Uddingston Shinty Club is holding a second public drop-in session on Wednesday, August 26, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at Uddingston Grammar, as part of its community consultation on proposals to develop Porterswell Playing Fields into a multi-purpose sporting facility.
The club is seeking a community asset transfer of the fields, located behind the town’s grammar school, where it hopes to create new grass and 4G pitches, plus a clubhouse and changing rooms. An online survey is also running, asking residents for their views on which other sports – including football, rugby, hockey, running and outdoor exercise – should be accommodated, whether the artificial pitch should be floodlit, what new facilities such as a clubhouse, greenspaces and pathways they would like to see, and whether they would use or volunteer at the facility.
Club proposals and community response
The club’s charity would take over management and maintenance of the land from South Lanarkshire Council, with representatives saying they would “guarantee pitches remain free and open for education and schools”. A petition opposing the plans has gained nearly 700 signatures, with the petition page describing the fields as “under threat” and calling Porterswell “Uddingston’s last free and fully accessible recreational green space”.
The club aims to create a grass pitch for football and rugby as well as shinty, with longer-term plans for a 4G pitch, clubhouse, changing rooms, toilets, parking and provision of “a safe walking area in the community”, adding: “The final proposal will very much reflect the views shared by the community.” Uddingston say they have had a “positive response” to their engagement process so far, which included a previous session at Bothwell Futures and the survey, and say their plans aim to “help increase sporting opportunities for young people in the area”.
Club president urges participation
Club president Lee Thompson said: “We’d like to thank all those who have taken part in the survey so far and the first drop-in event; the question-and-answer session raised a number of issues and shows the keen interest Uddingston people take in their community.” Urging residents to take part, he added: “Local engagement will progress throughout August with the continuation of the survey as well as the second drop-in event. We’ll be sharing more information on our proposals for the playing fields and on the CAT process itself. Everyone is welcome and we’re happy to hear alternative views and new ideas, as well as discussing any concerns. We’re particularly eager to hear from residents who live close to the site so we’re also organising a leaflet drop to all houses in the immediate vicinity to help raise awareness and encourage participation.”
The online petition expresses concern that an asset transfer to the shinty club will “restrict access to this beautiful area within our community”, impacting wildlife and access to public land, and states: “No amount of upgrading would be better than what we have now.” Lee told the Hamilton Advertiser: “In regards to local concern, as a charity group we are very much open to hearing the views of locals and are looking forward to meeting more of the community at our next consultation on Wednesday, August 26, at Uddingston Grammar between 6.30pm and 8:30pm.”
Club insists on shared community space
Uddingston Shinty Club have shared questions raised at their previous consultation event on their website, insisting that the fields would “continue to be a community space” and saying: “Our aim isn’t to restrict access, it’s to improve the quality of the pitches so they’re available for more people, more often.” They state that their proposal is to improve the pitches and drainage, not only allowing the club to train and play locally but also to increase use, tackle anti-social behaviour and improve the local environment, adding: “We believe good community facilities should be shared and that’s exactly what we’re trying to achieve.”
The questionnaire can be completed online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/Uddingstonshintyclub, with printed copies available from Bothwell Futures, Uddingston Library or by contacting 07551 439622. The club’s second public drop-in session takes place on Wednesday, August 26, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at Uddingston Grammar.
