A CHILDREN’S charity which built an outdoor gym for youngsters in Annan has received pushback from the local community.
Aberlour Child Care Trust, which helps disadvantaged kids and families, installed nine pieces of fitness equipment in a garden area next to its building in Springbells.
It features machines including a rower, double slalom skier, arm and pedal cycler, and sky stepper, and is suitable for children aged ten and those up to adulthood.
However, the gym was set up without proper planning permission and 11 householders living nearby have submitted objections to Dumfries and Galloway Council.
The Royal Burgh of Annan Community Council have also lodged an objection, with complaints about loss of privacy, noise disturbance, and the use of the site as a community gymnasium being “completely incompatible and unacceptable in a quiet, residential area.”
Aberlour Child Care Trust has since submitted a bid to the council for retrospective planning permission to allow the outdoor gym to remain – and council planning case officer Lindsey Little is in support of this move.
In a report due to be tabled at the council’s planning committee next Wednesday, she wrote: “The gym equipment is of a size and standard which is suitable for older children (approximately ten years), based on the height recommendation of 1400mm on specification details.
“Prior to the installation of the gym equipment, the area of land was laid to grass and served as the associated curtilage of the Aberlour Child Care Trust building.
“Records indicate that the site has previously been used by a playgroup. It is therefore considered that the principle of the site being used by children/young people is established.”
The report also states that Aberlour has responded to police recommendations and agreed to maintain the trees/shrubbery and install both external lighting and a boundary fence.
The charity will also install CCTV cameras on site to act as a deterrent to any potential antisocial behaviour.
The planning officer is recommending that retrospective permission is granted on the condition that details of the proposed fencing, lighting and CCTV to be installed at site are submitted to the council within three months. The work should also be completed within six months.
Councillors will decide whether to grant permission on Wednesday.
