Families in the north west of Edinburgh have been left frustrated after two sets of football goals were removed from a field in Clermiston.
Two fathers and their sons have been joined by local councillor Mark Brown in condemning the decision to remove the posts - with all of them being dumbfounded by the decision.
READ MORE - The Radfords to build new home after spending thousands doing up 10-bed mansion
Dougie Telfer and son Daniel,14, used the goals regularly to play football and the father and son duo said that they hoped to see the goals return in the near future.
Anti-social behaviour was cited by a member of the online support team for the council as the reason behind the removal of the posts with a tweet stating: “Afternoon Dougie, I have just heard back about this - Edinburgh Leisure asked us to remove the posts months ago as kids were hanging about the area at night and climbing the posts.”
However, when Edinburgh Leisure were pressed on this they denied any knowledge of ever requesting the removal of the goal posts under antisocial grounds.
Nonetheless, the removal had angered Dougie, with the dad explaining what the loss of the goals meant: “I’ve been taking my son there for the last few years for a kick-about, sometimes with his friends. It was really great to have a couple of full size goals on grass so close to home.
“But we went over a couple of weeks ago to find them gone. The reason given was that kids were climbing on them and hanging off them.
“Surely we want to encourage youngsters to play football and to do something constructive rather than more negative alternatives. Coincidentally, I read last week that Hutchi Vale boys club was originally started by a local businessman who noticed a group of youngsters up to no good. He formed them into a football team and one of them was future Hibs, Liverpool and Scotland goalie Tommy Younger.”
The cabbie added that it seemed unfair that the majority of well behaved users of the goals were being punished for the actions of a minority.
He was joined in his condemnation by Mark Diffley, from Corstorphine, he uses the goals with his 14 year old son and his sons friends, he said: “I have a teenage son and am quite close to Drumbrae and we used the park as well as the goals a fair bit, so it is not great for it to be taken away and it is something I would be very keen to see restored.
“I always felt as though it was fairly well used by the local community so it was a good thing to have. It's good for the local kids with benefits to their physical as well as mental health. I think it is important for kids to have free use of the goals. During covid and lockdowns they were a welcome escape where young people were able to access outdoor facilities.
“I do not understand the reasoning behind it and there does not appear to be a rationale. When I was younger we would spend hours out playing and all you needed was a goal. It was really important for socialising and the decision is just really disappointing. I’m very supportive of bringing it back.”
Tory councillor, Mark Brown, added his disbelief to the voices expressing their displeasure at the decision, he said: “This is largely using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut in many regards and you know it is very disappointing that these measures have been taken as they do not solve the problem but instead create further problems at a time when sport and leisure is a loss.
“We need to encourage people to look after their physical and mental well being. We should not be removing things that help people to undertake this.
“It is also very ironic that within the similar time frame from when these posts have been removed, we have seen the reopening at Drumbrae Leisure centre, with the open all hours project back up and running from Friday this week which offers free access to gym sport and games for young people.
“A venue looking to put on free of charge activities but at the same time punishing young people by removing goalposts outdoors is mixed messaging at best and confusion at worst.
“I’m very disappointed and angry that this measure was taken without consultation and would’ve liked for this matter to have been discussed with other relevant stakeholders.
“Clearly the majority of those that use the space are being impacted by the minority and unfair that they are suffering as a result.”
Edinburgh Leisure denied any knowledge of requesting the removal of the posts due to antisocial behaviour - this is despite a council worker detailing that the request had been made by Edinburgh Leisure to the Parks team at Edinburgh City Council several months ago.
In response, an Edinburgh Leisure spokesperson said: “We are not aware of any anti-social behaviour around Drumbrae Leisure Centre, which is popular with dog-walkers, the local community, and members who use our facilities. We don’t have specific knowledge of who requested removal of the said football posts or when this occurred. The grass area hasn’t been lined or let as a formal pitch for some years, in fact at least five years, and the posts certainly didn’t have nets anyway.
“The grass area outside Drumbrae Leisure Centre has been used informally for games such as football, using coats as goalposts, with the local community enjoying using the space during lockdown.
“Whilst we had to pause the following during lockdown and the pandemic, Edinburgh Leisure is about to restart their very popular physical activity youth programme, Open All Hours, across a number of our venues, aimed at getting teenagers active.”
Edinburgh council were contacted for comment.
