Inverurie Locos are concerned that the proposed local development plan for the town could impact on the future of the club.
Aberdeenshire Council’s local development plan for the next decade, which is currently at the consultation stage, includes changing the status of Harlaw Park from town centre to a protected area.
However, this change in zoning would restrict future use of the ground and also stop Locos making improvements to Harlaw Park.
The Railwaymen have been working on plans to upgrade the clubhouse and dressing room areas as well as improving disabled seating and the toilets at the ground.
But these enhancements would be against the protected zoning in the proposed local development plan and also impact on Inverurie’s ability to borrow money against the facility to fund improvements.
Chairman Mike Macaulay said: “As a club we want to have the best facilities we can possible have. We had plans that were well advanced, but we need the right classification on the ground.
“People think because it’s going to be left as a football ground that it’s great, but it’s not great because it means we can’t develop the place as we’d like.
“If the SFA increase the standard of facilities required for membership and to play in certain competitions such as the Scottish Cup we probably wouldn’t be able to make those upgrades.
“So all we’re asking is that Harlaw Park retains the same status as in the previous local plan.
“What we do find incredible was that we weren’t notified about the change, it was our former chairman Eddie Innes who spotted it by chance otherwise we wouldn’t have known.
“We’re fortunate that another of our former chairmen, Willie Lippe, an architect, and Mike Naysmith from our main sponsor Cala Homes have both been advising us and we’re grateful to them for that.
“We’re all ambitious, once upon a time you would have been happy winning a Highland League.
“But that’s all changed, now you want to win the league so that you have the opportunity to step up a league. If that was curtailed for us because we weren’t able to upgrade our facilities it would be a disaster for the club.
“It could affect the financial future of the club because if we had to borrow money for improvements, it’s much easier to borrow money if your asset is of more value.
“There are so many ramifications as a result of this change – we need councillors to understand the impact this will have.”
Representations about the local development plan can be made to Aberdeenshire Council until Friday July 17.
An Aberdeenshire Council spokesperson said: “We are inviting comment on the proposed local development plan until July 17 and our policy team is also happy to speak to members of the public or indeed the club to answer any questions.
“Any unresolved matters arising from the proposed consultation will then be considered at examination – expected to take place during 2021 – by an independent reporter (who is) to be appointed by Scottish ministers.”
