Appin business digs deep to aid £40,000 park project
As communities around the country dig deep to help each other, an Appin contractor has come to the rescue of a community play park fundraising effort, writes Euan Paterson.
Ronnie MacColl junior of RS MacColl and Son (Appin) donated a workman and a digger for a day to allow drainage works to be completed on the site of Appin Young Families Group’s proposed play park at Shuna View, Port Appin.
The community has raised almost £40,000 to build the play park on land granted by West Highland Housing Association but had almost run out of time to spend the grant funding. The combination of time restrictions, wet weather and the uncertainty around coronavirus prompted an appeal from Appin Young Families Group for help with site works at the 11th hour.
Not only did RS MacColl and Son answer the call but also pledged the work in-kind on Saturday, when plant operator Alasdair Morrison completed the work.
Louise Davidson, chairperson of the Appin Young Families Group, said: ‘There has been a huge effort to raise the money we need to get this project under way and it would have been heartbreaking to have fallen at the final hurdle.
‘There are precious few amenities for children here and this play park will benefit the many visitors to the area, as well as local children.
‘We are so lucky in Appin and Port Appin to have supportive communities who can rally round each other in times of need. Because of the threat of coronavirus, we are seeing this even more often.
‘On behalf of the community, I want to thank RS MacColl and others, like Stewart Gourlay, who had also volunteered to help.’
The play park site is now prepared for construction. The building work is scheduled to start in May.
Mr MacColl said: ‘I was pleased to be able to support a brilliant community project such as the play park. I have children, so I know how much this will benefit the local community.
‘We are keen to support the community we live in.’