Access row as gates locked
Barrier to playing fields closed after vandalism
A row has broken out over public access to playing fields in Blairgowrie following Perth and Kinross Council’s decision to lock the gates to its car park.
The popular site on Piggy Lane is used by dog walkers, keep fit classes and is one of the bases for Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Football Club.
The club, who pay PKC annual pitch fees for use of the park, installed much-needed new £70,000 state-of-the-art changing facilities at the site earlier this year. Just months later, these were the subject of an act of vandalism that caused thousands of pounds worth of damage.
In response to this and other incidents – including car drivers joyriding on the pitches and dog walkers allowing their pets to foul on the playing fields and not picking up after them – the local authority took the decision to lock the barriers to the car park.
However, this has led to complaints from members of the public, who claim they cannot now use what is a public amenity.
In addition, people who drive to the playing fields and cannot now access the car park are parking on the track, blocking access routes for local residents and other park users.
Councillor Bob Ellis raised the issue recently.
He said: “It is a real shame that once more mindless individuals are spoiling something that has been provided both by the council and a local sports organisation.
“To prevent this type of destructive vandalism, the council, along with local footballing clubs, decided to close and lock the gates in order to prevent the cars and their drivers causing more damage.
“However, I have had several complaints from constituents about not being able to take their cars and park properly in the car park in order to take exercise with or without their dogs.
“I have now contacted an officer within the council and a representative from the footballing community to have a site meeting to see if we can get the whole issue resolved as quickly as possible.”
One member of the public, who did not wish to be named, added: “The main gate to the Gamsie now seems to be locked at all times, apart from when the football club is using the pitches, making the car park inaccessible.
“I understand that the football club pays fees to PKC for the use of the pitches but fail to see why the payment of fees for a specific use, at specific times, gives one group the right to exclude other users at all other times.”
Sandy Thomson, chair of Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Football Club, said: “I believe there have been one or two complaints about the barrier at Piggy Lane pitches being locked, and I can quite understand some folks’ reaction to this.
“The club has also been frustrated over the last six months as the pitches have been spoiled by joyriders and over £2000 has had to be spent to replace vandalised solar panels, just to mention two nuisances.
“The football teams are the only ones who have to pay every year to use the area – every other group or member of the public has free access.
“Closing the barrier has also inconvenienced the teams, although at least the club has a key to open the barrier which helps to alleviate parking issues on training and match days.
“We are currently working alongside PKC to find a solution that will allow everyone to once again use the car park.
“In the meantime, please could drivers park responsibly and ensure that they are not blocking the track for other users or local residents.”
In a statement, Perth and Kinross Council confirmed that it had taken the decision to lock the gates to the Piggy Lane car park “until such time as a longer-term solution can be found to allow access to the car park, but prevent vehicular access to the pitches” adding that it recognised that it was “inconvenient” for some park users.
A spokesperson for the local authority continued: “The playing fields at Piggy Lane have regrettably been subject to repeated damage due to irresponsible people deliberately driving onto the pitches directly from the car park.
“If the individuals who choose to damage the pitches by driving on them could be identified by the community and be reported to the police, the problem may be resolved and the gates could be permanently re-opened.
“In the meantime, there are no other obstructions to pedestrian access to the Piggy Lane site. The council’s position has and always will be that our parks and open spaces are open and freely accessible to pedestrians.”
The spokesperson added: “We would ask that anyone parking their vehicle in this vicinity do so in a courteous manner and ensure that they are not blocking access to any of the residential properties in the area.”