Wise heads need to prevail in Ardrishaig amid the good news the village’s KGV Community Park Association has been selected by the Scottish Co-op Community Fund as a recipient for 2023-24.
The association’s aim for this funding is to develop six acres of land “from its condemned status, back into community use”.
The issue is there are separate, existing plans for a nearby Ardrishaig Community Garden.
KGV Community Park Association objects to the plans for the community garden in their current form.
While the slightly more adversarial might see a potential conflict of interest here, a community as small as Ardrishaig needs the types of leaders that will find a compromise. Both plans could benefit Ardrishaig hugely.
The KGV Community Park Association has also received £2,500 from Argyll and Bute Council. It says this will be used “to run workshops for the community on flora and fauna identification, a bio-blitz, volunteering for scrub clearance, gardening tools, bulbs and trees for planting, sports equipment and school holiday activities”.
More good news.
The issue has been discussed by Ardrishaig Community Council, which is of the opinion a “common project” can be worked out.
They are correct.
Ardrishaig Community Council convener Christine MacIntyre believes there is room for both projects.
She is correct.
She said: “From a community council point of view, any development of that vacant park is good. We are happy to support both developments. Both are viable.”
Enough said.