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Why they are not opening the putting green?

Posted Monday, August 18, 2008

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Putting Green

When Moville's tourism was at its peak, anyone walking down Bath Green during the summer would see lots of happy locals and visitors playing putting, crazy gold and tennis.

It was something all the family could do.

However, it has been symptomatic of the problems that Moville has had that its facilities in Bath Green have either remained shut or have fallen into a state of disrepair.

The Bathing Boxes and sandpit are unused except by underage drinkers and the Diving Board and Hot Seaweed Baths area has succumbed to the same problem.

Recently the Moville Rowing Club asked to use the Diving Board area and were prepared to spend money to get it into good condition but were turned down.

Big Difference

However, the grass continues to get cut in the Putting Green every year but it is never opened.

People still play in the Tennis Court but the net is held together by wire and strings and there is glass on the court.

The Crazy Golf gets cleared of the glass every so often but never opened.

So why don't they clear it all up and open them again?

It would make a huge difference to the regeneration of Moville.

Moville Events

The different festivals and events have got their acts together and formed Moville Events in order to co-ordinate and publicise their events better.

It used to be that people who came to the town for one festival, or just for a visit, wouldn't know what else was on later in the year.

This year, for the first time, a Programme of Events and Posters were produced showing what is on in Moville for the whole of the year and these have been put in all the pubs, restaurants and cafes in Moville and many of the shops too.

The people most likely to come to Moville are those that have visited before and enjoyed it (which most people do).

As a result, every single festival and event in Moville has had bigger crowds this year than last year - and that's despite the downturn in the economy when you would have expected the opposite.

Open Them Up

Now is the time to start opening the facilities back up again.

According to Councillor Marian McDonald:-

 

"A group of interested committees had a meeting about the putting green, and the Moville District Development and the others decided that the putting green would have to close because of vandalism, but hopefully it would be open for the season next year".

It's a chicken and egg situation.

The vandalism is not likely to stop till the facilities are cleaned up and opened.

People are less likely to vandalise facilities that are open and working.

What does it matter, people think, no one is using it.

The facilities in Bath Green didn't get vandalised when they were open and being used before.

As long as they are an unused and seemingly unwanted facility they will continue to get vandalised.

So, when it comes to next year, despite what our source says, surely the same decision will be made, i.e. the facilities can't be opened because of vandalism.

Tourist Trade

Moville lives and survives on its tourist trade.

It's great that the festivals and events are going from strength to strength.

However, those responsible for getting the Bath Green facilities open again need to do their bit so that people can come here throughout the summer, and not just at festival times, and have a great time here.

Good things are starting to happen in Moville again, i.e. the opening of the children's play park, the forming of Moville
Events, the highly successful Moville Rowing club, the kayaking facility etc.

Other initiatives are planned shortly to get people from the West of Scotland to come back in greater numbers.

Now its time for the various committees that are responsible for the Bath Green facilities to grasp the bull by the thorns and to get the Putting Green, Crazy Golf and Tennis Court back open.

And then Moville really will be back as a top holiday location - and less of its youngsters will have to go to Australia, England or elsewhere to look for work.

 
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