Chance to shape Buckie Sports Hub plans as consultation seeks community views
The chance to help shape a community sports hub project has been unveiled to people in a Moray town.
Merson Park in the Buckpool of Buckie is the focus of a joint venture between Welfare League champions Buckie Rovers FC and Buckie Thistle Football Development (BTFD) to create a sports hub.
The aim is to transform the park, which includes a pavilion, into a facility for use by all kinds of clubs and groups in the town and surrounding area.
In order to move this bold vision forward, Rovers and BTFD are looking to take over ownership of the area - currently owned by Buckie Common Good Fund and run by Moray Council - by means of a Community Asset Transfer (CAT).
As part of this process, they are keen to hear from current and potential users of the park about what they would like to see featured at a sports hub.
Groups and individuals are invited to pop along on Tuesday, March 18 to hear more about the project and share their ideas and comments. Alternatively, suggestions can be shared via an online survey.
Buckie Rovers president Mike Coull said: “The project is getting there and we’re making steady progress.
“Rovers and BTFD are working well together to move everything forward although a CAT is a very detailed process which takes time to do properly.
“We recently got our charity SCIO status and are in the process of doing a community consultation on the future shape of the sports hub, including the public drop-in session. Tell us what you think would make Merson Park better, what you’d like to see in a sports hub and what you’d like us to do with the pavilion at the park.”
Should the groups’ labours come to fruition, the currently dowdy looking park and pavilion could undergo a spectacular transformation that would revolutionise sports provision in the area.
Mr Coull explained: “One of the first things we’re looking to do is tidy up the whole park, which has been in a state of disrepair for some time.
“Longer term we’re aiming not only to refurbish the pavilion but add a sports hall facility to it. We believe there is a real need for this and the hub in general, especially with the new housing that’s gone up in the area already plus the new development which’re planned.
“The sports hub will give these kids and others across the town easier access to sports facilities.
“Later on we’ll look at other areas to develop.
“The community sports hub opens up a huge potential and the sports hall would offer many things other halls can’t.”
He went on to stress that while Rovers and the Jags’ development arm were driving the project forward, the scheme was very much focussed on including as many groups as possible.
Mr Coull continued: “It’s not just about Rovers and BTFD, we want more clubs to come on board and more people to get involved, whether that’s as volunteers or sponsors.
“The sports hub is for all of Buckie, it’s for the community as a whole.
“We know it’s a challenge but we’re not daunted.””
BTFD Head of Primary Duncan Lamont said: “In order for the club to keep growing and developing we need the support and facilities to enable this.
“The formation of a Buckie Community Sports Hub and a successful CAT for the Merson Park facility would offer this support and provide us a dependable access to a facility where we can feel at home and gives us a fantastic foundation for years to come.”
The drop-in meeting will run on Tuesday, March 18 at Buckpool Golf Club from 4pm to 8pm.
For those who cannot make the session but would nevertheless like to contribute, this can be done online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/MERSON2025. The survey closes at the end of the month.
For more information about the Buckie Community Sports Hub project, or to join up as a volunteer or sponsor, email buckiesportshub@outlook.com or visit the initiative’s Facebook page.
