Fallout over bowls survey as developer gets the nod
(From The Orcadian dated February 22, 2001)

A privately run ten-pin bowling alley could be up and running in Kirkwall by the middle of next year, following initial support for the scheme by councillors this week, but questions are being raised over why a council survey was launched last week - with no public forewarning - to gauge public support for a separate council-run scheme at The Pickaquoy Centre in Kirkwall.

An application by private developer George Drever to lease land from the council at the car park and bus station next to the Kirkwall Power Station was approved in principle by councillors at yesterday's finance and general purposes committee.

Mr Drever said he was delighted with the news and would now press ahead with his project in earnest, hoping to have it open to the public by the summer next year.

But he admitted to being confused by the council survey launched last week which gave signals that the council were also pressing ahead with their own project at Picky. The council are committed to providing ten-pin bowling, but have agreed to re-evaluate their policy if a private facility becomes available.

Questions were being asked this week as to who authorised the survey, which saw plans of the proposed extension at Picky being placed at various locations in the county.

It is understood the chairman of the relevant recreation and cultural services committee, Councillor John Brown, was not consulted and only became aware of the survey after seeing the plans when he walked into the council building last Thursday.

Speaking this week Mr Drever said that despite the survey, he would press on with his project.

"I must admit when I first saw it in the paper I was surprised and a wee bit confused," he said. "It is conflicting to what we have heard. We are not stopping but are just cracking on as before."

Test bore holes have already been carried out on the site for the facility which Mr Drever said would include a bar and restaurant, pool tables, and video arcade games, as well as an eight lane ten-pin bowling alley.

Following the approval by councillors to lease the site, Mr Drever said he would now submit an application for outline planning permission and draw up detailed designs.

He was originally hoping to have the facility open before this Christmas, but said a more realistic opening date would be the middle of next year.

"I am absolutely delighted and will crack on now and hopefully get started in the near future," he said.

No council committee authorised the council survey, according to economic development committee chairman Councillor Jim Foubister who said this week that he would always favour a private developer.

"I think a private developer tends to make a better job of it than the local authority," he said. "They tend to be more efficient than the local authority."

Commenting on the survey he added: "No council committee authorised this study to take place. In conjunction with a number of other councillors we are wondering who authorised the money to be spent and what budget paid for it. As far as we are concerned there was no council committee that authorised this."

Councillor Foubister said there was no money in the the council's capital programme for an extension at Picky which cost £2.8 million.

"If we take that money out of reserves that means a loss of income to that fund of £182,000 per annum," he said.

He continued: "If there was to be any extension at all, that money would have to come from reserves in the form of the harbours equalisation fund. There are other projects looking for money from this fund. The proper procedure is that all these projects have to be prioritised. In the meantime we have a private developer who is willing to put his own money in."