A group of residents say they are “absolutely disgusted” after a football team was granted planning permission to replace an existing games area with a fenced off new facility.
Renfrew Victoria Youth Football Club - known as the Vics - submitted a planning application in June to build a new facility on the site of an existing multi-use games area (MUGA) in Kirklandneuk.
The proposed new pitch - partially funded by sports charity The Cruyff Foundation - would replace the existing unfenced MUGA with an upgraded but walled off facility.
A number of residents reacted angrily to these plans, fearing that local kids would not be able to access the new pitch which they feel should be freely available to the whole Kirklandneuk community.
The proposal received 66 comments of support and 102 objections, whilst a petition opposing the plans collected 379 signatures.
Jacqueline Graham, a long-time resident of Kirklandneuk, says local people feel “ignored” by the decision.
She said: “We don’t understand.
“We had a petition with almost 400 signatures, over 100 objections online. We don’t understand how they were given permission with so many people opposing it.
“The residents of Kirklandneuk have been ignored by Renfrewshire Council, and ignored by the Vics. They don’t care about the scheme.
“We’re absolutely disgusted with the Vics and disgusted with them getting this planning approval.”
The current MUGA was built using the Renfrew Common Good Fund following the extended efforts 25 years ago of two local men - Bill Cowley and John Stevenson, both now passed.
Jacqueline said: “Bill and John - residents of Kirklandneuk that are no longer with us - they’re the ones that fought to get this MUGA for us.
“We feel like we’re letting them down. They fought for Kirklandneuk to get this and it’s down to us to keep it.
“The fight isn’t over. We’re still pushing back against it. We’re not accepting it. We’re just going to keep fighting as much as we can.”
The angered residents are taking inspiration in their continued fight from a recent ruling in which the Jimmy Johnstone Football Academy were deemed to have unlawfully fenced off a pitch in Glasgow’s Cathkin Park which they were then forced to take down.
Jamie McGuire, Labour councillor for Renfrew North and Braehead, says the Kirklandneuk residents are “quite right to be annoyed with Renfrewshire council.”
He said: “The people of Kirklandneuk have not been listened to by the council.
“They have been completely sidelined and ignored the whole time. It’s shocking.
“That MUGA means a lot to the people of Kirklandneuk. They’re very passionate about it. It’s been there their whole lives. They feel like they just keep on losing out.
“The council should have met with the community and listened to their concerns. When they make decisions like this, it fractures trust in the community. It needs to change.”
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The Vics give a very different version of events, saying that the new facility will be an asset to the Kirklandneuk community, and a significant improvement on the “rundown” games area currently there.
Stuart Wild, club chairman of the Vics, said: “We are delighted, because all we ever wanted was a way to give something back to the community.
“We’ve been down there for 15 years and the MUGA has not changed in that time. Nobody uses it because it is rundown and dilapidated.
“It is a shame that it was never maintained, but everything has a shelf life and at the moment it has seen better days.
“Given we have now had official confirmation of the planning permission, we will look to proceed into the build phase of the project.”
A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “All planning applications are considered in line with the approved Renfrewshire development plan and planning legislation, which includes looking at amenities and resources within the area, and taking into account any comments made during the consultation period.
“The decision on the planning application was taken by planning officers in accordance with the Council’s agreed scheme of delegation.
“Elected members can request that delegated applications are considered by the Council’s Planning and Climate Change Policy Board but no request was received for this application.
“In view of the comments received, planning permission was granted subject to conditions that the applicant will undertake a survey to determine the impact of floodlighting from the development, and that the floodlights when installed should not be used after 9.30pm.
“The applicant also provided supporting information confirming access to the facility will be maintained for community use.”
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