All Weather Pitch News - Plans and how you can support!

[Bitter End]

from ' for argyle.com '

Great news on Campbeltown all-weather football pitch
newsroom published this on 10:50 am, Wednesday, 24th November, 2010
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As a result of the work already done by PMR Leisure, the leisure consultancy firm employed by Argyll and Bute Council to produce a Sports Strategy for the region, there are strongly positive moves to secure a competition standard 3G all-weather sports pitch for Campbeltown in Kintyre. Such a pitch is built to UEFA, FIFA and FA specifications.

The Council has succeeded in a Stage 1 application to sportscotland and are now preparing a Stage 2 application, the final main stage, as they were given high priority status at stage 1.

At 7.00pm on Wednesday 1st December 2010, in the Town Hall in Campbeltown, PMR Leisure are hosting a public information evening and consultation to update the community of Campbeltown on the proposed synthetic pitch project planned for Kinloch Green.

The meeting will be shown the plans to be submitted for planning by the second week of Decembers and the aim is to gain energetic support from the community for this long awaited project.

Any concerns that any community members have regarding the new facility on the park should be raised at the meeting where it is hoped that answers ca be provided.

Community endorsement of the plans will be a strong support for the way the final application is received.

Residents of Campbeltown and Kintyre are asked to provide their support in two ways:

* Send letters of support directly to PMR Leisure to be attached to the application to sportscotland for funding
* Once the plans have been submitted to planning, submit an online supporting statement for the project

Details on how to do these two things will be given at the meeting on 1st December.

Anyone who cannot make that meeting but who wishes to help by supporting this important project in this way, may email PMR Leisure directly: penny@pmrleisure.co.uk

The draft Sports Strategy has been submitted to Argyll & Bute Council and the Campbeltown 3G has come forward as a clear pitch facility priority.

Penny Lochhead of PMR Leisure – whose approach to the work they are doing has met with universal respect across Argyll, says: ‘PMR Leisure are delighted to be back in Campbeltown working with the sporting community to take forward the long awaited synthetic pitch project towards its major funding application.

‘We know that the town very much needs this facility and we do hope that all the efforts of the community will be rewarded within the next year as we hope to see this project come to fruition’.

Campbeltown has not one but two amateur football teams – each training twice a week. It has the unique negative distinction among Argyll’s major towns in being the only one not to have an all weather pitch to support the development of the game and of its players.

The analysis by PMR Leisure and the Council’s action early in the development of the Sports Strategy for Argyll and Bute could not be more timely and will give hope to those, like David Paterson of The Kintyre Forum, who have long campaigned for this pitch

[smiles]

Is there a real possibility this could happen? Or are we all going to get excited with proposals and get another kick in the teeth from Argyll & Bute Council again?

[SPANNERMAN2]

i am very positive that there will be a successful outcome for campbeltown in 2011 /we will get an all weather pitch /i personally shook hands with penny lochhead of pmr leisure /argyll &bute council would not be spending money via her company for meeting after meeting if we were not going to get the correct result !!!!

[Davie P]

I think it is only right to highlight that it is South Kintyre Sports Council who have been the real driving force of this campaign over the last 5 or 6 years. They have continually raised the issue with the Council and hopefully we are on the brink of a breakthrough. People like me have simply used the likes of the Kintyre Forum to highlight the issue.

So it is absolutely imperative that members of the community come along on Wednesday night at 7pm in the Town Hall and show your support once again. At the meeting PMR Leisure will explain what we, as a community, can do to ensure the provision of an All Weather Pitch happens in Campbeltown. We can all do our bit and every little helps.

As mentioned above "Anyone who cannot make that meeting but who wishes to help by supporting this important project in this way, may email PMR Leisure directly: penny@pmrleisure.co.uk"

Like Spannerman2 I'm very optimistic about this happening in 2011. We have a real chance of delivering a facility that will make a huge difference to a high proportion of the population of Kintyre. So lets once again show our support by coming along next Wednesday. See you there!!

[D.H]

Won't be there but I've emailed Penny - let's hope that all the great work that you guys have put in pays off )

[abbey craig]

I like your positive approach spannerman.But i for one wont get to confident till i see the lights on and the kids playing and using it,no matter who shook hands.2011 is going to be the worst year financially for local councils for the last 45 years,with voulantry redundancies on the cards,and cut backs throughout every department from roads to schools etc etc. I know A&B have put money aside for this project,i just hope its not been plundered to shore up other departments.


i`I`ll be there on Wednesday night supporting this all the way.

[Kintyre Forum News]

Wednesday night's meeting has been cancelled.

Dear All,

Unfortunately we are having to cancel the public meeting on Wednesday night in the Town Hall regarding the all weather pitch. As you can see we are traveling from the east cost and the weather conditions are very poor and unpredictable for the next few days although it looks as though Argyll & Bute are missing the worst of the weather.

We are hoping that the plans can be displayed in Auqualibrium and there will also be an article in the Courier, we hope that you can support the all weather pitch and this can be done by to providing direct letters of support to PMR Leisure to be included in the funding bid to sportscotland please address the letters to:

To whom it may concern, sportscotland, Doges, 62 Templeton on the Green, Glasgow G40 1DA and post or email to PMR Leisure, 4 Douglas Court, 15 Market Place, North Berwick EH39 4JF or email to info@pmrleisure.co.uk, fax 01620 890740

Once the plans have been submitted to planning we would ask you to submit an online supporting statement for the project. You can do this by logging onto http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/PublicAccess/default.aspx source the planning application for the 3 G pitch and click the Submit Comments button. This will open an online form into which the required information should be entered. Send your comments to the Local Authority by selecting the Submit Comments button at the end of the form.

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us

Sorry for any inconvenience caused and we hope to be back in Campbeltown soon.

Kind Regards

Wendy


Wendy Sheldrick
Research Manager
PMR Leisure Ltd.
Douglas Court
15 Market Place
North Berwick
EH39 4JF

Phone +44 (0) 1620 895900

[Kintyre Forum News]

Once again, please note tomorrow evening's meeting has been cancelled due to the travelling conditions elsewhere in Scotland.

Here are the plans for the All Weather Pitch on Kinloch Green. Please show your support to this project by submitting letters of support to PMR and ABC Planning. (more detail below)

A full detailed image of the plans can be seen by clicking here





Argyll & Bute Council - 3 G Synthetic Pitch, Kinloch Green, Campbeltown

PMR Leisure consultation role

As part of Argyll & Bute’s Council commitment to working with the community they have employed PMR Leisure, Community Sport and Leisure Consultants to continue to work with them and the community to undertake a public meeting to ensure that the 3 G synthetic pitch facility proposals have the best interest of the community at heart, and that these where possible are shaped and supported by community needs and community partnerships.

If there is a specific element you wish to discuss outwith the public meeting please contact Penny Lochhead on 01620 895900.

As part of this process we would like to ask you to provide direct letters of support to PMR Leisure to be included in the funding bid to sportscotland please address the letters to:

To whom it may concern, sportscotland, Doges, 62 Templeton on the Green, Glasgow G40 1DA and post or email to PMR Leisure, 4 Douglas Court, 15 Market Place, North Berwick EH39 4JF or email to info@pmrleisure.co.uk, fax 01620 890740

Once the plans have been submitted to planning we would ask you to submit an online supporting statement for the project. You can do this by logging onto http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/PublicAccess/default.aspx source the planning application for the 3 G pitch and
click the Submit Comments button. This will open an online form into which the required information should be entered. Send your comments to the Local Authority by selecting the Submit Comments button at the end of the form.

PMR Leisure would like to thank you for your interest and support and we hope with your support that the community of Campbeltown and surrounding areas will see their efforts rewarded within the next year as the project comes to fruition.

[mrn]

Plans look good. Really hope this comes off. Everyone involved in highlighting the need for this deserve this now.

[smiles]

Yes looks great. Fingers crossed this would be a brilliant facility to have in Campbeltown.

[Sport]

We were hoping the Planning Application would be on the Council's website by now to push for both letters of support to sportscotland and Argyll & Bute Council but no sign of it yet.

So, in the meantime, we would really encourage EVERYONE to write a letter of support to PMR Leisure as part of the process. Please, please take 10 minutes of your time to do this and make the Campbeltown All Weather Pitch happen in 2011!

Argyll & Bute Council - 3 G Synthetic Pitch, Kinloch Green, Campbeltown

PMR Leisure consultation role

As part of Argyll & Bute’s Council commitment to working with the community they have employed PMR Leisure, Community Sport and Leisure Consultants to continue to work with them and the community to undertake a public meeting to ensure that the 3 G synthetic pitch facility proposals have the best interest of the community at heart, and that these where possible are shaped and supported by community needs and community partnerships.

If there is a specific element you wish to discuss outwith the public meeting please contact Penny Lochhead on 01620 895900.

As part of this process we would like to ask you to provide direct letters of support to PMR Leisure to be included in the funding bid to sportscotland please address the letters to:

To whom it may concern, sportscotland, Doges, 62 Templeton on the Green, Glasgow G40 1DA and post or email to PMR Leisure, 4 Douglas Court, 15 Market Place, North Berwick EH39 4JF or email to info@pmrleisure.co.uk, fax 01620 890807

Once the plans have been submitted to planning we would ask you to submit an online supporting statement for the project. You can do this by logging onto http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/PublicAccess/default.aspx source the planning application for the 3 G pitch and
click the Submit Comments button. This will open an online form into which the required information should be entered. Send your comments to the Local Authority by selecting the Submit Comments button at the end of the form.

PMR Leisure would like to thank you for your interest and support and we hope with your support that the community of Campbeltown and surrounding areas will see their efforts rewarded within the next year as the project comes to fruition.

[Sport]

Here is our official news release - as mentioned above, we will push the support for the planning application once it is on the Council website.

All Weather Pitch for Campbeltown
Your support is needed!

As part of Argyll & Bute’s Council commitment to working with the community the Council have employed PMR Leisure, Community Sport and Leisure Consultants, to continue to work with them and the community to ensure that the 3 G synthetic pitch facility proposals on Kinloch Park have the best interest of the community at heart, and that these, where possible, are shaped and supported by community needs and community partnerships.

As a result of work already carried out by PMR Leisure, Argyll & Bute Council has succeeded in a Stage 1 Application for the provision of competition standard 3G all-weather pitch built to UEFA, FIFA and FA specifications. The proposals also include floodlights and completely refurbished changing facilities and additional maintenance garage. The Council are now preparing a Stage 2 application which is the final and main stage after been given high priority status as stage 1.

The proposed pitch will see one full sized and 2 seven a-side pitches as below.



How can you help? Please see below

Send supporting letters and e-mails

As part of the stage two application to sportscotland we need to secure as many letters of support as possible. We would urge you to support these proposals and give the community of South Kintyre the facilities that are enjoyed by our neighbours throughout Argyll & Bute Council. Please provide letters of support direct to PMR Leisure which will be included in the funding bid to sportscotland. Please address the letters to:

To whom it may concern,
sportscotland,
Doges,
62 Templeton on the Green,
Glasgow
G40 1DA

and post or email to PMR Leisure, 4 Douglas Court, 15 Market Place, North Berwick EH39 4JF or email to info@pmrleisure.co.uk, fax 01620 890807

In your letters of support you may wish to consider expanding on some of the following points:

• After a 10 year community campaign we are delighted to see our efforts will be rewarded with a new 3G pitch for the community of South Kintyre
• Development of a 3G pitch will help the huge demand for young people to play sport in Kintyre
• The 3G pitch will be the first of its kind for sport in South Kintyre
• The pitch will help contribute to the development of young people and the Physical Activity improvements in our community.
• The pitch will provide a long awaited sports site for the young people in Campbeltown accessible by walking, cycling and public transport within our community.
• The pitch will help increase the capacity of our existing clubs, help all age groups and encourage sports clubs to reform and represent Campbeltown and Kintyre once again.
• Provides a home for the development of our community clubs bringing a pathway for football to the community

Submit online letters of support for the planning application

The plans have now been submitted to Argyll & Bute Council’s Planning Department and we need you to submit a supporting statement for the All Weather Pitch project. However, we are waiting on these to appear on the Planning Department website. Once validated and available to the public a notice will appear in the Campbeltown Courier and http://www.kintyreforum.com and will be promoted by the Sports Council. We need you to submit an online supporting statement for the project. You will be able to do this by logging onto http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/PublicAcc ... spx,source the planning application for the 3 G pitch and click the Submit Comments button. This will open an online form into which the required information should be entered. Send your comments to the Local Authority by selecting the Submit Comments button at the end of the form. Alternatively, and probably easier you can e-mail your comments direct to planning.maki@argyll-bute.gov.uk

For further information and discussion

If there is a specific element you wish to discuss please contact Penny Lochhead of PMR Leisure on 01620 895900.

South Kintyre Sports Council urges you to take the time to support these proposals and make sure this happens. Make it happen! Make it happen in 2011!

[Sport]

As well as writing letters of support as above we need to collate information on usage for PMR to submit to sportscotland and PMR are targeting the official organisations like Campbeltown Pupils AFC, CDJFA and the Soccer Centre etc they have asked the Sports Council to help collate some figures on usage for other groups and casual users.

So how often would you use the All Weather Pitch if we had one? A group of mates, work colleagues, organised pub leagues, 7 a-side leagues, disorganised leagues , parents with kids, womens football, veterans league, rugby, shinty we need to know how much you would use it or any ideas you have on things you think would work?

If you can post here or e-mail contact@southkintyresportscouncil.com and tell us your thoughts.

Remember, at the end of the day this will be a community pitch and the casual users will be biggest user of the facilities. We hope formal leagues etc can be set-up in time but first of all we need to get the pitch and usage will also be key. Once again please help in anyway you can.

[Sport]

A rather nice letter of support was copied to us yesterday from Jim Mather, Argyll & Bute's MSP

PMR Leisure,
4 Douglas Court,
15 Market Place,
North Berwick
EH39 4JF

Email to info@pmrleisure.co.uk,

Thursday, 09 December 2010

To whom it may concern

I am writing in my capacity as MSP for Argyll & Bute and in support of an all weather football pitch in Campbeltown.

I believe that this is a much needed amenity that would have material social and health benefits.

In addition, I am aware that it would indirectly assist the community, families and young people in many ways – offering everything from increased fitness to further development of local social cohesion.

Yours sincerely

Jim Mather MSP
Minister for Enterprise, Energy & Tourism
MSP Argyll & Bute
31, Combie Street, Oban
Argyll PA34 5HS

jim.mather.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
Tel. 01631-571-359

Apparently the highest number of letters of support submitted to sportscotland via PMR is 40 - surely Campbeltown wiill beat that? We were hoping to encourage enough people for there to be 100s!

Even if you already signed the petition we need you to write a letter of support. The petition will of course be used as part of the stage 2 application and we thank the 3,000 people who signed it.

Excellent article in the Courier yesterday as well.

As well as writing letters of support as above we need to collate information on usage for PMR to submit to sportscotland and PMR are targeting the official organisations like Campbeltown Pupils AFC, CDJFA and the Soccer Centre etc they have asked the Sports Council to help collate some figures on usage for other groups and casual users.

So how often would you use the All Weather Pitch if we had one? A group of mates, work colleagues, organised pub leagues, 7 a-side leagues, disorganised leagues , parents with kids, womens football, veterans league, rugby, shinty we need to know how much you would use it or any ideas you have on things you think would work?

If you can post here or e-mail sksc@southkintyresportscouncil.com and tell us your thoughts.

Remember, at the end of the day this will be a community pitch and the casual users will be biggest user of the facilities. We hope formal leagues etc can be set-up in time but first of all we need to get the pitch and usage will also be key. Once again please help in anyway you can.

With regards usage there has been support for the introduction of Rugby and Shinty in Kintyre. Lets hope we can provide a platform for this to happen again.

E-mails and facebook suggestions of starting up a winter league similar to the 7 teams who play in the summer with interest from the teams in Ardrishaig, Lochgilphead and Tarbert wanting to participate. An over 35s veteran league has been touted along with the introduction of ladies football. Casual users from a number of workplaces have also indicated they would hire the pitch for a kick about with their friends as well as the ones who currently use the Victoria Hall. Young people have also said they would like to train and play on the pitch with the introduction of local 7 a-side leagues - a number have commented they would love such a facility simply to get them off the streets as currently, and especially duiring the winter, they have nowhere to go. Of course a lot of these suggestions will take a lot of effort from people to set-up but lets get the pitch and give people the opportunity. When we hear people 50 miles away saying they would come and use the pitch it highights the need not just in this area but further afield.

Please keep the ideas coming and support for usage too - these are fundamental to the application too and help highlight the need. Even if it is just a case of saying "me and my 6 mates would look to hire part of the pitch once a week for an hour", it all helps.

Finally, with regards letters of support. Some hand written, heart felt, letters from children would certainly go down well!

[bud]

me and my mates were speaking about this last night and we would definately use the pitch for a kick about

probably twice a week for a hour or so

id also like to see shinty again even if it is just a wee hit about it is something different to do