No charge for locals using new Aviemore pitch
People from the Aviemore area won't have to pay to use the new playing field, it has been announced.
Local groups had feared that they might have to pay as much as £71.50 to stage an adult match on the pitch, even though the orginal playing field was given to Highland Council by the community to become the site of the new village primary school.
There were also concerns that local youngsters just wanting to have a kick about would miss out.
Following discussions between community representatives, High Life Highland and Highland Council it was confirmed that Aviemore Thistle and Aviemore Royal british Legion - who both play in the Badenoch and Strathspey Welfare League - would not be charged for playing on the pitch.
However, communit leaders had argued that all locals should be able to use the field free of charge or at a lower rate than would normally be charged by High Life Highland, the arms-length company set up by Highland Council last Autumn to run leisure facilities in the region including the new pitch at Aviemore.
In return for handing over the village's original pitch - a gift from the Seafield Estate more than 50 years ago to enable local people to enjoy sport and add to the quality of life - the community was given ownership of the new pitch at Muirton through the Aviemore Community Company.
The company has now announced that "following an amicable and constructive meeting with Highland Council and "High Life Highland", it was pleased to announce that there will be free use of the new playing field for resident of the Community Council area. Additionally they will receive priority over other users.
Company chairman Willie McKenna said: "This is an excellent result for the village."
He added that youngsters wanting a kick-about would be able to use a designated piece of land next to the new pitch.
