Your Viewsneededonfuture ofvolleyballcourts
The Scottish Volleyball Association (SVA) and Perth Volleyball Club are hoping to make permanent use of sand volleyball courts, on the old bowling green at Orchard Place, Craigie.
This was a venture initiated by the SVA and supported by the council to host a multi-national competition in 2019.
Little responsibility has been taken for these courts since the competition finished last September.
Many questions are still to be answered by organisations as to what they are prepared to do in looking after these courts.
These courts were built before any kind of consultation took place with local residents.
The SVA is hoping to have council support to erect a permanent fence around the courts but that is not a certainty.
The current fencing was only erected by the council after a local resident contacted them.
There were concerns about local children playing in them.
They have been open to the elements for months and are sure to be contaminated with animal droppings.
People have been exercising their dogs in the sand courts as well as roaming cats using them as litter trays. The health risks are obvious.
Parking would be an issue in a street that already struggles with this problem.
Each court takes four players, in addition, there may be officials and spectators.
There would be many more cars in Orchard Place and the surrounding streets.
Anyone who lives nearby already knows that parking is not easy in this area without this added pressure.
Many children live locally and any increase in traffic is a potential hazard for them.
A representative from the SVA has indicated these courts may be left open for general use by the public. Locked or unlocked, they have already been a source of antisocial behaviour.
We have worked hard to stamp out such problems in this area since the regeneration of the tennis club and Perth Brass Band moving into the club house on site.
The SVA suggested local residents should take an interest in trying to safeguard these courts, in terms of reporting anti social behaviour to the police but we know from previous incidents, due to their limited resources, the police are not always able to attend at the time.
These courts should never have been built in the middle of a residential area in the first place.
Surely Bells Sport Centre would have been a much more appropriate choice with parking and clubhouse facilities all already on site?
Whilst I appreciate the SVA has invested money in this project, with respect, it is not adversely affected in the way that local residents would be, if these courts were allowed to remain.
A meeting is to be organised to allow all parties to share their views. No date has been confirmed as yet.
It is vital that the views of local residents are known.
Please email all comments as soon as possible to straitonj05@gmail.com and I will ensure they are passed onto the relevant parties for consideration.
Jill Straiton
Orchard Place resident
Earth Hour on Saturday, March 28 at 8.30pm.
We’re in the midst of a joint climate and nature emergency.
We’ve destroyed forests, polluted the oceans and messed up the climate.
But what happens next is up to us. By taking part in Earth Hour you can be part of the change.
All eyes are on Scotland this year ahead of the UN climate talks in Glasgow this November, so now is the time for Scottish communities to stand up and be counted.
So whether it’s switching off your lights, switching off your phone for an hour, or celebrating with others – Earth Hour is a time to reconnect to what’s important. Taking part is a great way to showcase your group’s environmental action, get new people involved, and be part of a global movement.
There are hundreds of events happening across Scotland, you can find out what’s on near you, by visiting wwfscotland.org.uk/earthhour.
Lang Banks
Director of WWF Scotland
Previous consultations were poorly attended, but promotion of this event was much better and I was pleased that turnout was far higher than before.
Any action which might be taken to improve air quality in the town should always take into consideration other issues, such as pedestrian safety.
I was pleased that so many people had the opportunity to put their concerns directly to the responsible agencies.
A survey is to be made available for those who were not able to attend and this is another opportunity to add their points.
Craig Finlay
Crieff