Not bowled over by volleyball plan
Green will become beach court
A Perth resident has hit out at plans to create a beach volleyball court in the city.
The bowling green at Darnhall Tennis Club is set to be transformed into a beach volleyball court for the Small Countries Association Beach Volleyball Finals 2019.
Athletes from across Europe will travel to the Fair City to compete in the tournament, including from across the UK, Greenland, Cyprus, Liechtenstein and the Faroe Islands.
Over 400 tonnes of sand will be poured onto the bowling green this week to create the court.
However, local resident Tricia Duncan says she has concerns about such a large event being held in a residential area.
She said: “This seems to be a significant event and my neighbours and I are very concerned that it is taking place in the Darnhall area of Perth.
“There’s been a complete lack of communication with residents in the area.
“The Darnhall Bowling Green is a green space and the council should be consulting and communicating with residents about what they are planning in terms of any major event or future planning for the green.
“There has been a complete lack of manners from Perth and Kinross Council and in speaking to staff who have been planning the event a complete dismissal of any concerns from local residents.
“We have no idea what has actually been planned in any detail for this area and in actual fact this isn’t the best place for an event like this or beach volleyball in the longer term.
“The infrastructure isn’t sufficient, there’s not enough parking and there’s nowhere for coaches to drop people off.
“The council wants to bring events and people to Perth and I support that, but for something like this, the North or South Inch would be much more appropriate.
“It would also be important to hear from the four councillors from our area, as they appear to be completely silent on this decision and I believe they should be asked for their comments.”
Once the tournament is over, the court will be handed over to Perth Volleyball Club, currently based at Bell’s Sports Centre, where it will remain as a permanent inland beach volleyball centre.
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said they are keen to support the upcoming beach volleyball competition.
They said: “The beach volleyball championship is an exciting event for the Perth and Kinross area and we are looking forward to welcoming all of the competitors and visitors to the area.
“Perth and Kinross Council is not the main event organiser for the championship.
“We are however supporting the organisers in any way we can to ensure the event is a success for both the participants and the residents in the surrounding area.
“As we do with all events in Perth and Kinross we will review the arrangements to ensure the impact on the surrounding community is kept to a minimum.”
Perth hosted the Scottish Volleyball Open on the North Inch earlier this summer, and there was an international fixture between Scotland and England at Perth College UHI.
Infrastructure isn’t sufficient...the North or South Inch would be more appropriate