Hopes of some normality
Council say they will start maintenance
There was good news for communities across South Lanarkshire this week with the loosening of some of the country’s strictest lockdown measures announced.
The local authority agreed to reopen recycling centres and start work on maintaining golf courses – positive moves that are in line with a lifting of some restrictions by the Scottish government.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Monday that she will allow recycling centres, building sites and garden centres to reopen from May 28.
More outdoor leisure activities will now be allowed, with travel restrictions also relaxed.
And with Ms Sturgeon set to lay bare Scotland’s “route map”to come out of lockdown later this week, there is light at the end of the tunnel for cooped up residents.
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Campaigners calling for the reopening of golf courses finally have their wish with the Scottish Government announcing plans to allow Tee-Offs once again.
A petition, which gained nearly 2000 signatures, was launched to save golf clubs in South Lanarkshire – including Torrance House (pictured) and Langlands in East Kilbride – with fears that clubs would fold, with the council panned for failing to carry out any maintenance during lockdown putting them in jeopardy further.
But South Lanarkshire Council have confirmed that maintenance on greens would resume this week.
That comes as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced outdoor activities, such as golf, could resume as early as May 28 with an easing of lockdown restrictions.
The News has been contacted by a number of members regarding concerns over the damage sustained by greens that were not being repaired during lockdown.
A Torrance House member told us: “We are absolutely devastated at the way the course has been left to decay.
“The course is at risk of irreparable damage. Last year was the course’s 50th anniversary and after walking the course the other day, I fear there wouldn’t be a 51st.”
Lisa Cameron MP also became involved saying golf was “tremendously important” locally, as well as nationally, saying she had raised the issue of maintenance with the local authority.
She told us: “I’ve had confirmation that essential maintenance will start again in the next few days. I hope this meets with constituents approval.”
Meanwhile Tory MSP Graham Simpson took to Twitter to call out the council on the matter, saying there was “simply no excuse” for a lack of maintenance.
He added: “These are facilities which are important to people’s health and wellbeing when we move out of lockdown and they need to be in a fit state to use.
“South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture is failing to live up to its name if it oversees the closure of any course.”
Golf courses were reopened in England earlier this month with a Change petition calling for a “stop to the demise” of facilities, and “to offer young and old the opportunity to exercise and enjoy the open space once we return to some sort of normality”.
Councillors here called for the future of SLC’s six public courses to be safeguarded and work to begin urgently on greens with an eye to reopening the facilities.
The Liberal Democrats said failing to do essential work could force crucial community facilities to stay closed long after the lockdown ends, at a risk to jobs as well as the facilities themselves.
East Kilbride South councillor, Fiona Dryburgh, is the Lib Dems’ business manager –she said: “There can be no doubt ‘essential work’ includes preventing catastrophic long term damage to leisure facilities.
“People will rightly question why workers were banned from tasks like cutting grass to stop local golf courses being ruined.”
SLC’s Head of Facilities, Waste and Grounds Services, Alistair McKinnon, said while “national guidelines on essential services has not changed” the council needed to “reassess the position” with no work carried out during lockdown.
And while not operating at full capacity, re-introducing these services would “assist and contribute to the wellbeing of communities in terms of recreational activities”.