Aviemore all-weather pitch gets thumbs up from national park planners
CAIRNGORMS National Park planners are recommending controversial plans for an artificial football pitch in Aviemore get the go-ahead despite the majority of respondents to a new survey on the proposal being against the idea.
Highland Council’s plans for an "all weather" synthetic pitch along with five metre high security fencing, eight 16-metre high floodlights and a metal storage container by the new £11.5 million primary school near Birch Road have divided the community.
The planning report reveals that the council might be willing to create an additional informal grass area next to the plastic pitch to alleviate some of the concerns over access.
The previous playing field on the same site was available to anyone at any time of day including for community events.
But the report states that the new pitch area would be "gated and fenced" for controlled use and available via a booking system although "some scope for ad hoc use by individuals may be permitted".
Planners acknowledge the opposition to the artificial pitch made at the community open day on the proposal held on September 29 at the Cairngorm Hotel in Aviemore and also detailed in questionnaires that were returned.
Park planner Robert Grant, who attended the open day, says in his report: "Highland Council state that the outcome of this event and questionnaire demonstrated that respondents generally felt that a grass pitch would be better if this was the only option available.
"However, many felt that an additional informal grass area in addition to the synthetic pitch would be beneficial to the school and the community in general.
"The tone of the meeting suggested that there was a level of consensus about introducing this area of informal grass in addition to the synthetic pitch."
Planners have said that the floodlights - which has been a major concerns of local residents - could be controlled to ensure that neighbours are not disturbed.
Others objections that have been made to planners include:
• loss of public access to the grass pitch, further adding to the dearth of facilities in Aviemore;
• the unsuitability of synthetic pitches for any activities other than football;
• the loss of a main venue for community events;
• concern at the impact of the proposal on the character, residential and visual amenity of the area; and
• light pollution to properties and Aviemore in general.
Flora Somerville, spokesman for objectors living in Birch Road, said: "I believe there was never any intention to do other than what they are doing now with the birch wood site.
"The land doesn’t actually belong to the school – it belongs to the community whose wishes are being ignored. Highland Council are ignoring Aviemore Community Council and their own ‘consultation’."
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