 FIT Scotland is the country’s leading charity, striving to protect the nation’s vital green spaces for sport, recreation and play. How does FIT protect recreational spaces?Partnership with Scotland’s CouncilsIn partnership with Scotland’s 32 Local Councils FIT protects in perpetuity more than 100 sites for sport, recreation and play. Each year we strive to increase the number of sites protected. Advice to Community Groups and IndividualsFIT gives advice to community groups and individuals campaigning to protect their local recreational facilities. We also publish a ‘Ten Step Guide’ for protecting local playing fields/recreational spaces. Minimum standards of recreational spaceFIT offers advice and campaigns on minimum standards of green space for existing and proposed developments. FIT publishes the influential ‘Six Acre Standard’ document, used by local and national government as a guide for planners. National Planning GuidelinesFIT Scotland has been very active over the last 12 months campaigning for tougher national planning guidelines to protect our important green spaces. We have lobbied MSPs, addressed parliamentary groups and met with Scottish Ministers putting our case for tougher guidelines. The Scottish Executive will publish new planning guidelines during 2007 and we anticipate significant improvements. Advice to government and local governmentFIT Scotland is regularly consulted on a range of government and local government documents in relation to existing and planned recreational spaces. Public commentFIT Scotland works closely with TV, radio and the newspapers to champion the cause of protecting playing fields and encouraging greater use of them. Safety, design and maintenanceFIT gives advice on the safety, design and maintenance of playing fields, sports areas and playgrounds. We publish a large number of guides which can be purchased online. Why is FIT’s work vitally important?Green spaces are vital community areas not just for sport, recreation and play - they also play an important role in the following areas:
Peter Cabrelli, FIT Scotland Chairman said: “Without high quality, well used local facilities for outdoor sport, recreation and play the Scottish Executive would fail to meet many of its targets.” The work of FIT in Scotland is overseen by the FIT Scotland Committee: Peter Cabrelli (Chairman), Sheila Begbie MBE, Donald Cameron, Ewan Gillies, Marguerite Hunter Blair, Gerry Ralph, Frank McAveety MSP, Stewart McLachlan, Alan Mills Contact details:FIT Scotland Tel 01382 817427 Staff:Colin Rennie |
