Kirklandneuk residents have “taken a stand” by refurbishing the multi-use games area (MUGA) at the centre of a planning controversy which has divided locals.

We previously reported that Renfrew Victoria FC, known as the Vics, submitted plans to renovate the existing MUGA at Kirklandneuk Community Centre - including the addition of a fence, which incensed some residents.

The grass got a welcome mowing (Image: Amanda Clark) 

Following a meeting at the community centre, residents decided to take matters into their own hands and revamp the MUGA themselves, spending a sunny Sunday (July 28) painting and clearing the pitch and surrounding areas.

“We were there for six hours,” said Jacqueline Graham, a longtime resident of Kirklandneuk involved in the clean-up.

“We painted the back boards, we mowed the grass, cut the trees back - just tidied the entire place up. We put new basketball nets up. We must have filled up 50 bags of rubbish and green waste.”

There were plenty of hands on deck (Image: Jan Bunch)

Jacqueline said it was heartening to see the local community uniting over the cause.

“We really came together. There was food getting made for everyone, juice in hand all day. We had kids involved, and lots of sun tan lotion to make sure nobody was getting burnt.

“Even when we’d finished, we were all just sitting around having a conversation. It was really nice.

“There were people from four to 60 years old in that park with rollers in their hand, garden spades, gloves on, pulling weeds up, filling bags, brushing the pitch clean.

“It was really good to see the community come together like that. I’m very proud of everybody.”

A fresh lick of paint is appliedA fresh lick of paint is applied (Image: Jan Bunch)

Stuart Wild, chairman of The Vics, previously said that if someone were to do a risk assessment of the MUGA, they would “condemn the area because of the amount of broken boards and glass".

He also said that the Vics had been monitoring usage of the MUGA, and that “nobody is using it at all".

However, the residents hope that their efforts to restore and repair the MUGA will undermine such arguments, and demonstrate how valued the facility is.

It was a big team effortIt was a big team effort (Image: Jan Bunch)

“We did it in protest,” said Jacqueline. “It’s a statement to the Vics - the people of Kirklandneuk taking a stand. It proves that people do care about the MUGA.

“We don’t want a fence around it. It’s not had a fence around it since it was built in 1991.

“We’ve got no objection to change. We’ve got an objection to it being locked, and our kids not getting to use it.”

Refreshments were at hand to keep everyone's energy upRefreshments were at hand to keep everyone's energy up (Image: Jan Bunch)

The planning board is expected to convene and decide on the Vics’ proposal in August, with this latest development further complicating their decision. If they now opt to grant the Vics planning permission, it would likely mean demolishing all the recent refurbishments to make way for the construction of the new facility.

Lots of bags of green waste were cleared awayLots of bags of green waste were cleared away (Image: Amanda Clark) The MUGA was looking much tidier afterwardsThe MUGA was looking much tidier afterwards (Image: Amanda Clark)

Another meeting is scheduled at the Kirklandneuk Community Centre for 7pm on August 6.