Time to have your say on Blairbeth park plan

People in Fernhill are being asked their views on a proposed park at the former Blairbeth Golf Club as a planning application for the proposal is prepared.

South Lanarkshire Council this week said it would hold community engagement events before the end of the year in a bid to ensure the £870,000 green space meets the needs of local people.

It is currently seeking permission to create a “low- maintenance urban park”.

According to council officers, the park will create opportunities to walk, exercise, cycle, allow schools trips, and provide planting to support biodiversity.

A Friends of Blairbeth Park group will be set up to oversee the facility and local volunteers will be trained as park rangers.

Pauline Elliott, head of planning and economic development at the council, said: “The Blairbeth open space project is at the preapplication consultation stage.

“Consultation events will be held in December at Fernhill Community Centre on dates to be confirmed.

“The current proposals intend to create a high quality, low maintenance public open space, supported by funding from Scottish Natural Heritage’s EU Green Infrastructure Fund programme, incorporating path construction, boundary treatment planting, artwork, natural play and community growing space.

“Any application that is prepared following the outcome of the consultation events will go through the usual planning permission process that is required for a project this size.”

Davy O’Neil, a community champion for Fernhill, said many people were keen to put forward their ideas for the park.

He said: “They have talked about creating a woodland area, but what we need is an adventure park with swings and jumping equipment and zip wires, things like that.

“Where it is there is nothing but woodland. That means that kids in that area will drift down into Fernhill centre which has one swing park - with two swings because there’s nothing else for them.

“The football park is always fully booked.

“At the consultation event we will be pressing for all we can.”

Davy said the play equipment was more important than ever in Fernhill as the land around the proposed park has been earmarked for housing.

A total of three sites designated for housing include the area directly adjacent to the old golf clubhouse, bordering Castlemilk, and another area across Fernbrae Avenue where the final three holes were once situated.

The third will be near the junction of Fernbrae Avenue and Burnside Road.

Based on 160 units across the sites, it is estimated the land could be worth £3.2million over the next three to eight years.