An Aberdeenshire village is calling on the council to provide them with more facilities for groups and clubs – as its only meeting place is already full.
Potterton locals feel the village’s community hall can not accommodate the needs of all the groups in the area, with the building already in use all hours of the week.
Locals are now looking into expanding the village’s football pavilion, off Panmure Gardens, to create more meeting space for local clubs.
The Potterton Community Centre is used as a nursery by the local primary school during the day and is fully booked most evenings.
The Belhelvie Community Trust (BCT) held a meeting this week, where about 40 residents who “unanimously agreed there was a shortage of facilities”.
Both the community centre and the pavilion are run by Aberdeenshire Council.
Rev Andy Cowie, vice-chairman of the trust and minister at Potterton Congregational Church, suggestedd the football pavilion could be brought into use as a space for parents and toddlers, over-50s clubs or even a drop-in cafe.
He said: “Potterton has got a community centre but it is used by the school during the day and there is very little capacity left in it. It varies depending on how busy the school is.
“I made a suggestion we extend the football pavilion into an additional community facility.
“Those present at the meeting unanimously agreed there was a shortage of facilities and they would support additional facilities if they were provided.”
A steering group to look into establishing further community facilities in Potterton has also now been set up..
A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council said: “We had a very positive initial meeting and it is clear there is a great deal of interest in the community.
“We would be happy to continue to work with the group, exploring any options and proposals identified to support community activity, subject to availability of funding.”