Dunoon Stadium and surrounding land

Masterplan and develop Dunoon Stadium and the surrounding land, including Dunoon skatepark, into a multipurpose sports, leisure, health and education facility at the heart of the town.   

Dunoon Stadium and the surrounding land, sports pitches and skate park occupy a large section of land in the heart of the town. This area is also overlooked by Dunoon Hospital, Kirn Primary school and one of Dunoon’s two housing  areas that scores highest on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). Despite the pressing need for recreation space to support activities that improve the health and wellbeing of local people, particularly young people and adults with health challenges, Dunoon stadium is largely underused by the community. Although the stadium is a staffed facility, the way it is operated and managed means that the stadium remains closed to the public unless it has been booked by an organised group. The booking process is not straightforward and can seem challenging for community and school groups. 

Local Place Plan 

• Argyll and Bute Council to work with other public sector bodies, health providers, Planet Youth, education providers including primary schools, Dunoon Grammar School, University of the Highlands and Islands, The Cowal Gathering, Live Argyll, Dunoon Boxing Club, Dunoon Youth Football League and other community-based sports providers to develop a Master Plan and investment strategy for Dunoon Stadium and the surrounding area. Explore the potential for the land and building assets surrounding the stadium to be redefined as a high-quality multi-sport, leisure. education and health facility that is accessible to young people and the wider community all year round.  

• Improve pedestrian pathways and gateways through the stadium to enable school children at Kirn Primary to walk safely from the car park at the stadium to the school. This will reduce parking pressure at Kirn Primary school whilst also improving health. 

• Install storage containers or identify existing storage solutions for adapted bikes and sports equipment at the stadium for use at low cost or no cost by community sports and recreation providers. 

Community Action Plan 

• Dunoon Community Development Trust to schedule regular cycling and health events at the stadium through Dunoon on the Move to improve access and inform longer-term development plans for the site. 

• TSI, Planet Youth, Police Scotland, Live Argyll and other local stakeholders with a youth and health remit to provide enhanced support and capacity building to volunteer led sports and community groups providing activities to young people, including joint funding, training opportunities and peer-to-peer learning. 

• Argyll and Bute Council and community partners including the Cowal Gathering to schedule a multi stakeholder funding and development meeting to review how sports and health providers working locally can be better supported to access to the stadium. 

• Argyll and Bute Council and community partners including Dunoon Community Council to review the challenges of opening the stadium to people, including those with dogs, to develop effective policies that reduce the risk of creating an unhealthy environment.