Corpach fights ‘bonkers’ situation

A PETITION has been set up by a local committee in a bid to fix a ‘bonkers situation’ and take ownership of a car park, writes Monica Gibson.

Kilmallie Community Centre (KCC) is described as being located in the ‘heart of Corpach’ and is owned by the KCC committee.

Over the past few years, the committee has received funding to upgrade the centre and this year won a Keystone Award for the successful management of a community building.

Despite their best efforts, the car park surrounding the centre has fallen into disrepair. The committee tried to get funding to bring it up to standard but hit a stumbling block after investigations showed it belonged to the Highland Council.

Sarah Kennedy, a director of the committee, said she has been in talks with the council about the situation for some time.

She said: ‘No-one knew who owned it. I had to go to the land registry and pay for them to do a search and then it turned out the land belonged to the council. I said to them ‘ well seeing as you own it, can you fix it?’ and they said ‘no’.

‘I understand the council is strapped for cash but that’s why we wanted to help and thought it might want it out of its hair.’ The council confirmed to

The Oban Times that it owns the car park and said the board which is in charge of asset management was happy to offer a 99-year lease on it, but that they felt it was important the council remained a stakeholder in the site due to the value to the community.

Mrs Kennedy explained the problem with long-term leases is that the committee cannot receive funding for something it doesn’t own.

The committee has now launched a petition that al- ready has 90 signatures from locals and visitors to the centre.

She added: ‘It just seems bonkers that we own the community centre and grounds, but not the car park.

‘We are trying to show that the wider community cares about this issue and we think the petition will help our case, so it’s really important that as many people as possible sign it.

‘So far there are around 90 signatures which I don’t think is bad for a little centre in Corpach.’

To find out more about the petition visit Kilmallie Community Centre or call 01397 712663.