Victory will be ours so lay off our park
Campaigners have told South Ayrshire Council to keep their‘hands off’Victory Park in Girvan.
The local authority has proposed a 20-year lease of the changing pavilion and surrounding land to Girvan Youth Football Club – with plans to extend the facility.
But objectors have pointed to a section of the proposed lease of the land that would see it revert to council, rather than common good, ownership at the end of the contract.
The common good is made up of a variety of historic assets, property and land that was left to the people of the town. The campaigners have stressed that they welcome the plans to upgrade the pavilion and have no issues with the extended lease to the football club. But they have said the move to revert to council ownership “is totally underhand and not needed.” Now they are demanding it remain in the Common Good for ‘all time’ as intended when it was given to the community shortly after the first world war.
They have also raised concerns about the decision to get planning permission approved for an extension of the pavilion prior to council making a decision on common good assets. But campaigner Todor
Radic has responded to the consultation, which ends on Friday, December 3.
He said: “We are fed up with South Ayrshire Council using land grabs from the peoples’ Common Good land as the strings attached for positive investment proposals.
“The fact that the council approved planning for the proposal before consulting with the community on the use of common good land means we need make it clear to the council in our comments to the consultation that community input must not be treated as an afterthought.”
Mr Radic’s response to the consultation document states: “The council’s use of a proposed 20-year lease as a means to remove the land from the common good has meant that I am objecting to this proposal.
“Common good land has been enjoyed by generations and should be safeguarded for future generations. Should the council change the conditions of the lease and ensure the land is returned to the common good then I would not be objecting.
“I also object to the council’s decision to approve planning for the proposal before having this consultation.”
Under the proposals the football club would pay just £100-a-year for the facilities.
The club would also be responsible for making sure the land is used correctly and must also take control of all maintenance and repairs.
Victory Park has already been the battleground for those who want to see a new 3G artificial pitch developed and those who have argued it would be contrary to the terms in which land was left to the community.
A Sheriff ruled in the council’s favour earlier this year.