Fed-up residents who say that the development of the village recreation ground had led to flooding of their properties have been handed an unexpected boost.
Dundonald Community Sports, Recreation and Heritage Association had denied its work had caused flooding and gave assurances that the problem would end when the drainage was connected.
But just a couple of weeks on, it has been announced that South Ayrshire Council would be taking over responsibility for the village site.
In a statement from the council’s depute chief executive Mike Newall read out at Dundonald Community Council last Thursday night, it was stated that the land was being returned to the council ‘by mutual agreement’.
Margaret Sloan, secretary of the community council, said: “He confirmed by mutual agreement the council will take back the responsibility for the maintenance and management of the green open space around the castle, including drainage.”
Mr Newall wrote that the council would write to the association, who are the leaseholders, to terminate the lease at the ‘earliest available opportunity’.
He stated that he had visited the site last month, where he was told that the drainage had not been connected.
However, he said that residents had questioned this assertion and provided photographs that indicated the drainage was in fact complete.
Resident, Bill Fleming said: “I would like to congratulate Mike Newall for taking up the baton on this.
“It is over two years since this whole situation got started. I would also congratulate Julie Dettbarn for getting involved from day one. I think the fact that she was up to her knees in her wellies proved she was up for the fight.”
Community councillor Scott Allan said that there were still a lot of questions to be answered about the future of the recreation ground.
Dundonald Community Sports, Recreation and Heritage Association member, former Conservative councillor Arthur Spurling, told the meeting that the problem the association had was not related to the field itself.
He said that changes to legislation meant that the group were, for the first time, liable to pay rates.
Mr Spurling added: “We cannot afford to utilise the field any further, because there are £3500 in rates put on the field, in addition to the £4500 we were to pay for maintenance. That is one of the main reasons we asked for the council to take it back.”
The amendment to the local government (Scotland) act (1963) states that recreation grounds, like Dundonald, which had historically been left out of the valuation roll for rates purposes are now be included.
However, the Scottish Government states that charitable organisations can apply for an 80 per cent discount, while the council can make an additional discretionary 20 per cent discount.
This backed by the mygov.scot website, which confirms the rateable value of the Dundonald site is £3700, with the liability of £1842 before any relief is added.
It states that amount liable following a 100 per cent discount would be zero.
A council spokesperson said: “Once the ground is in council ownership we intend to resolve any outstanding drainage issues. We will also address the rates situation when the ground has become our responsibility.”
Read next:
- Hugh Grant stuns diners at Ayrshire restaurant after arriving in town
- New parking restrictions at Ayrshire retail park with £100 fine warning issued
- Ayrshire takeaways in 'sad copycat' war of words over logo and brand colours
- Retired Ayrshire teacher sheds six stone after 'challenging herself'
- 'Horrendous' Ayr High Street flats plan approved as local makes 'torture' comparison
Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter
