Residents of Skares were left confused and angry last week when they were met with workmen dismantling the only play park in the small village.
Workers on behalf of Hargreaves Land were apparently given instructions to demolish the park.
This left some folks of Skares concerned and angered as they believed the park belonged to the people of Skares, and had done since the early 2000s.
One resident told the Chronicle: “Back when the play park was put up in 2002, ATH, who were Hargreaves’ predecessors, gifted the ground to the village of Skares.
“As far as I’m aware nothing has changed since then. Last year, Hargreaves tried to sell us the park for a pound.
“We told them that you can’t sell what you don’t own because the ground was gifted to us and nothing more was heard about it until this happened. It’s a concern for the village that the only play park here has been torn down and we don’t have the financial power to fight a company like Hargreaves.”
A source said Hargreaves did own the land and that a proposal was made last year that they would transfer it to the community of Skares for a nominal fee, but that offer was never taken up because the community in Skares was split on what they wanted for the future of the park.
Conservative candidate for Cumnock and New Cumnock, Neill Watts said he would be concerned about a park being taken down, without plans in place to replace it or upgrade it.
A representative from Hargreaves Land said: “We consulted directly with local residents and councillors over the course of the past nine months to try and find a future for the play park at Skares which forms part of a much wider land holding in the area.
“The play park is of an age whereby the equipment is no longer fit for purpose and has not been in use for some time.
“We were advised by East Ayrshire Council’s Planning department that they did not maintain the park which led us to speak to various councillors for the Skares ward, as well as the Cumnock and New Cumnock wards, about gifting the park and associated land, however there was no interest.
“We also contacted a number of local residents at George Terrace in Skares who advised us that the play park had created issues in the community, including anti-social behaviour, and that they would be supportive of its removal.
“In light of our various enquiries, a decision was taken to remove the equipment and clear the site.”
It is not yet known if there are plans for an upgraded park on the site.
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