore amidst the greenery, Mr Quinn said: “We have had communication with the residents of Fullarton courtyard.

“We are obviously conscious we have an idyllic setting and we want to make sure we can organise ourselves well.

“We are looking at this fence as a temporary step towards finding a way we can better protect our pitches.

“In the past we have suffered damage on the pitches and this is a big step for us.”

He said there was no need to apply for planning permission because it is a temporary structure.

When told a beech hedge would take years to establish, he replied: “It will and it won’t. The fence won’t be up for years.”

Jill Cronin, head of leisure at South Ayrshire Council, said: “In July 2014 Marr Rugby Club was granted planning permission to refurbish and extend their clubhouse.

“A Compliance Officer from the Council’s Planning Service will visit the rugby club to check if this fencing has been erected in line with the works approved by the planning permission.”