After nine years of hard work and raising £2.8million of funding South Islay Development (SID) Company was proud to welcome a large crowd to the event.
The facility, which brings a welcome boost to the local economy and fantastic services for both locals and tourists, has been open for some time now.
But the “official” opening took place on Saturday June 20 when May Carmichael, 93, who cut the first turf three years ago and has been instrumental in the planning and delivery of the project, performed the ribbon cutting duties.
The project has seen a state-of-the-art, 12-space motorhome park replace the four spaces previously there.
New play equipment has been installed while the play park has been moved closer to the new pavilion, which provides premises for several local businesses.
Dr Pat McGrann, chairman of SID, said: “We demolished the old pavilion which was built in 1953 and built a new one. We moved the play park to a new area, expanded the surface area and added quite a lot more apparatus.
“We built the motorhome site and appropriate landscaping.”
Speaking to West Coast Today last week, he added: “By this week there should be Tarmac on the road to the playing fields and pavilion so the bin lorries and emergency services can get down.
“We have created proper car parking.
“The pavilion has to be self-funding so we have tenants, including two separate hairdressers who previously worked from home and have now been able to take on trainees. There is also an accountant and a café, They Bothy, which has six people working there.
“They have all brought new jobs to Port Ellen. We have employed two wardens for the motorhomes and appointed a regular grass cutter.”
Mr McGrann continued: “It has taken us nine years to get here. We have a board meeting every month so that’s 108 board meetings.”
And SID is already well into its next project to help the community.
He said: “We have pretty advanced plans to build a children’s nursery for zero to three-year-olds. We are just about to go for planning permission and if all goes well with funders we could be there in two years. Surveys have shown there is a need for this childcare in the area.”
Fellow councillor Dougie McFadzean said: "It was great to see the official opening of the motor home site and playing fields along with other invited guests. The board and everyone involved have achieved a great deal through a lot of hard work. Just brilliant."
Independent councillor for Kintyre and the Islands, Alastair Redman, praised the local community following the playing fields, pavilion and motorhome site grand opening.
