New Aviemore pitch fees branded "offside"

Fears are growing that sport in Aviemore is to suffer another body blow with plans to charge for playing on the village’s new football pitch on land belonging to the community.

The final charges have still to be confirmed but a figure of £71.50 for staging a full adult game has been mooted.

High Life Highland will be responsible for running the new pitch – which is likely to be artificial despite calls for a grass pitch by many residents.

Local welfare football clubs are alarmed at the possible costs, while there are also concerns that local youngsters just wanting to have a kick-about will miss out.

The village’s original pitch – a gift from the Seafield Estates more than 50 years ago – has been used by Highland Council for the site of the new primary school.

In return the community was given ownership of the site of the new pitch at Muirton through the Aviemore Community Company.

Ian Turner has represented both Aviemore Thistle and Aviemore RBL FC, who were able to use the previous pitch free of charge.

He said: "Our understanding was that the new school project would replace existing facilities and not leave us disadvantaged.

"The previous pitch and changing rooms, which have been demolished, were available to us free of charge."

He added: "We are concerned that someone has given this gift away without our knowledge or consent."

The two Aviemore football teams are members of the Badenoch and Strathspey Welfare League which has been in existence for over 80 years.

In recent years the number of teams has declined mainly due to the financial difficulties in running a football team.

It currently costs around £1,000 a year to run a team with costs such as referee’s fees – average £50 per game, compulsory players insurance and membership fees.

Aviemore Community Company chairman Willie McKenna stressed the rates for using the pitch had not been finalised yet.

He said: "We still have still to meet with High Life Highland to decide on this. I am very hopeful we will get a fair price, it has to be one which people are able to afford.

"At the same time we have to be realistic, in today’s society there’s nothing free any more."

Aviemore Community Council vice-chairman Mr Bill Lobban said: "Since the pitch is owned by the community it should be the community who decide on the charges, not High Life Highland."

Ian Murray, High Life Highland Chief Executive, detailed the proposed prices and confirmed it was planned to build an artificial pitch rather than a grass one.

He said there would be a grass planted area alongside the artificial pitch.

Mr Murray said that prices for use of the pitch by children and youth groups and teams would be £17.90 per hour and £35.75 for adults and that these were standard across the area, fully inclusive and without additional charges for lighting if required.

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