A SAFE place for children to play within sight of their homes – that’s one of the top priorities for parents in the flats at Upper Kessock Street.

Others included dealing with the insects which have appeared in greater numbers this year, replacement of plastic bins with heavier metal ones, proper washing lines rather than the whirlies which were there at one time, the replacement of the coded security system with ordinary keys, and numbered sheds that can be properly secured.

This wish-list appeared at a meeting called to discuss the various problems in the Upper Kessock Street area. The meeting, chaired by Central Councillor Chrissie Cumming, was well attended and among those present were Merkinch Councillor Peter Corbett, Highland Council Area manager Chris Claridge, Murray Cochrane and other Housing officials.

Top of the agenda was the creation of a kickabout area for sub-teenage children to play ball in. A number of parents were concerned that the area between the Grant Street car park and the back wall of Fliperz was being used by older children and youths, cursing and swearing, from other areas for drinking and rough games; younger children were being bullied. The parents were asking for a 4-metre ball-proof fence.

Others said the ball was frequently kicked twice that height in the air, that the area was too small and would make worse the dangers to nursery youngsters from broken glass, bits of metal etc being thrown over the wall and to cars getting balls on their bonnets.

However, the majority thought that a designated play area within sight of their windows was a good idea. The parents also complained of “beasties”, recurring damp problems in some flats, nowhere to hang washing, dustbins being moved around and set on fire.

A particular concern, described as “the downside of security” was that youngsters in the flats told others the code, rendering the system useless. Flats residents wanted to have a simple key system that would be less open to abuse. They also wanted sheds that would be less vulnerable to break-ins. There was also some discussion about possibly blocking off one of the through paths of the grass area near Lochalsh Road

Mr Claridge suggested a small sub-group be set up to organise a list of improvement priorities. The council could then start to tackle these in a rolling programme, though they could not all be done at once. Eight members agreed to form the group, with Councillor Corbett to chair their meetings.