LEISURE facilities in two of Moray’s communities have been handed over to local people. Community Asset transfers (CATs) for Portknockie Bowling Green and Tennis Courts and Marine Park in Lossiemouth were approved by councillors last Tuesday. The Portknockie group submitted their CAT request in June with the aim of developing and upgrading the Seafield Terrace facilities to increase participation in bowling, tennis and other indoor and outdoor sports. In their request, the club outlined “many opportunities for the community to benefit”, including “improving social wellbeing whilst providing a healthier lifestyle” for the high proportion of retired local residents. The application received backing from many residents, local organisations and charities including Portknockie Community Association, Portknockie Church of Scotland and youth club organisers. A letter from the session of Portknockie Church of Scotland stated: “As a village we have a limited range of facilities and see this proposed move as enhancing the future viability of one of our key assets.” While the youth club organisers stated: “We believe that the venture would provide established facilities for those who are at present growing up in our village with access for all ages – opportunities for young and old and those with disabilities to participate in sport and social activities.” Councillor Donald Gatt (Keith and Cullen) told Tuesday’s meeting of the policy and resources committee: “I fully support this CAT transfer and hope the committee will do likewise.” Also receiving unanimous backing was Action Marine Park (AMP), which has been working to transform the Lossiemouth leisure area into a hub of recreational life since 2015. That has included a major refurbishment of the park’s tennis courts. After taking ownership, AMP plans to develop a pavilion with toilets, putting green, sensory garden, and children’s play area. Within the application were a number of letters of support, including one from the Lossiemouth Business Association. Tennis Scotland also gave its backing, as did a number of local residents in written letters of support. Heldon and Laich Councillor John Cowe said he was delighted to see the application at the decision-making stage.
Cllr Cowe said: “I played in that park as a boy, just when TVs were being invented, but it was a very, very popular area in Lossiemouth to play. There was a putting green, there was a bowling green, there was tennis courts, a pavilion and toilets. It fell into disrepair in the late 1990s and what AMP are trying to do now is to re-instate that facility and bring it back into life again and today I have to say they have been really very successful with that.” Speaking after the meeting, committee chairman, Cllr Aaron McLean, said the level of interest in community asset transfers was heartening. He said: “It’s great to see communities becoming more empowered and gearing up for the challenge of breathing new life into their much-valued local green spaces and properties. “Not only does this take away pressure from the council in the tough financial climate we’re in, these proposals support our aim of creating more resilient and sustainable communities. “Importantly, it also opens up potential new funding streams to refurbish existing assets or inspire new projects.”