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Leisure chiefs taken to task over playing fields’ future


By Will Clark

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Rosebank playing fields in Wick which will close if a private operator is not found to take them over.
Rosebank playing fields in Wick which will close if a private operator is not found to take them over.

ANGRY Wick residents are calling for an explanation into how a popular leisure haunt is set to close if a private operator cannot be found to take it over.

The Rosebank playing fields, together with the boating pond in Thurso’s Millbank area, will close if attempts to find outside interest are unsuccessful.

Now members of the Wick Community Council are calling for a meeting with High Life Highland to explain how it has come to this situation.

As reported last week, the two amenities have been put up for a three year tender with the beginning of the May given as the start date.

The move to put the running of the two areas out to tender resulted from the need to find £750,000 of budget savings over the next two years.

But the announcement has been met with criticism for community councillors who are furious that the future of the facility has been put in jeopardy.

Vice-chairwoman Geraldine Durrand said that when High Life Highland were given responsibility for the facility, it should have been on the condition that Rosebank’s future was safeguarded.

"There should have been an agreement when High Life Highland was started up," she said.

"Rosebank is only open for a few months of the year and it would be very sad if it closed down."

Secretary Joanna Coghill said she would invite members from High Life Highland to come and discuss the future of the playing fields.

"We are extremely disappointed and we are asking for them to come and speak to us to find out what can be done.

"We’d like to know what is being done to fund it in the past and how much it is used – it is one of the few things left in the town for kids to enjoy."

The Rosebank tender includes two tennis courts, a bowling green, putting area, crazy golf and a pavilion consisting of a shop, kitchen and toilets.

HLH chief executive said that if nobody is interested in the tenders for playing fields and the boating pond, the facilities will not be manned.

Similar amenities have already been taken over by private

operators in Inverness while Pefferside Park boating pond in Dingwall has also been out to tender.


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