On the back of some queries about the history of the rock that sits at the centre of the recreation space off Girvan Close, former councillor Ann Reid has provided some helpful background information.

When the nearby housing was given planning permission, this piece of land was allocated as a play area and the developers were supposed to equip it. Nothing happened until the council managed to secure some money from them so that they could do the work.

Objections to the site being fitted with play equipment were raised by residents and so the funds were instead used to landscape the area, fence it off and provide features for imaginative play.  Hence the bamboo, the mound and the rock. Originally there were more stones along the ridge that looked a bit like a serpent and provided some seating. It was intended to be a dog free area.

At some point after 2003 ‘the serpent’ was removed following complaints about young people gathering on the seats and causing nuisance. Attempts to remove the rock were resisted as it is a bit of a feature and is not causing any harm.