NEW CHANGING ROOMS - PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED

 

At the City Chambers in Dundee on 16 March 2009, Dundee East Community Sports Centre (DECSC) moved a step closer to its planned expansion when planning permission was given to site two portable buildings in Whitton Park. These will provide additional changing facilities for the Community Club.

 

 

An earlier application by the community club for Proceeds of Crime funding to enhance the existing limited changing facilities at Broughty Athletic’s ground had been successful, but access to these funds became subject to planning permission when two letters of objection from neighbouring residents meant the application had to be heard by Dundee City Council’s Development Quality Committee.

 

The two neighbours’ opposition to the plans was based on the following:

Parking

Drainage

Noise disturbance on match day

The condition of the boundary fence

Anti-social behaviour

Litter

 

DECSC Chairman Gordon Deuchars addressed the Development Quality Committee on behalf of the Club, putting forward the case that the community sports club offered the integration of four clubs, totalling around eighteen teams and over four hundred members.

 

The new club’s foundation is predominantly football-based, but over the forthcoming years the DECSC would be looking to extend the range of facilities to other sports.

 

Mr Deuchars spoke of the pathway to play sports, from children through to adults and how this can develop and encourage social skills within the community.

 

A feasibility study was carried out by PMR for Dundee City Council in 2008 to evaluate the standard of sports facilities within Dundee. This study identified the potential of the DECSC and put a recommendation that the club should receive support in its work to introduce a community club.

 

The DECSC Chairman admitted that he was very disappointed that two letters of complaint had been received and acknowledged that the club would work with the local residents and hopefully get them on board to make the DECSC plans a reality.

 

“We need to give them and every one else in the neighbourhood an assurance that this will benefit the whole community. Thousands of boys, girls and adults can benefit from this project, as they have done with similar clubs throughout Scotland.

 

“The DECSC is driven by a committee of volunteers who give up many hours of their spare time to help make a difference and we rely on the support from Dundee City Council (DCC), local councillors, neighbours and the community to make this happen”.

 

Mr Deuchars addressed the committee about the issues raised by the neighbours / residents:

 

“Once the application had been issued to the neighbours I spent time visiting all listed on the neighbourhood notification schedule. I was delighted by the response and the positive nature that the plans were given.”

 

He informed that neither of the neighbours who opposed the application was on the list, so there hadn’t been any feedback from either regards the application.

 

As the community club moves forward, Stewart Hosie MP has indicated that he is only too happy to chair a meeting with club representatives and the community to move things forward.

 

Parking

One of the issues raised related to cars parked along the Arbroath Road and parked in the residents’ street. In recent years Broughty Athletic FC has run a soccer festival for kids and this draws hundreds of kids and parents to Whitton Park over the weekend in question.

 

The club had contacted police who advised that there were no issues with the parked cars, as long as the footpath was clear. Broughty Athletic committee members were on hand to ensure this happened and directed cars towards Douglas Sports Centre or Sainsburys.

 

Mr Deuchars stressed that cars can legally park in Baldovie Road, as long as they are not blocking access for emergency services.

 

Drainage

It was acknowledged that there is, at times, an issue with drainage around the area. When there has been a large turnout at Whitton Park it is evident that the drains can’t cope with the volume of sewerage.

 

After each soccer festival weekend the area effected was cleaned up and a company brought in to check. DCC had sent out a specialist to investigate and the outcome was that the problem was further down the line. It was an issue for Scottish Water, which has still to be resolved.

 

The Broughty Athletic club have spoken to their insurers who had agreed to fix at their cost, in the event that is was a collapsed drain. Calls were made to DCC and Scottish Water to obtain drawings and neither was able to supply!

 

The club continues to monitor the situation.

 

Noise Pollution on Match Days

The club play 22 league games, 11 at home and 11 away, along with around 4 / 5 cup-ties per season; average gates will see around 30-50 people attend. It was emphasised that no complaints had been received from residents who are twenty yards away from the ground and it was perplexing to learn that a problem was caused to neighbours who are located some 50-60 yards away.

 

Boundary Fence

The upgrade of the fence is next on the agenda for the community club.  Gordon Deucarrs stated that he was in complete agreement with the two residents; the fence has been in the state of dis-repair for over twenty years.

 

The club plan to apply for funding to upgrade hopefully some time in the very near future.

 

Anti-social Behaviour

Another complaint was that footballs were regularly hit into one of the gardens, Mr Deuchars admitted that he frankly found this hard to believe as there are six cottages and some spare ground between Whitton Park and the house of the neighbours in question but suggested that the problem may possibly be being caused by footballs from the closer Douglas Lads Club.

 

In the event of a ball entering the garden of any neighbours the club must act responsibly and obtain consent from the householder – and Mr Deuchars promised that this will be conveyed to all players, and committee members at the club.

 

Litter

Bins have been put in place and are regularly emptied by committee.

 

The committee have bins placed around the perimeter of the park during match days but Mr Deuchars pledged to look into having a clean up day at the park to pick up any debris.

 

THE OUTCOME

After a lengthy question and answer session with the committee planning was unanimously awarded to DECSC.

 

After the meeting, Mr Deuchars offered the neighbours the opportunity to sit down and discuss their issues with the view of resolving any problems.  Both parties were very keen on the idea. One of the neighbours asked if there were any residents on the committee and, very encouragingly, said he would welcome the opportunity to become more involved.

 

THE WAY FORWARD

The whole planning exercise had helped forcus on the next steps to be taken by the DECSC, not least extending the involvement of the local community. It was intended to:

(a) Arrange meeting with neighbours

(b) Invite the local MP, MSP, councillors and reporters to a Broughty Athletic match.

(c) Liaise closely with the police and identify and work closely with the local beat officers.