MACKIE Academy Rugby Football Club were this morning refused their asset transfer request of Forest Park by Aberdeenshire Council’s Business Services Committee.
The vote by representatives from across the Shire flagged unanimous support of the decision made last August by the Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee.
Area manager Bruce Stewart set the stage for the considerations noting a change in proposals for the fencing. Meanwhile time was given to both Neil Foster of the Rugby Club and David MacDonald of the Save Forest Drive Park group to make their case.
Concerns that the land could be sold to developers after the transfer provoked extensive discussion. But these were kicked into touch both by the committee lawyer and by Cllr Sarah Dickinson who said the Club contributed greatly to the community and were ‘trusted’.
Mrs Dickinson sought input on the new proposals for sections of 4ft fencing rather than universal high fencing – she was reassured by Mr MacDonald that this would not change the views of residents.
”A high fence on one side and a four-foot mesh fence on the other does not change the view that a person walking would be intimidated by the wrong type of person approaching them there,” he said.
Community Health and Well-being
One after another, members of the Business Services Committee voiced fears of the impact on the health and well-being of the surrounding community that would be brought by the loss of open access to the park.
Westhill and District representative Ron McKail noted the contribution made by the Rugby Club but said he looked at the request from the community perspective – and that it would not promote the health and well-being which the coummunity currently benefits from by having access to the park.
Moving to oppose the asset transfer request, Mrs Dickinson said the benefits of the asset transfer would be outweighed by the impact on the community who had organised strong opposition to the transfer.
”I think it would lead to a loss of community cohesion, which would be deeply damaging and do lasting damage to our community,” she said.
”It is a green lung, it is an open space that does not have to justify itself in a level of use. Its existance for the local community to come and enjoy that space with ready access does have a value and I would like to see that continue.”
Mrs Dickinson was seconded by Cllr Wendy Agnew who, with reference to the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, detailed her objection to the transfer.
Having said the park was deemed a necessary and protected provision when Forest Park was developed, she said agreeing the request, ”would be an entirely unnacceptable and unjustified social disadvantage to the neighbourhoos community by the removal of that which was justifiably considered necessary for the scale of the residential development.”
She added: ” I consider it an astonishing concept that such a neighbourhood requirement can be removed for the benefit of a club.”
Appeal possible
The Mackie Rugby Football Club can appeal today’s decision. The appeal would be considered by the Council’s Community Empowerment Review Body.