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Kingussie to get new multi-purpose sports venue





SORRY STATE: The Market Stance playing field last summer.
SORRY STATE: The Market Stance playing field last summer.

Plans for a major new floodlit, multi-purpose sports training and playing venue in Kingussie have taken a big step forward.

Members of Highland Council's Badenoch and Strathspey area committee gave their support at their latest meeting to the project to transform the Market Stance playing field into a much improved sporting facility.

They approved the 25-year lease of the pitch to Kingussie Camanachd subject to the findings of the legally required public consultation on the transfer.

The plans include two training pitches across the field, as well as a playing surface for various sports along the length of the pitch.

Local councillors were full of praise for the project to improve the arena which has been in a dilapidated state for a decade.

Local member Bill Lobban said: "We often see applications to take over council property which let's be honest are a bit speculative but this one is a fantastic application.

"Kingussie Camanachd will easily be able to develop this.

"They have the resources and they have the skills available so this is something really great."

Fellow local councillor Muriel Cockburn described the project as an 'exemplar'.

Councillor Pippa Hadley echoed the praise and said: "This is a fantastic thing coming. I have witnesses the club in action.

"I have exclusive access to one of their lesser used pieces of ground which they will use when the Dell is flooded but I have seen them swoop in there at a moment's notice, clear all the dog fouling, lay white out the pitch lines and move everyone in and play in conditions which are less than ideal.

"It will be absolutely great to see them get something they deserve."

Council officials said it was a very strong example of an asset transfer request which will benefit the community.

At the online meeting, Ewen McIntosh, the authority's localism and engagement coordinator, stressed the facility will continue to be available for wider use.

"The club have been very clear in indicating that it will have a wider community use and links have been made with the local high school," he said.

"The headteacher is one of many who have provided letters of support in favour of the request which will provide a major improvement to the sporting facilities available in Kingussie.

"This will be of benefit not only to shinty players but youngsters and others in the community.

"I would strongly support improvement to his pitch which is of low quality."

Mr McIntosh said he was very confident that the shinty club could deliver on its plans for the Market Stance.

MARKET STANCE: Much better already.
MARKET STANCE: Much better already.

Kingussie Camanachd will pay £1 per year for the long term lease but it is the community which is getting the best deal as the club past-president John Robertson explained.

He said: "It is good news indeed that our application for a community asset transfer of the Market Stance playing field has gone through the first stage of the process and been agreed at local Highland Council level.

"It will now move on to the community consultation stage. The consultation will be arranged as soon as possible with a view to a final decision being made by the end of the year.

"The club has applied for a 25 year lease of the playing field with the intention of turning it in to a top quality playing surface.

"It is the town's playing field and it will remain available to everyone in the town.

"The pitch was gifted to the town by Dochfour Estate in 1947. The club has already carried out considerable ground works, with the permission of the council, and the pitch should be ready for training on by next summer.

"There are also long term plans, if the community asset transfer is successful, to erect high sports fencing around the pitch and also to have floodlights."

The Market Stance pitch had fallen into a sad state of repair and was no longer fit for football or other games which used to be played there.

The project has been supported by the town's football club, primary and high schools, Cycle Friendly Kingussie, the Camanachd Association and Kingussie Community Council amongst others.

The club was recently given the green light by the council to occupy the field in the short term whilst progressing the transfer and significant improvements have already been made.


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