The fate of Ralston Community Sports Centre could soon be determined amid Kelburne Hockey Club’s appeal against the decision to refuse its takeover bid.
The club applied for a community asset transfer (CAT) of the centre from OneRen but was told by Renfrewshire Council last summer it had been unsuccessful on grounds of “uncertainty of funding” and significant opposition to the plan.
But it has since taken up the right to request a formal review, which must be ruled upon by March 28.
Councillors on the CAT review sub-committee, which meets at 10am on Friday, will consider whether further representations or a hearing are needed. If not, they will make a decision on the appeal.
Billy Anderson, secretary of Kelburne Hockey Club, expressed his hope for a “positive decision” for the club. However, if it is turned down again, the club has a further right of appeal to Scottish ministers.
Mr Anderson said: “We’re hoping the councillors concerned will take a fresh look at it and at all of the detail that we’ve provided in our appeal, have a different look on it and look to the future, look to provide for hockey and other sports in the east end of town.
“We’re hoping that they’re going to take a good look at it and make a decision, a positive decision for us, from today onwards.
“The actions that are available to us after the decision, that obviously depends very much on how that decision turns out.
“But if it was to be a refusal again then, obviously, the decision for us would be to either accept it or go to the next step, which is taking it to the Scottish ministers.”
Mr Anderson said the club has adopted a “twin-track approach” on the situation – pursuing a CAT while calling on the local authority to invest in hockey pitches in Renfrewshire.
He believes a minimum of two pitches of a required standard are needed to meet demand in Renfrewshire.
Mr Anderson said: “We’ve been working a twin-track approach on this and that involves talking with the council about the provision of hockey pitches in Renfrewshire.
“The reason we have gone down this route is because they haven’t provided enough hockey facilities for us to use at the right standard.
“Our suggestion is if they don’t agree with our proposal at Ralston then they invest and put that facility into Ralston themselves and we will use that facility.”
Parts of the local area remain set against Kelburne’s application for a long-term lease of the sports centre, including Ralston Community Council.
Allan Thompson, the community council’s chair, said: “Ralston Community Council went to great lengths to hear the community’s point of view, canvassing opinion through a series of social media posts, information leaflets and newsletters delivered to homes, public meetings, as well as door-to-door canvassing.
“The massive response from the community was close to being unanimous – to retain Ralston Community Sports Centre within our community.
“We have previously met several times with OneRen and are committed to working with them to get the usage back to pre-covid levels and more.
“Unfortunately, we are unable to discuss options with them during the appeal process. As we have said before, we have no issue with hockey in general or Kelburne Hockey Club specifically.
“Rather, we believe that the centre is a resource valued greatly by the community and one which should be developed and supported so that it can continue to be an important facility at the heart of our local community.”
The panel for the sub-committee comprises councillors Michelle Campbell, who will convene the meeting, Audrey Doig, Chris Gilmour, James MacLaren and John McNaughtan.
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