Priorities for Mossfield are outlined
A number of areas within Mossfield Stadium have been outlined for improvement at a ‘positive’ stakeholders’ meeting.
The meeting was held in October, but highlighted at the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee on December 11.
It featured representatives from council officers, Live Argyll, BID4Oban, Oban Games, Argyllshire Gathering, Oban Live, Oban Celtic Shinty Club, Oban Camanachd Shinty Club, the Macaulay Association, Oban High School and the Access Forum. After a discussion, the group came up with a number of areas that could be improved. They were:
Approach and hard standing behind goal – resurface the access area from the car park including the rear of the goal area.
Pathway leading to Mossfield Stand – create a level footway leading to the stand, ensuring area is accessible to all users.
Event power – installation of event power columns, doubling the existing power to four and new lighting.
A booking system – a simplified, user friendly and accessible booking system.
Fencing around the stadium – replace previous fencing destroyed in a fire with a view to preventing vandalism.
Potential user group – a user group/steering group to continue positive engagement on the use of the stadium as a community asset.
Mossfield Stadium has been used successfully over many years for various sporting tournaments, including football and shinty, as well as the Argyllshire Gathering. It has also been the home of Oban Live, attracting several thousands of people over its weekend.
However, in June this year, organisers of Oban Live announced that the festival would be taking a break in 2020, citing a lack of development and improvement to Mossfield Stadium.
Organisers, led by Skerryvore’s Daniel and Martin Gillespie, said they could no longer keep absorbing the huge costs and risks associated with hosting this event while the facilities deteriorate and costs increase.
Event organiser Neil MacKay attended Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee on December 11. He said: ‘I find myself in the unusual position of wanting to compliment a council officer for excellent work. He has managed to achieve what a lot of people could not – getting certain organisations into the one room, which was a very successful meeting.’