Pitch saga is rumbling on
Now Swinney pushes for action
Community councillors have made clear their dissatisfaction with two public bodies over their perceived failure to provide a proper playable football pitch in Perth to replace one that was lost at least four years ago.
Summarising Bridgend, Gannochy and Kinnoull Community Council’s (BGKCC) work over the past year at its AGM, chairman Jack Rivett drew attention to the group’s continuing struggle to have NHS Tayside commit to reconstructing a replacement pitch that has been provided but that the group believes is not fit for purpose.
BGKCC is of the opinion Perth and Kinross Council failed to ensure the health board created a like-for-like replacement for the pitch that was lost when the new Murray Royal was constructed, which had been a condition attached to consent to build the new hospital.
The group has already escalated its complaint about the matter to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) through a member of the community and it also emerged at last week’s meeting the council has also asked Perthshire North MSP John Swinney to push for a better quality pitch to be provided.
One attendee said NHS Tayside had prepared a maintenance programme for the pitch and had committed to making it playable by September, but added: “It’s not about maintenance, it’s about construction. They’re going to have to start again.”
Former BGKCC chairman Graham Fleming declared that NHS Tayside and PKC had shown “intransigence” in the matter considering their previously stated positions that the pitch is suitable for play and again pointing to the length of time the dispute has been ongoing.
Mr Swinney confirmed yesterday: “I have raised concerns relating to the condition of the Murray Royal football pitch with PKC and NHS Tayside. I appreciate my constituents’ frustration at what they see as the lack of progress that has been made in improving the standard of the facility.
“While I have been advised that NHS Tayside will undertake remedial work to the surface of the pitch, and its drainage, I have already made further requests for additional work to be carried out in order to bring the pitch up to a better standard.”
Responding to the details of the last week’s discussion a spokesperson for the regional health board said: “NHS Tayside has met with representatives of BGKCC and discussed matters concerning the football pitch area at Murray Royal Hospital.
“NHS Tayside has committed to providing a playable surface for football by September and we are continuing to work in collaboration with the facilities management provider at Murray Royal to achieve this.”
The PA asked PKC if it wished to comment on the discussion but a spokesperson said it had nothing to add to its previous statements on the matter.