A PROPOSAL to lease land behind Lockerbie Ice Rink for ten years yesterday failed to get the support of councillors.
The RH Youth Organisation had applied for a ten year lease of the 8657 square metre site in Glasgow Road for £1, with a view to developing a ‘community complex’.
And their ultimate hope was to then go for a full community asset transfer of the former caravan site.
However, the members of the Lockerbie and Lochmaben Common Good Fund Committee this week decided not to back the bid.
They expressed concerns that transferring it to the RH Youth group for their exclusive use would be detrimental to the wider community.
Cllr Gail Macgregor said: “I do have concerns about the transfer and their ability to deliver the project and suggested outcomes. It’s not guaranteed, therefore sustainability is an issue.
“The proposal would lead to the area of common good land substantially changing in its nature and it’s preferred the asset is safeguarded for the future generations of Lockerbie in its current state for the wider public good and usage.
“I know the asset is valued by residents of the royal burgh of Lockerbie as a whole and agreeing the lease could lead to substantial changes to its availability.”
She added: “I feel they do good work in the community but I am not sure they require the land to continue doing what they’re doing.
“I am happy for them to use the land under the terms of their current lease.”
Cllrs Lynne Davis and Carolyne Wilson also both expressed concerns, with the former pointing out the organisation could still continue to operate as they are without the need for an asset transfer.
And Cllr Wilson noted that issues with the current lease had led to complaints from the community, adding: “I have a number of concerns across the board.”
Worries were also raised about the organisation’s reliance on grant funding going forward, as set out in their business plan.
One official, who was advising the meeting, said: “You can’t always guarantee grant funding.
“A ten year lease would have its limitations on who could be approached for funding.”
Meanwhile, Cllr Stephen Thompson was sympathetic to the organisation’s ambitions and noted they had met all the official tests for an asset transfer.
But he flagged up fears about the loss of income for the common good fund if the land was transferred.
“At the moment we receive an income for this and the proposal on the table is we wouldn’t. What we currently receive as income benefits other groups in Lockerbie,” he said.
“I am conscious it’s public open space too. That area of open space has a value to the community already.
“My own particular view is there would be potentially such a conflict of conditions to protect the rights of people who currently use that land and a loss of income to the common good.
“We will continue to work and support them, there’s a benefit to what they do, but in this particular proposal they do not meet the test.”
The committee’s recommendation will now go before the council’s Environment and Infrastructure Committee next month for ratification.