IT IS a site synonymous with sport, the site of Scotland’s oldest free Highland games held every year since the charter to hold the games was given to the people by Robert the Bruce in 1314 in recognition of their support at the Battle of Bannockburn.
But at least 360 people in and around the Fife village of Ceres remain up in arms over what they feel has been an attempt by the community council to stop children playing football on the Bow Butts.
Controversy has raged in Ceres since Fife Council put up posts at the end of March last year only for them to be taken down a short while later after the community council objected over a lack of consultation.
Around 360 people have since signed a petition calling for two sets of posts to be placed on the green.
A compromise was reached last year when the council said one set of goalposts could stay on the Bow Butts permanently.
But a number of villagers have continued campaigning for the two sets of posts to be reinstated and believe the stance of the community council has been unreasonable.
A public meeting organised by concerned parents was held in Ceres Village Hall. Beforehand, one of the meeting’s organisers Adele Clarke said there was a real sense of anger in the village.
She said: “Around 360 people have signed a petition. That’s around a third of the village population. What does that tell you about people’s views?
“We believe the community council does not represent the wider views of the community and should not be over-ruling Fife Council’s original decision to put up the goalposts.
“The community council say kids should go away up to the football pitch at the other end of the village but the village green has always been associated with people playing sport and is the ideal place for children to play in safety.
“Parents can sit at the pub for a quiet drink and know their kids are safe. We asked the community council to hold a meeting on this, but they refused us. That’s why we arranged our own.”
Community council secretary Bob Scott told The Courier it was standing firm to “protect” the historic Bow Butts.
He said: “Our view is the village already has a football pitch which is located on the other side of the village. We helped Fife Council organise tuition there last summer.
“The village green is historic, with its Bannockburn connections. It is used for other local events such as bonfire night, fetes, and of course the Highland games.
“It’s a pleasant area and it is our view that it should not be turned into a football pitch.
“We have had complaints in the past about activity in the area. When the posts were up last year, some big guys arrived in cars with their radios blaring.
“We are not anti-the kids in the village or anything but we feel the green needs to be protected. We were not willing to stage a special meeting to discuss the goalposts but the campaigners are free to come to any of our community council meetings to express their views.”
Fife Council told The Courier it would wait to see what came of the discussion.