Scotland's most expensive drinking den
David Knox • Published 3 Oct 2012 14:30
6 Comments
A HALF-MILLION pounds arts project to celebrate the Olympics has been taken over by drunken teenagers.
The controversial Forest Pitch project saw two teams of newcomers to Scotland have a kickabout on a specially created football ground outside Selkirk.
But just a month after the matches, youths have taken over the remote wooden pavilion for under-age drinking sessions.
One parent, who agreed not to name, told us: "I found out about my son going to the pitch to drink and grounded him straight away. It's bad enough them drinking, but what would happen if they became ill out there in the middle of nowhere.
"The hut should be pulled down immediately."
This latest development has further infuriated opponents of the £460,000 scheme.
Local political activist Ross Anderson, from Selkirk, told us: "It was bad enough that public money was wasted on this daft project but now kids are heading there at weekends to get drunk.
"It's only a couple of miles from Selkirk and the village of Midlem isn't too far away, so it's ideal for the kids to do what they want without being disturbed."
Edinburgh's Craig Coulthard was one of 12 artists who won commissions to celebrate the Cultural Olympiad back in 2009 - the only one in Scotland.
But the £460,000 price tag, paid for by the lottery, to create his pitch in the Duke of Buccleuch's Clarilawmuir Plantation near Midlem angered many.
How the cash was spent remains unclear - although no corners were cut in trying to attract a crowd to the August 25 fixtures.
Despite putting on free coaches from both Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as local shuttle services, and mounting a major marketing campaign - the matches were watched by less than 100 people.
Mr Anderson added: "I have spoken with the bus company who put on nine coaches - each costing £600 - to run from Glasgow, Edinburgh and also provide the local shuttles. They had 53 passengers in total for the whole day."
Mr Coulthard claimed the pitch's lines would be replanted this autumn to create a lasting legacy of a forest pitch. And he will take action against any law-breakers.
He told us: "I will be visiting the site in the next few days to check the situation.
"If there are problems with under-age drinking or with litter we will not hesitate to contact the police."
South of Scotland MSP Paul Wheelhouse said: "I realise the project was associated with the Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival rather than being a sports project, and had some positives such as involving Scottish school children in designing players' strips.
"However, as a representative of the South of Scotland, and a Borders resident, I have some real concerns about the value in funding a project of this kind which appears to provide neither a local sports legacy nor a tangible artistic legacy, given the pitch will be allowed to return to its 'natural state'.
"We should remember that vital lottery funding for good causes in Scotland was top sliced to provide funding for the London Olympics, which while it was an amazing sporting spectacle, and possibly the best Olympics yet, ultimately expanded to become a £9.2 billion London regeneration project, at a time of austerity.
"It is therefore hard to take that funds that could have supported an upgrade of local facilities at nearby Selkirk FC, which has a tremendous youth coaching system and is one of the oldest clubs in Scotland, was instead used for two friendly football matches in this way.
He added: "I very much regret the fact that it may now be a haunt for folk to indulge in underage drinking, and therefore having a negative impact."
This article appeared in Border Telegraph 03 Oct 12
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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Grumpy Souter
Unregistered User
Oct 4, 09:00
Report commentTo Mr Coulthard.
If there are problems with under age drinking and litter DONT call the Police,
Roll up your sleeves and tidy the site yourself and do something usefull like
pulling down and removing the pavilion.
Recommend?
Yes 10
No 6
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Letthemhavethierfun
Unregistered User
Oct 4, 16:01
Report commentSome people forget what its like to be a young..........after all the cash thats been spent on this place i really hope its left the way it is. I think it better for folks to get together out of the way of locals and the high street. Anyone else agree?
Recommend? Yes 6
No 9
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Apparent underager
Unregistered User
Oct 5, 17:09
Report commentYou have got to be kidding me.
It was used once and nothing was damaged.
The fact those photos were taken from Facebook is an invasion of privacy and gives of the completely wrong impression that Selkirk kids will go anywhere for a 'piss up'
They haven't 'taken it over' like some pack of dogs it was a birthday party. A one off, give them a break.
To be fair the whole set up of the pitches was a complete waste of money as it mentions barely 100 people even bothered to come watch.
The majority of the response to this article is outrage. Its obvious the Border Telegraph had nothing else interesting to write about than some 'drinking den'
The chinky hut has got some much more interesting murals and stories.
Recommend? Yes 11
No 1
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iwasonceateenager
Unregistered User
Oct 5, 20:50
Report commentSo it's the artists fault that teenagers wanted to get drunk? Get a grip! I wonder where the parents of said teenagers thought they were while they were out breaking the law. I sense that blame is being placed elsewhere to deflect the real issues.
Recommend? Yes 5
No 2
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thatCraig
Unregistered User
Oct 16, 09:44
Report commentIt looks as though any teenagers that drink are going to be demonised. If you take a step back and ask yourselves whether or not you might have done the same thing at a young age I'm sure most of you would have. Its a bit cliched to fill the pages of your paper with anti youth stories. Has it been damaged? Is there a terrible mess out there? I don't suppose you went to find out facts before you ran the story?
Regardless of the projects success its just tired and lazy reporting.
the youth aren't your enemy. they need to be treated as young people and not delinquents. I'd bet that the kids had a good time and all went home to sleep in there beds that night. Its boring me to death this stuff. I hear about trouble making teens everywhere but I can honestly say I've never seen them.
Give them a break.
Recommend? Yes 4
No 1
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ReprievedSoul
6 posts
Mar 22, 07:22
Report commentNegativity from adults about kids' normal behaviour just DOES NOT HELP. Positivity required, BT.
Recommend? Yes 0
No 0
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