I covered a couple of stories this week the in South Kessock area in Inverness which is quite a deprived area of the city.

The first was a community event which the residents association organised for kids living in the area (the second article in this post) and the other involved residents protesting about a lack of facilities where the local youngsters could play.

This was why I got into this job in the first place – giving those without one a voice and being able to highlight the issues they were facing.

Hopefully they will get new play equipment but the fact still remains that they have been left without a suitable play park for the while of the summer holidays.

And, if you look very carefully, you might be able to spot me in the background chatting to local residents (just look for the sand coloured jacket).

Community vows to fight for more facilities for youngsters who just want to have fun

A COMMUNITY is fighting back after, it says, its youngsters were left with nowhere safe to play for the entirety of the school summer holidays. 

According to residents in Inverness’s South Kessock area, some children were playing in the park in Kessock Avenue at the start of the holidays when council workers arrived without warning to remove play equipment there. 

This week members of the community gathered at the now empty site to call for the treasured park to be reinstated. 

They said they were told by the council that apparatus was removed on health and safety grounds, but are angry they were not consulted on the move beforehand. 

The council insists officials are working with the South Kessock Residents Association on future plans for the area. 

Association chairwoman Merrin Avis said equipment removed included a climbing frame and a slide as well as benches used by adults visiting the park with their children. 

“They already removed the rocking animals last year,” she said. 

Although aware that the park had been visited by local councillors, she said, the association had been hoping for quick repairs to be carried out.

“That was the only safe spot for kids to play,” she added.

Association secretary Sonia Cooper said the park was vital to help with children’s development and social interactions, adding: “There’s nothing for them to do [otherwise].”

Jade Shields, from nearby Carnarc Crescent, said her two-year-old son Toby used to enjoy playing there and they now had to drive to another site between Anderson Street and Grant Street.

Kyrena Speed, from Kessock Avenue, said her 18-month-old daughter Amayah Hilson also enjoyed the play park.

She said: “I think it was horrible to take it away. There are a lot of kids here that deserve a park.”

A Highland Council spokeswoman said councillors had, however, already taken the decision that the area in Kessock Avenue had no future as a play park, with investment being promised for a site in Craigton Avenue instead.

“During 2021/22 members and officers visited play parks to get an understanding of the condition of the play equipment, where investment was needed, and to develop a place-based plan based on members’ priorities for the ward,” she said.

“As part of this consultation it was identified that it was no longer possible to repair the equipment at the play park at Kessock Avenue and that instead be made in the play park at Craigton Avenue and the play equipment at Kessock Avenue be removed.

“This approach was discussed at the ward business meeting in January 2022 and a sum of £55,000 subsequently agreed at the city of Inverness area committee to upgrade the equipment at Craigton Avenue.

“The site [in Kessock Avenue] will no longer be a designated play area but will be available as a community greenspace with opportunities for biodiversity and wildlife and, if required, as an area for community food growing.

“The safety of our play equipment and the safety of our users drives our decisions. It was not affordable to upgrade both sites so members agreed to prioritise the nearby play area at Craigton Avenue for the £55,000 of place-based investment and consultation with the community is planned/under way on what that upgrade will look like.

“Officers have been working with the South Kessock Residents Association to organise a community engagement day at the community garden in South Kessock. The event is to be used to gather views on community food growing as well as the new play park.”

The spokeswoman said a letter detailing the plans had been sent to office bearers at Merkinch Community Council in March but its chairwoman Dell McClurg told the HN she had received no communication on the matter.

• Highland councillors were discussing a strategy to bring the region’s 321 play parks up to scratch as the HN went to print yesterday – including 93 in Inverness (eight of which are set to close). Highland Council estimates the repairs bill for 2022/23 at £3.5 million.

As the article appeared on the Inverness Courier website yesterday: Play time is over! Parents claim that children in South Kessock have had no safe place to play throughout the summer holidays after Highland Council took away their play equipment on Health and safety grounds

From the Highland News on Thursday, August 18, 2022.

Fun for the community

THERE was a good turnout for a community event in Inverness over the weekend.

South Kessock Residents Association organised the fundraising day to support community activities on Saturday between 1pm and 4pm.

There were plenty of activities on offer for those who attended the event which was held between Carnarc Crescent and Craigton Avenue.

It featured live music, a car boot sale, food, face painting, a tombola and a bouncy castle among other activities.

Sonia Cooper, a member of South Kessock Residents Association and one of the organisers, said it had been a good day.

She added: “There were about 250 people there – a lot more than we expected.

“We had a bouncy castle, a burger stall, face painting and tombola, raffles – it was a really good day.

“The weather was the highlight and the looks on the kids’ faces getting out and being able to run on the grass.”

The residents association covers the South Kessock area of Inverness including Kessock Road, Carnarc Crescent, Craigton Avenue, Bridgeveiw Drive, Kessock Avenue, Rosehaugh Road, Old School Place, Thornbush Road, Harbour Court, Quayside Court, Tannery Court and Coronation Road.

On the group’s Facebook page chairwoman Merrin Avis said they tried to keep residents updated regarding upcoming events and fundraisers and, as a group, they mainly kept the community at heart.

• To get involved see SKRA on Facebook or email southkessock.ra@gmail.com

How the article appeared on the Inverness Courier website: PICTURES: Fun for the community as South Kessock Residents Association gets a better than expected turnout for fundraising day

From the Inverness Courier on Tuesday, August 16, 2022 and the Highland News on Thursday, August 18, 2022.