Leisure and Recreation

This Knowledge Base entry is about the local authority function of providing and supporting leisure and recreation. Local authorities became involved in the provision of leisure and recreational facilities and activities from the mid-19^th century onwards, mainly as a means of improving the general health of the population. Generally, these types of facilities were initially built through philanthropy and public subscription, whether baths, public parks, gymnasiums or playing fields. Legislation then enabled local authorities to use the rates to create, manage and maintain these types of facilities.

Some local authorities obtained local acts of parliament which enabled them to develop their own recreational facilities. The Police (Scotland) Act 1850 enabled burgh commissioners to provide grounds within the burgh or no more than 3 miles away to be used for recreation.[1] They were also allowed to provide public baths, washhouses and bathing places and drying grounds.[2] Similar provisions were included in later general police acts.[3] The Burgh Police (Scotland) Act 1892 was more extensive, enabling burghs with seashores to make byelaws to regulate the use of the seashore for bathing and recreation, regulating the hire of donkeys and ponies for pleasure riding and booths, stalls and stands on the beach.[4] Local authorities could also make byelaws on the use of public bleaching greens, drying greens, washhouses, baths, gymnasiums, pleasure grounds, recreation grounds and open spaces.

The provision of recreational space was extended to parish councils in 1894 enabling them to acquire land for public recreation and accept up to 20 acres from an entailed estate as well as provide public baths.[5] In 1929 district councils were enabled to make byelaws for recreation grounds, commons, bleaching greens and other public spaces.[6]

The Physical Training and Recreation Act 1937 enabled local authorities to acquire land and construct buildings for gymnasiums, playing fields, campsites, or use by athletic, social or educational clubs for exercise, recreation and social purposes.[7] The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 placed these responsibilities on regional and islands councils, requiring that they consult with the district councils to ensure there was adequate provision of facilities.[8] However, in 1982 this was clarified and the Local Government and Planning (Scotland) Act 1982 required district and islands councils to ensure that there was adequate provision of facilities for the inhabitants of their area for recreational, sporting, cultural and social activities. These responsibilities were transferred to unitary authorities in 1996.[9] From 2007 onwards, some councils set up trusts, which could acquire charitable status, to manage council-owned facilities and provide leisure and recreation functions on behalf of the council. Some local parks and recreation facilities have been placed into local community management.

Records of parks, sports facilities and other leisure and recreation facilities and activities are likely to be held by local authority archives services, along with records of local sports clubs and other voluntary or commercial groups. The National Library of Scotland holds records of a wide range of sports and other local clubs and societies. The National Records of Scotland hold the records relating to central bodies such as the Central Council of Physical Recreation and the Scottish Sports Council as well as records relating to local byelaws.

Compiler: Elspeth Reid (2021)

Related Knowledge Base entries

Parks

Sport

Entertainment and Culture

Bibliography

Bell, James, and James Paton, Glasgow: Its Municipal Organization and Administration (J. MacLehose and Sons, 1896)

Ferguson, Keith, An introduction to local government in Scotland (The Planning Exchange, 1984)

Whyte, W. E., Local Government in Scotland (Hodge & Co, 1936)

References

[1] Police (Scotland) Act 1850 (13 & 14 Vict. c.33) s.320.

[2] Police (Scotland) Act 1850 (13 & 14 Vict. c.33) s.321.