St Madoes park update

Nov 25 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PROPOSALS for a sports pavilion in a St Madoes park have gone on hold.

That was the upshot of a well attended public meeting this week.

Last Friday, PA Sport highlighted concerns being voiced by Pitfour FC that they could be squeezed out if plans for changing rooms went ahead.

Yesterday, however, Tom McGinness, chairman of the Glencarse Playing Fields Association, said the committee had been given food for thought and would return with fresh proposals for another public meeting next month.

He said: “The meeting went well and everyone got their chance to put forward their views.

“The feedback we got was that while a pavilion might be the ultimate goal the community would like to see park amenities improved in the short-term, maybe with a tennis court and car parking which has become an issue when the football is on.

“Right now there is just a small children’s play area and the football pitch.

“I’m sure more use would be made of the park if the facilities were there.

“The village has been expanding.”

Potential village benefactor Geoff Brown, the local housebuilder who recently retired as chairman of St Johnstone, had indicated he would help fund the erection of a pavilion.

And Mr McGinness said: “We will go back to him and see what his views are as any pavilion would be further down the line.”

Pitfour FC chairman Innes Ross had expressed fears the successful under age club could be squeezed out by pavilion plans.

He said: “Geoff Brown’s support for St Madoes is very much appreciated and this was a generous gesture.

“Hopefully he will see his way to support existing improvements in community facilities and channel support in a different direction for the benefit of the community.

“There must have been 70 or 80 villagers and parents of kids in the football teams at the meeting.

“t was very well chaired by Tom McGuiness everyone got a fair crack of the whip. But the outcome was clear.

“The mood was overwhelmingly against the idea of building a pavilion at this stage, with the annual overheads it would create in the region of £2500 to £3000. Some felt it could be a white elephant. There was certainly no mandate for a pavilion.

“Instead, it was felt steps should be taken to try and broaden the appeal of the park and seeing more youngsters using the park.

“That might mean delivering enhanced facilities, with a multi-purpose aspect and also introducing a community garden.”

Mr Innes confirmed the Pitfour FC lease for the park was not under threat.