Hockey club plan is blocked

A sports charity has lost its appeal to erect a storage shed and create a warmup area.

Kinross Astro’s proposal was originally refused back in May.

The charity then submitted an appeal for their plan for a strip of land between King George V Playing Fields and several homes along The Muirs.

The three councillors on PKC’s local review body met virtually to consider the appeal on Tuesday, December 8.

Kinross Astro owns and operates the synthetic hockey pitch at Kinross’s King George V Playing Fields.

It estimates around 150 children and 80 adults use the pitch every week.

The pitch is mainly used by Kinross Hockey Club. Kinross High School and Dollar Academy also regularly use the facility.

The application was for alterations to the boundary fence, the formation of a hardstanding warm-up area, the erection of a storage shed and associated works.

PKC received 17 representations - 13 objections, three in favour and one neutral response.

Kinross Astro said the plans would allow spectators to view the pitch behind a “proper spectator fence.” The storage shed was for additional training and sports equipment.

Conservative councillor Ian James said it was an “emotive subject.”

He was “not convinced” the strip of land with some trees which would be removed was a buffer zone.

But Liberal Democrat councillor Willie Wilson disagreed. He said the strip of land had been “well designed as a decent place with trees between the pitch and domestic properties that have been there for years.”

SNP councillor Henry Anderson said that while the desire to improve facilities was “commendable”, he felt the “erosion of the buffer strip is not acceptable.”

The appeal was refused by two votes to one.