Mid Durham Area Action Partnership Profile Draft 4 December 2011
Durham Playing Pitch Strategy Mid Durham Area Action Partnership Profile
CONTENTS
1.0 Mid Durham Playing Pitch Profile
2.0 Pitch Provision by Sector
3.0 Teams
4.0 Consultation Profile
5.0 Quality & Provision
6.0 Pitch Capacity
7.0 Strategic Recommendations
8.0 Potential Hub Sites
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1.0 MID DURHAM PLAYING PITCH PROFILE
1.1 Area Action Partnership
The Mid Durham Area Action Partnership (AAP) serves the area highlighted in the map below. The geographical area covered by the AAP includes the major town of Lanchester and Castleside to the north and Ushaw Moor, Esh Winning and Brandon to the south-east. The app also includes the settlements of Burhope, Newbiggin, Satley and Waterhouses.
Mid Durham includes the following wards:
• Burnhope • Castleside • Cornsay • Esh • Lanchester • Brancepeth, Langley Moor and Meadowfield • Brandon • Deerness • New Brancepeth and Ushaw Moor.
Note: All maps presented in this report are for indicative purposes only. A full set of larger scale detail maps are available separately.
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1.2 Total Area Population: 33,249 Map 1: Mid Durham AAP
As highlighted in the table below, 65% of the population for the Mid Durham AAP is considered to fall within the active age group as defined by Sport England.
Table 1: Mid Durham Population by Active Age Groups Active Age Group Sport Male Female Mixed
0-5 years Non active 2052
6-9 years Football 1368 8-12 years 1789 10-15 years 1121 1086 11-15 years 931 921 11-17 years 1337 1285 13-17 years Rugby 944 930 16-17 years Rugby 364 16-45 years Football/ Hockey 6500 6462 18-45 years Rugby 6308 6098 18-55 years Cricket 8566 8561
Over 55 years Non active 9725
Total area population within Active 21472 Age Groups (6-55yrs)
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2.0 PITCH PROVISION BY SECTOR
2.1 Public Sector Provision Map 2: Mid Durham AAP Pitches Managed by the Public Sector
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Table 2: Names & types of grounds managed by the Public Sector Football Pitches Rugby Pitches
Name Ward Changing Full size Junior Senior Junior Cricket ATP Total Brancepeth, Addison Park Langley Moor & Y 1 1 Meadowfield Brancepeth, Opp. Langley Moor Primary Langley Moor & N 1 1 School Meadowfield
Brandon Welfare Ground Brandon Y 2 2
New Brancepeth Broom Park N 1 1 and Ushaw Moor Brancepeth, Dorlonco Villas Langley Moor and Y 1 1 Meadowfield Recreation Ground – Burnhope N 1 1 Greenwood Ave. Hamsteels Colliery Welfare Esh N 1 1 (Rowley Crescent) Brancepeth, Meadowfield Leisure Langley Moor and Y 2 1 3 Centre Meadowfield New Brancepeth Pitch New Brancepeth & Y 1 1 (Brancepeth Estate) Ushaw Moor 9 2 0 0 0 1 12
There are also 2 further informal football pitches recorded and one mini football pitch, but the names of these grounds are unknown.
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2.2 Education Provision Map 3: Mid Durham AAP Pitches Managed by Educational Facilities
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Table 3: Names & Types of Pitches managed by Educational Facilities Football Pitches Rugby Pitches Name Ward Changing Full size Junior Mini Senior Junior Cricket ATP Total All Saints Catholic Primary School Lanchester N 1 1 Burnhope Primary School Burnhope N 1 2 3 Esh CE Primary School Esh N 1 1 Esh Winning County Primary School Deerness N 1 1 Brandon Primary School Brandon N 1 1 Langley Park Primary School Esh N 1 1 St Bede’s Catholic Sch & 6th Form College Lanchester N 5 5 New Brancepeth New Brancepeth & Primary School Ushaw Moor N 1 1 Brancepeth, St Patrick’s RC Langley Moor & Primary School Meadowfield N 1 1 Ushaw Moor Junior/ St Joseph’s RC New Brancepeth & Primary (SS) Ushaw Moor N 2 2 The Sir Bobby Robson Sports New Brancepeth & Centre Ushaw Moor Y 1 1 Deerness Valley Comp – Durham Comm. Business New Brancepeth & College Ushaw Moor N 3 1 1 5 9 9 3 0 0 1 1 23
Hamsteels Primary school has a playing field but the school was closed in 2008.
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2.3 Private Sector Provision Map 4: Mid Durham AAP Pitches Managed by Sports Clubs
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Table 4: Names & Types of Pitches Managed by Sports Clubs Football Pitches Rugby Pitches
Name Ward Changing Full size Junior Senior Junior Cricket ATP Total Ashley Park – Kitswell Road Lanchester Y 1 1 2 – Lanchester CC Brandon Community Sports Club (Cricket Brandon Y 1 2 3 Ground) Langley Park Sports & Esh Y 2 1 3 Social Club Esh Winning Recreation Deerness Y 1 1 2 Ground (Esh Winning CC)
Esh Winning AFC Deerness Y 1 1
Holmside Lane Cricket Burnhope N 1 1 Ground (Burnhope CC) Ushaw Moor Recreation New Brancepeth & Y 1 1 2 Ground - CC Ushaw Moor 6 0 1 0 7 0 14
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3.0 TEAMS
3.1 Football Team Information
Table 5: Football Clubs & Teams Club Ground Mens Vets Ladies Total Senior Total Mini Total Junior Brandon Bay Horse Meadowfield Leisure Centre 1 1 0 0 Brandon Youth Meadowfield Leisure Centre 0 5 5 Brandon British Legion Brandon Welfare Ground/ Brandon Top 1 1 0 0 Brandon United Brandon Welfare Ground/ Brandon Top 1 1 0 0 Brandon United Ladies Brandon Welfare Ground/ Brandon Top 1 1 0 0 Brandon United Youth Brandon Welfare Ground/ Brandon Top 0 0 1 Brandon Utd Reserves Brandon Welfare Ground/ Brandon Top 1 1 0 0 Brandon Community Sports Club FC Brandon Welfare Ground/ Brandon Top 1 1 0 0 Langley Park Rams Head Langley Park Sports & Social Club 1 1 0 0 Langley Park Rams Head Over 40s Langley Park Sports & Social Club 1 1 0 0 Langley Park Steelers Langley Park Sports & Social Club 1 1 0 0 Langley Park WMC Langley Park Sports & Social Club 1 1 0 0 Esh Winning Esh Winning AFC 1 1 0 0 Esh Winning Cricket Club Over 40s Esh Winning Cricket Club (Recreation Ground) 1 1 0 0 Waterhouses Esh Winning Cricket Club (Recreation Ground) 1 1 0 0 Lanchester Cricket Club Ashley Park on Kitswell Road 1 0 0 1 0 0 Deerness Valley Youth The Sir Bobby Robson Sports Centre 0 6 11 New Brancepeth WMC New Brancepeth Pitch (Brancepeth Estate) 1 1 0 0 Ushaw Moor Cricket Club FC Ushaw Moor Recreation Ground 1 1 0 0 Total 13 2 1 16 11 17
There are 16 senior football teams in the Mid Durham AAP, one of which is a female team. There are 17 junior football teams including 1 junior girls’ teams and 11 mini football teams. The teams are all accommodated on 9 different pitches within the AAP as detailed in the table below.
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3.2 Rugby Team Information
There is 1 rugby ground registered against a team in the area and the ground is used by 1 junior team.
Table 6: Rugby Clubs & Teams
Club Ground Mens Vets Ladies Senior Junior Mini
Lanchester Youth Rugby Club Ashley Park, Kitswell Road 0 0 1 0
3.3 Cricket Team Information
There are 15 senior cricket teams in Mid Durham and 17 junior teams. The teams play on 6 different cricket grounds located in the Mid Durham AAP.
Table 7: Cricket Clubs & Teams Club Ground Mens Ladies Total Senior Total Junior Lanchester CC Ashley Park, Kitswell Road 3 3 4 Brandon CC Brandon Community Sports Club 3 1 4 4 Esh Winning CC Esh Winning Cricket Club (Recreation Ground) 3 3 3 Burnhope CC Holmside Lane 1 1 0 Langley Park CC Langley Park Sports & Social Club 2 2 3 Ushaw Moor CC Ushaw Moor Recreation Ground 2 2 3 Totals 14 1 15 17
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3.4 Hockey Team Information
There is 1 hockey ground registered against a club in the area and the ground is used by 1 senior ladies hockey team and 2 junior teams.
Table 8: Hockey Clubs & Teams
Club Ground Mens Vets Ladies Senior Junior Mini
Sunderland Ladies HC Meadowfield Leisure Centre 0 1 1 2
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4.0 CONSULTATION PROFILE
This section provides stakeholder feedback and the details of findings secured from local sports clubs, schools and town/parish councils.
4.1 Methodology
Consultation and engagement with local stakeholders was undertaken using two main methods:
• Questionnaire surveys (postal and/or e-mail as appropriate) to pitch sports clubs (football, cricket, rugby and hockey); outdoor non-pitch sports clubs (bowls, tennis, netball and basketball); schools; and town/parish councils
• A community workshop organised with the local Community Sports Network (CSN)
The surveys were tailored to the different types or respondent. For example the surveys to pitch sport clubs were posted directly to the club secretary and were individualised to contain team and pitch information relevant to that club gathered from Sport England (clubs were then invited to amend that information if incorrect). The survey also contained a local map on which clubs could indicate other grounds that they might be prepared to play on as well as providing an opportunity to highlight any open space that they thought had potential for the development of new facilities.
The community workshops provided an opportunity for clubs and parishes to raise their own club/parish specific issues but were primarily aimed at securing collective views on key issues for the various sports. As the meetings were arranged on a Community Sports Network basis the general findings will often apply to more than one Action Area Partnership.
The results of the questionnaires which were returned from clubs in the Mid Durham are shown below. The table show the responses whilst the graph maps these responses in relation to specific pitches detailing those which are used most frequently and those which could accommodate extra provision.
In general the notes which accompanied the feedback maps detailed the following:
• Deerness Valley School could accommodate 3 further full-sized pitches with increased investment • With increased investment, Esh Winning AFC could provide 1 extra junior football pitch (preference is for 3G)
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• Meadowfield could support a further 3 full-size football pitches, 1 junior pitch and a 3G pitch with further investment • New Brancepeth Playing Field could accommodate a 7 a-side training pitch • Due to the extremely poor quality of the pitch at Brandon Top games had to be cancelled last season. Brandon Community Sports Club made private provision and have continued to do so • Brandon United who play at Brandon Welfare Ground suggest that the park next to the ground could accommodate another mini pitch and the wasteland to the side of the club could also be modified to accommodate another pitch • Durham Demons RLFC use Meadowfield Sports Ground as an alternative pitch although they are not a club registered in the Mid Durham AAP.
Table 9: Pitch Usage from Club Feedback Questionnaires
Suitable Site Like formal Other pitches Main Ground Relocation to adapt access used
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Graph 1: Club Feedback on Pitch Usage in the Mid Durham AAP
This local profile complements a county wide/strategic consultation report that provides an overview of findings from strategic stakeholders including Sport England, the individual sports’ national governing bodies, County Durham Sport, Durham University and relevant Durham County Council officers.
The findings are outlined under 3 main headings:
• Pitch Sports (by individual sport) • Town/parish councils • Schools.
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4.2 Football Consultation
Table 10: Football Club Survey
• Brandon Youth and Deerness Valley Youth report that pitch provision is insufficient to meet their needs for fixtures and 5 of the 6 local clubs told us that there are not sufficient pitches to accommodate training. • 3 clubs reported pitch quality as poor. Brandon Utd and Brandon Youth say that their changing facilities are poor. Brandon Community Sports Club says changing is “below average”. • 3 clubs fielded the same number of teams as last season and 3 clubs fielded more.
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Table 11: Football Club Future Plans Survey
• 4 out of 6 clubs plan to increase their number of members and teams in the future, and 4 clubs wish to expand and/or refurbish their facilities • The most common barriers to development were a shortage of all weather pitches for matches and training and the cost of hiring facilities. Lack of external funding is also a factor for 4 out of 6 clubs.
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Table 12: Additional Football Comments
Club Other Comments
• We would like to take over maintenance of the pitches. We have a 3 year plan to create more pitches and also provide running facilities and an athletics club. In addition we are also looking to provide cycling and walking areas for all local residents Brandon United • U16's sometimes can't use the pitch if their fixtures clash with the reserves • Have received funding from the FA, used it for new fencing and path around pitch • Lack of storage facilities and changing areas for players (including toilets).
• Urgently need a 3G pitch - have had meetings with the council Brandon Youth • We have 5 teams playing on 2 pitches, next season we will have 7 teams, not sure what will happen - a major concern.
• Pitches are not well maintained. They are easily waterlogged which causes a backlog of games Deerness Valley • The club is expanding each season and will require access to more grass pitches in the near future.
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4.3 Community Sports Network Consultation Workshop (Comments relating to football)
Strengths • Well run clubs supported by volunteers • Leagues and club structures are sound • Most clubs have or working towards FA Charter kite mark • Large number of clubs and teams e.g. local Sunday League • Lots of opportunities for children and young people to play from under 7s up to 18 • Opportunities for girls and disabled to play.
Issues • Costs associated with achieving FA Charter standard are high • Not enough accessible pitches to meet demand for football, particularly junior • Changing rooms – some sites have none, others are poor quality • Pitch marking needs sorting to accommodate 7x7, 9x9 and 11x11 • Drop out from sports – older youth • Lack of 3G pitches and training facilities • Vandalism and anti-social behaviour – damage to pitches • Potential loss of pitches and facilities due to proposed new school developments e.g. amalgamation of schools – some schools closed.
Aspirations • Development officers for football • Improved line-marking system for County Council managed pitches • Additional 3G floodlit and training facilities • More and improved changing facilities • Develop more local leagues so that travel is reduced (particularly for children and young people) • Help and advice to access funding.
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Priorities • Full size 3G floodlit facility locally available • Changing rooms where there are none – improve others as needed • Development officer for football • Shared club-house type facility for local football • Ensure all pitches and changing facilities are replaced when new school arrangements are put in place – full community access to all – adult and junior • Help and advice to access funding.
4.4 Cricket Consultation
Table 13: Cricket Survey
• Esh Winning Cricket Club report they have sufficient pitch provision for both matches and training • The main pitches are good quality but changing facilities are “below average”. They fielded the same number of teams as last season.
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Table 14: Future Plans Survey
• Esh Winning Cricket Club are planning to refurbish their facilities • The factor restricting their development include: a lack of/poor changing facilities; a shortage of indoor training facilities and specialist equipment; falling membership, a lack of volunteers and a lack of external funding.
Other comments received included:
• Council own ground and rent is high • Repair work is slow • Would appreciate more input from the council • We would like to increase junior facilities by use of school grounds.
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4.5 Community Sports Network Consultation Workshop
(Comments relating to Cricket)
Strengths • Strong regional league structure • Good coaching support available • Some links with schools.
Issues • The cricket pyramid as it operates in Durham • The system of amateur payments • The lack of young players • The cost of off season practice facilities • Communication/connection with the council is considered to be poor • Information about grant provision isn’t readily available.
Aspirations • Better facilities • Greater participation by young people • Improve the profile of the game.
Priorities • Secure an improvement in the maintenance of facilities • Improve junior participation • Get access to funding.
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4.6 Rugby Consultation
Lanchester Youth Rugby Club plays at Ashley Park - Kitswell Road Playing Field but did not respond directly to the survey. The rugby union governing body officer highlighted that current trends in participation are seeing a large increase in youth players however and sufficient pitches need to be planned for to accommodate such growth.
The rugby union governing body officer also added that the shortage of good quality well maintained pitches for match and practice use is considered to be the most significant problem for the sport in general. A number of clubs would like to undertake drainage works to their pitches but cannot secure sufficient funds.
4.7 Community Sports Network Consultation Workshop
(Comments relating to Rugby Union)
Strengths • Well run clubs supported by volunteers • Leagues and club structures are sound • Lots of opportunities for children and young people to play from under 7s up to 18 • Many rugby clubs have good grounds and facilities • Opportunities for girls and disabled to play.
Issues • Durham County RFU – some weaknesses in management e.g. on disciplinary issues • Drop out from sports – older youth • Rugby not played in many schools • Lack of 3G pitches and training facilities • Vandalism and anti-social behaviour – damage to pitches • Potential loss of pitches and facilities due to proposed new school developments e.g. amalgamation of schools – some schools closed.
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Aspirations • Development officer for rugby • Additional 3G floodlit and training facilities • Help and advice to access funding.
Priorities • Full size 3G floodlit facility locally available • Development officer for rugby • Ensure all pitches and changing facilities are replaced when new school arrangements are put in place – full community access to all – adult and junior • Help and advice to access funding.
4.8 Hockey Consultation
There is 1 hockey club registered in the Mid Durham AAP, but they did not respond to the consultation. However, the North East Hockey League provided a good overview of Hockey in the County:
North East Hockey League In the North East hockey is a minority sport but it remains vibrant and there is a great deal of junior development activity bringing boys and girls into the sport across the whole region. Unfortunately, there is very little scope for them to take their interest into club hockey within County Durham.
Trends In County Durham there has been a slow decline in standards of hockey, but not the numbers involved, in recent years. However current investment in junior development is beginning to reverse that trend. Demand is increasing gradually.
Current facilities There are only a few pitches within County Durham and there is very little scope for further development of the game within the County. However, the facilities at Durham City are among the best in the country and provide the County Association with an excellent venue for representative matches etc.
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Issues • There is very limited scope for bringing the sport to the majority of urbanised areas within the County • There is a tendency for local authorities to build new artificial pitches with new '3G' surfaces which, although good for rugby and football, cannot be used for hockey • There are no hockey facilities in places such as Bishop Auckland, Spennymoor, Crook, Willington, Newton Aycliffe, Consett, Stanley, Easington, and Sedgefield.
4.9 Parish Councils
We received responses from several parish councils whose views are summarised in the table below:
Table15: Parish Council Comments
Council Information/Issues Future Plans/Aspirations
Cornsay The PC are responsible for: Parish • Cornsay Village Green - not a formal pitch, but it is used for • A level football pitch would be much recreation. Also contains various play equipment appreciated. The pitch at Rowley Crescent • Cornsay Colliery Park - concrete ball games area, grassed area with (County Council) is unsuitable. It slopes goalpost and various play equipment and is poorly drained • Hamsteels - concrete ball games area. • Acquisition and management of the former school grounds for community use. The only school in the Parish (Hamsteels Primary) was closed in 2008 and subsequently demolished and the playing field has been fenced off since closure of the school. The playing pitch at Hamsteels (Rowley Crescent) is on a slope and suffers poor drainage. It was suggested during a community consultation exercise carried out by the Parish in 2008 that the school field was far superior to the existing playing field. The Parish Council attempted to acquire both the building the playing field for community use however was unsuccessful and the future of the playing field is unknown to us at this time. Young people at Hamsteels/Esh Winning have over many years expressed their dissatisfaction with the Rowley Crescent field as there is nothing else suitable in the area.
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Lanchester • The PC are responsible for a Football/rugby pitch, a bike track, and • Improvements to the football pitch at Parish five play areas Kitswell Park • The PC feel there is scope for community use of local school facilities • Changing facilities could be provided at in conjunction with school governors. old college site near the tennis courts. Satley • The PC is not responsible for any sports pitches - simply open grass in • No plans for sports pitches but recent Parish front of houses at Glebeside (14 dwellings) and Village Green in front consultation suggested a dedicated Play of Satley Parish Hall (the original old school). Area would be supported.
4.10 Schools Sport Partnership (SSP)
The School Sport Partnership promotes opportunities for children and young people using school and community sports facilities. Three key points were highlighted:
• Need for 3G/4G/Multi-Use Games Area synthetic pitches as many events and matches are cancelled due to weather or poor quality pitches • Improving school/community links and securing more community use of school facilities. Not all schools allow for hire for various reasons, such as costs of staff to open and close facilities • Need better parking access at sites for large events. Access is needed for buses carrying school children (this includes size of parking areas and spaces being available at time of events).
School questionnaires were distributed through the local School Sports Partnership co-ordinators. Information was received from one school in the AAP as detailed in the table below.
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Table 16: Schools
School Community Use and Sports club links/Issues Plans/Aspirations Brandon • No community use currently • New outdoor area planned - probably not Primary • New school build will include community use from summer 2012 available until Dec 2012, following completion of School (Muga, and football pitch) the new school and demolition of current • Links with “Simply Sports” - multi-skills, football and building Meadowfield LC – gymnastics and dance Esh CE • School has a shared floodlit Muga and a commitment to • Additional markings on pitches etc. Changing Primary community use facilities. School • The Muga is available for use after 5pm on an evening and from 10am until 5pm on weekends • We would open up the MUGA more, but we do not have changing or toilet facilities. • Link to “Craig’s Coaching” which is based in Langley Park. Esh • No community use currently • New school to be built next year. Winning • Links with gymnastics at Deerness Leisure Centre. Primary St Bede’s • School has a floodlit all weather (gold top) pitch – in poor state • All weather pitch in need of repair and Catholic of repair maintenance School • School has a record of community use • An Astro / 3G / MUGA is urgently needed to • Would consider future community use of football and rugby facilitate the curriculum and for community use. pitches, tennis and netball courts. St Joseph • No community use currently • No current plans. RC • Future community use would need to be discussed with head teacher and governors • We employ “Craig’s coaching” for breakfast club sessions and after school football.
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4.11 Conclusions / Key Issues
Football • Brandon Youth and Deerness Valley Youth report that pitch provision is insufficient to meet their needs for fixtures and five of the six local clubs tell us that there are not sufficient pitches to accommodate training. • Three clubs reported pitch quality as poor. Brandon Utd and Brandon Youth say that their changing facilities are poor. Brandon Community Sports Club says changing is “below average” • Three clubs fielded the same number of teams last season and three clubs fielded more. Four out of six clubs plan to increase the number of members and teams in the future, four clubs wish to expand and/or refurbish their facilities • The most common barriers to development were a shortage of all weather pitches for matches and training and the cost of hiring facilities. Lack of external funding is also a factor for four out of six clubs • Brandon Utd would like to take over maintenance of their pitches. They have a 3 year plan to create more pitches and also provide running facilities and an athletics club. In addition they are also looking to provide cycling and walking areas for all local residents.
Cricket • Cricket clubs – overall facilities tend to be quite good and there appear to be enough pitches to meet demand • General priority is to maintain what is already there and improve the quality of such as needed • There is a shortage of indoor training facilities • Esh Winning Cricket Club report that their changing facilities are “below average” and they are planning to refurbish them. They would also like to increase junior facilities by use of school grounds • Sports development important – e.g. to increase numbers playing and to improve routes from schools to clubs • Need to improve the security of playing fields.
Rugby • Lanchester Youth Rugby Club plays at Kitswell Road Playing Field • Current trends in participation are seeing a large increase in youth players and sufficient pitches need to be planned for to accommodate such growth • A shortage of good quality well maintained pitches for match and practice use is considered to be the most significant problem for the sport in general. A number of clubs would like to undertake drainage works to their pitches but cannot secure sufficient funds.
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Parish Councils • Cornsay Parish highlights the need for a level football pitch as the pitch at Rowley Crescent (County Council) is unsuitable. It slopes and is poorly drained. They are also interested in the acquisition and management of the former school grounds for community use • Lanchester Parish would like to see improvements to the football pitch at Kitswell Park and also note that changing facilities could be provided at old college site near the tennis courts.
School Sports Partnership • Need for 3G/4G/Multi-Use Games Area synthetic pitches as many events and matches are cancelled due to weather or poor quality pitches • Improving school/community links and securing more community use of school facilities. Not all schools allow for hire for various reasons, such as costs of staff to open and close facilities • Need better parking access at sites for large events. Access is needed for buses carrying school children (this includes size of parking areas and spaces being available at time of events) • Brandon and Esh Winning Primary schools refer to new school building plans providing opportunities for community access to sports facilities. St Bede’s School note that their all weather pitch in need of repair and maintenance and that a new astro / 3G / MUGA is urgently needed to facilitate the curriculum and for community use.
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5.0 QUALITY & PROVISION
5.1 Supply & Demand Model: Football
Peak time analysis identifies that Sunday mornings are the busiest times for football pitches used in Mid Durham, with 100% of weekly usage by junior teams taking place at this time and 50% for seniors. This represents over usage of the facilities indicating a shortfall in overall provision.
Table 17: Football Peak Times
Football
Senior Junior Ratio of home games 0.5 0.5 Temporal Use % Saturday AM 10% Saturday PM 30% Sunday AM 50% 100% Sunday PM 10% Mid week 1- Specify day Mid week 2- Specify day
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Table 18: Football Shortfall or Surplus
Football (junior) (junior) (junior) (junior) (senior) (senior) (senior) (senior) Sunday PM Sunday PM SundayAM SundayAM Saturday Saturday PM Saturday Saturday PM Saturday AM Saturday AM Saturday
Total 20.3 18.8 3.0 3.0 17.3 20.3 -5.5 3.0
Burnhope 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0
Castleside 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Cornsay 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Esh 2.8 2.4 0.0 0.0 2.0 2.8 0.0 0.0
Lanchester -0.1 -0.2 0.0 0.0 -0.3 -0.1 0.0 0.0
Brancepeth, Langley Moor and Meadowfield 4.0 3.9 1.0 1.0 3.8 4.0 -1.5 1.0
Brandon 2.8 2.4 0.0 0.0 2.0 2.8 -0.5 0.0
Deerness 3.9 3.6 0.0 0.0 3.3 3.9 0.0 0.0
New Brancepeth and Ushaw Moor 6.9 6.7 1.0 1.0 6.5 6.9 -4.5 1.0
The shortfall/ surplus football analysis table above clearly displays this shortfall which appears in junior provision in the wards of Brancepeth, Langley Moor and Meadowfield, Brandon and New Brancepeth and Ushaw Moor on a Sunday morning. For senior provision the shortages are more wide spread, occurring in Lanchester on both Saturday and Sunday mornings and afternoons. If all pitches were secured under an appropriate management and letting system, all fixtures at peak times could be accommodated without over using pitches. Ashley Park falls into the ward of Lanchester and is a suggested hub site for the AAP. This shortfall shows that extra provision and consolidation of facilities, especially for football is necessary in the Mid Durham AAP. This corroborates the responses taken from the club consultations which suggested that provision for football teams in Mid Durham in insufficient.
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5.2 Supply & Demand Model: Rugby
Peak time analysis identifies that Saturday afternoons are the busiest times for Rugby in Mid Durham, with 75% of weekly usage by junior teams taking place at this time. There are no senior teams registered in the Mid Durham AAP. However, Durham Demons RLFC uses one of the pitches in the Mid Durham AAP as extra provision, although the two clubs do not use the same ground and the two grounds are in different wards.
Table 19: Rugby Peak Times
Rugby
Senior Junior Ratio of home games 0.5 0.5 Temporal Use % Saturday AM 25% Saturday PM Sunday AM 75% Sunday PM Mid week 1- Specify day Mid week 2- Specify day
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Table 20: Rugby Shortfall or Surplus Rugby Union (junior) (junior) (junior) (junior) (senior) (senior) (senior) (senior) Sunday PM Sunday PM SundayAM SundayAM Saturday Saturday PM Saturday Saturday PM Saturday AM Saturday Saturday AM Saturday
Total 1.0 1.0 -0.1 0.0 1.0 1.0 -0.4 0.0
Burnhope 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Castleside 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Cornsay 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Esh 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Lanchester 1.0 1.0 -0.1 0.0 1.0 1.0 -0.4 0.0 Brancepeth, Langley Moor and Meadowfield 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Brandon 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Deerness 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 New Brancepeth and Ushaw Moor 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
The shortfall/surplus rugby analysis table above shows that there is a shortage for junior rugby provision in the Lanchester ward. As with football this shortage occurs in the same area and at the Ashley Park ground.
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5.3 Supply & Demand Model Cricket
Peak time analysis identifies that Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning are key play times for senior cricket. This is a similar scenario for junior cricket although the spread is more even also including Saturday morning.
Table 21: Cricket Peak Times
Cricket
Senior Junior Ratio of home games 0.7 0.7 Temporal Use % Saturday AM 35% Saturday PM 45% 25% Sunday AM 40% 30% Sunday PM Mid week 1- Specify day 15% 10% Mid week 2- Specify day
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Table 22: Cricket Shortfall or Surplus
Cricket (junior) (junior) (junior) (junior) (senior) (senior) (senior) (senior) Sunday PM Sunday PM SundayAM SundayAM Saturday Saturday PM Saturday Saturday PM Saturday AM Saturday Saturday AM Saturday
Total 8.0 3.3 3.8 5.0 3.8 8.0 4.4 8.0
Burnhope 1.0 0.7 1.0 1.0 0.7 1.0 1.0 1.0
Castleside 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Cornsay 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Esh 1.0 0.4 0.3 0.5 0.4 1.0 0.4 1.0
Lanchester 1.0 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.2 1.0 0.2 1.0 Brancepeth, Langley Moor and Meadowfield 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Brandon 2.0 0.7 1.0 1.3 0.9 2.0 1.2 2.0
Deerness 1.0 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.2 1.0 0.4 1.0 New Brancepeth and Ushaw Moor 2.0 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.4 2.0 1.4 2.0
The shortfall/surplus cricket analysis table above indicates that all areas provide sufficient wickets in the Mid Durham AAP.
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5.4 Supply & Demand Model Hockey
Hockey pitch usage is balanced throughout the week and with only one club registered in the Mid Durham AAP current provision meets demand as shown in the supply/ demand table below.
Table 23: Hockey Peak Times
Hockey
Senior Junior Ratio of home games 0.5 0.5 Temporal Use % Saturday AM 20% 20% Saturday PM 20% 20% Sunday AM 20% 20% Sunday PM 20% 20% Mid week 1- Specify day 20% 20% Mid week 2- Specify day
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Table 24: Hockey Shortfall or Surplus
Hockey (junior) (junior) (junior) (junior) (senior) (senior) (senior) (senior) Sunday PM Sunday PM SundayAM SundayAM Saturday Saturday PM Saturday Saturday PM Saturday AM Saturday Saturday AM Saturday
Total 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.8
Burnhope 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Castleside 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Cornsay 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Esh 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Lanchester 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Brancepeth, Langley Moor and Meadowfield 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.8
Brandon 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Deerness 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 New Brancepeth and Ushaw Moor 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
The shortfall/surplus hockey analysis table above indicates that all areas provide sufficient pitches in the Mid Durham AAP.
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5.5 Peak Demand with Adjusted Carrying Capacity Informed Through Team Equivalents
Table 25: Senior Peak Demand with Adjustments Football Football Rugby League Rugby League Rugby Union Rugby Union Senior Saturday Saturday Sunday Sunday Saturday Saturday Sunday Sunday Saturday Saturday Sunday Sunday AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM Total 17.8 16.3 14.8 17.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Burnhope 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Castleside 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Cornsay 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Esh 1.8 1.4 1.0 1.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Lanchester -0.1 -0.2 -0.3 -0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Brancepeth, Langley Moor and Meadowfield 4.0 3.9 3.8 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Brandon 2.8 2.4 2.0 2.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Deerness 3.9 3.6 3.3 3.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 New Brancepeth and Ushaw Moor 5.4 5.2 5.0 5.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Table 26: Junior Peak Demand with Adjustments Football Football Rugby League Rugby League Rugby Union Rugby Union Junior Saturday Saturday Sunday Sunday Saturday Saturday Sunday Sunday Saturday Saturday Sunday Sunday AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM Total 1.5 1.5 -7.0 1.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.1 0.0 -0.4 0.0 Burnhope 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Castleside 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Cornsay 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Esh 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Lanchester 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 -0.1 0.0 -0.4 0.0 Brancepeth, Langley Moor and Meadowfield 1.0 1.0 -1.5 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Brandon 0.0 0.0 -0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Deerness 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 New Brancepeth and Ushaw Moor 0.0 0.0 -5.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
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Table 27: Mini Peak Demand with Adjustments Football Football Mini Saturday Saturday Sunday Sunday AM PM AM PM Total 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 Burnhope 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Castleside 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Cornsay 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Esh 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 Lanchester 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Brancepeth, Langley Moor and Meadowfield 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Brandon 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Deerness 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 New Brancepeth and Ushaw Moor 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
In Mid-Durham, the wards most affected by adding in team equivalents are Esh and New Brancepeth and Ushaw Moor. Senior football provision drops by approximately 3 pitches per breakdown across the weekend. For junior provision the total amount is less significant but it does exacerbate the current shortfall in provision on Sunday morning. In general rugby union provision stays the same for junior teams but there is a small drop in provision for senior rugby union teams.
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6.0 PITCH CAPACITY ISSUES
6.1 Average Number of Games
Table 28: Average Number of Games per Pitch Home Games Per Week
Total Total Total Rugby Rugby Total Total Football Union League Cricket Hockey Games Games Games Games Games Average Number Of AAP Name Played Played Played Played Played Games Per Pitch Mid Durham ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mid Durham ASHLEY PARK 0 0 0 3.5 0 3.5 Mid Durham BRANDON CRICKET GROUND 0 0 0 4 0 4 Mid Durham BRANDON TOP 0.5 0 0 0 0 0.5 Mid Durham BRANDON WELFARE GROUND 2.5 0 0 0 0 2.5 Mid Durham BROOM PARK 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mid Durham BURNHOPE CRICKET CLUB 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mid Durham BURNHOPE PRIMARY SCHOOL 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mid Durham DORCONCO 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mid Durham ESH CE PRIMARY SCHOOL 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mid Durham ESH WINNING AFC 0.5 0 0 0 0 0.167 Mid Durham ESH WINNING PRIMARY SCHOOL 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mid Durham ESH WINNING RECREATION GROUND 1 0 0 3 0 2 Mid Durham HAMSTEELS COLLIERY WELFARE 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mid Durham HAMSTEELS PRIMARY SCHOOL 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mid Durham HOLMSIDE LANE CRICKET GROUND (Burnhope CC) 0 0 0 0.5 0 0.5 Mid Durham KITSWELL ROAD PLAYING FIELD 0.5 0.5 0 0 0 0.33 Mid Durham MEADOWFIELD LEISURE CENTRE 5.5 0 0 0 1.5 1.75 Mid Durham NEW BRANCEPETH PITCH 0.5 0 0 0 0 0.5 Mid Durham THE SIR BOBBY ROBSON CENTRE 8.5 0 0 0 0 0.94 Mid Durham USHAW MOOR RECREATION GROUND 0.5 0 0 2.5 0 1.5
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Table 28 provides analysis of the average use of each pitch at the sites allowing public access across the AAP. The exercise is theoretical, as it assumes all pitches are used equally, but it does identify the sites which potentially overused such as Ashley Park, Brandon Cricket Club and Brandon Welfare Ground. The pitch capacity should be viewed in conjunction with the pitch quality information detailed in appendix 9.
6.2 Additional Pitch Availability in Mid Durham
Table 29: Additional Grounds Available in Mid Durham
Football Pitches Rugby Pitches
Name Ward Changing Full size Junior Senior Junior Cricket ATP Total New Brancepeth Broom Park N 1 1 and Ushaw Moor Brancepeth, Dorlonco Villas Langley Moor and Y 1 1 Meadowfield Recreation Ground – Burnhope N 1 1 Greenwood Ave. Hamsteels Colliery Welfare Esh N 1 1 (Rowley Crescent) Brancepeth, Addison Park Langley Moor & Y 1 1 Meadowfield Brancepeth, Opp. Langley Moor Primary Langley Moor & N 1 1 School Meadowfield
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Table 30: Additional Education Pitches Available in Mid Durham
Football Pitches Rugby Pitches
Name Location Changing Full size Junior Senior Junior Cricket Hockey Synthetic Total All Saints Catholic Primary School Lanchester N 1 1 Burnhope Primary School Burnhope N 1 2 3
Esh CE Primary School Esh N 1 1 Esh Winning County Primary School Deerness N 1 1 St Bede’s Catholic Sch & 6th Form College Lanchester N 5 5 New Brancepeth Primary New Brancepeth School & Ushaw Moor N 1 1 Brancepeth, St Patrick’s RC Primary Langley Moor & School Meadowfield N 1 1 Ushaw Moor Junior/ St New Brancepeth Joseph’s RC Primary (SS) & Ushaw Moor N 2 2
Brandon Primary School Brandon N 1 1 Langley Park Primary School Esh N 1 1
Tables 29 and 30 identify provision within the AAP which are either used infrequently or have no formal use. Where possible formal use of the pitches should be considered to address the supply issues identified in sections 4 and 5 of the report.
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Table 31: Existing and Required Provision
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Table 31 identifies that 20 pitches would be required to accommodate the current demand within the AAP areas. With around 36 pitches potentially available in the AAP, supply should exceed demand. It is clear from section 4 that in some instances this is not the case, consultation with clubs which require access to additional pitches should be carried out. Appropriately securing the pitch supply would enable the authority to allocate pitches where demand exceeds supply.
Table 32 identifies that the following pitches should be secured and laid out appropriately to ensure the provision caters for the current teams.
Table 32: Pitch Requirements Type Of Pitch Size Number of Pitches
Senior Football 90 x 60 4* Junior Football 70 x 50 4.5 Mini Football 24 x 18 3 Senior Rugby 100 x 70 0 Junior Rugby 70 x 55 0.5 Cricket 105 x 110 8 Hockey 95 x 70 1
*Number is rounded up to the nearest 0.5 pitches.
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7.0 STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS
Securing and formalising access to the following sites and working with the providers to establish a system which allows pitches to be maintained, laid out and accessed under a central system would ensure the current and future pitch provision for the AAP.
Although the privately run clubs generally cater for their demand, accessing additional pitches when required will be key to ensuring the club development. Education and local authority maintained pitches need to work together, enabling rotation of pitches, whilst ensuring appropriately sized pitches can be laid out to cater for demand.
The following action plan and maps identifies potential strategic recommendations to address the issues identified.
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Map 5: Pitches with Community Use
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Map 6: Pitches to be Secured
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Map 7: Potential Hub Sites
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Map 8: Access to Potential Hub Sites
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Table 33: Mid Durham Area Action-Plan
The following table outlines key policies that have been recommended in the main playing pitch strategy document. Where relevant, recommendations related to the AAP have been made for each policy. It is important to note, that more site specific recommendations have been put forward for each of the AAPs as part of the study. These are not published in this document, but are being considered by Durham County Council, and will inform future work as part of the neighbourhood planning process.
Strategy Reference Lead Timescale Monitoring Success Recommendations As there is an overall sufficient supply of Existing playing fields are pitches in this AAP, decisions need to be safeguarded, with consideration made about which pitches are to be secured only given to disposal when a and safeguarded. There may be potential secured pitch stock can be Planning Immediate LDF Safeguarded Policy for a loss of some pitches, if the benefits of demonstrated, or alternative high reinvestment and improving quality of the quality provision can be remaining stock (see Policy Q1), can be generated by the loss of pitches. guaranteed.
Contributions towards off site or on-site provision of playing pitches will be sought under Section 106 of the Town and There is a need to consider investment in Country Planning Act 1990 from the existing stock (i.e. off site all housing developments in contributions) within this AAP. In general, proposals of 1 or more units. supply is good, but quality is poor. It is Provision will also be sought for likely that larger developments (e.g. 500 Planning Immediate LDF Safeguarded Policy subsequent maintenance costs for dwelling +), would require on site provision, a period of fifteen years. The but other developments would secure following types of dwelling will contributions for off site improvements. The not be subject to obligations in decision for on/off site provision should be respect of playing pitch provision; made on a case by case basis. replacement dwellings, extensions and very sheltered housing.
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The level of provision at educational Influence the design, layout of establishments in the AAP is relatively high. pitches and specification of Therefore securing community use at school facilities to ensure their Education / PFI Projects: Stanley, educational sites is an important part of the suitability for school and Planning / Sport & Short Consett strategy. Where projects are already in community use, securing formal Leisure place there is a need for ongoing community use agreements where communication to ensure future access appropriate. agreements are upheld. Develop new multi pitch/ multi sport ‘hub’ sites which can provide facilities for a range of Develop AAP Profile training, development and Themes, Identifying The performance sport. Where Planning / Key Sites. Influence A number of potential hub sites have been appropriate Hub sites should Short Education Planning Consents As A suggested (see maps 7 & 8). embrace artificial turf pitches Delivery Mechanism; technology (ATP) for training and Burnopfield formal fixtures, floodlit multi use games courts, grass pitches and adequate changing facilities. Existing sites include: 1. Esh Winning Implement The Individual Cricket Club/ Recreation Ground (cricket, Prioritise investment to existing AAP Themes, Where football) 2. Langley Park Sports & Social multi-pitch sites which can offer Sport & Leisure Medium Possible Moving Teams Club (cricket, football) 3. Ushaw Moor secure environments for facilities. And Resources From The Recreation Ground (football, cricket) 4. Poorest Sites Meadowfield Leisure Centre (hockey, football).
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Develop AAP Profile Themes, Identifying Key The Sites. Influence Develop new junior pitches across There is an opportunity to provide such Planning Consents As A the County, establishing a facilities at hub sites and/ or consider Sport & Leisure Medium / Long Delivery Mechanism. minimum of one multi-pitch establishing these facilities at existing Work With Schools To junior soccer site in each AAP. school sites where viable. Ensure Appropriate Sized Pitches Are Laid Out To Reflect Their Pupil Ages
Games have been cancelled in the AAP due Improve the quality of pitches, Develop On AAP Profile to the poor quality of pitches. Priority setting a quality standard. Recommendations pitches need to be agreed once the secured Prioritise improvements that Implement The Quality stock is confirmed. Policy will need to Sport & Leisure Long increase pitch capacity in areas Assessment As Part Of The enable investment across an AAP for priority and sports that are currently most Clean And Green Teams sites, within which development takes place deficient. Site Inspections. (i.e. not restricted within a set distance of development).
Influence PFI Projects, Increase the use of synthetic There are currently 2 artificial pitches in Support The Current pitches for training and where the AAP. Meadowfield Leisure Centre could Sport & Leisure Short / Medium Applications And Ensure difficulty in pitch quality unduly accommodate a 3G pitch with further Dual Use Agreements limits carrying capacity. investment. Allow Community Use
Identify a long term framework of Develop Principles Set Out ancillary facilities for retention, Sport & Leisure Short / Medium In AAP Profiles improvement and disposal
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Seek to attract commercial Encourage Commercial investment to deliver high quality Link in with PFI projects. Also potential to Sector To Engage And training and performance sports Sport & Leisure Medium / Long provide such facilities through any new Tender Within PFI facilities: 5 a-side leagues; major housing growth. Opportunities softball; touch rugby.
Whilst there are some facilities available to Support development of facilities Contact Commercial accommodate mid week sports. An increase that provide for growing mid Sector And Develop Planning Long in these types of facilities is recommended week sports demand, such as 5 a Opportunities Which Tie In in-line with the overall safeguarding side soccer and floodlit cricket. With Hub Site Concepts strategy for the AAP.
Ensure that ‘hub’ or integrated facility developments are reflective of the needs identified within consultation (feedback Influence Design Of PFI There is a potential for hub sites in the AAP Planning Short from clubs) and contribute to the Schools as outlined previously. achievement of locally determined sports development targets and priorities.
Brandon United (playing at Brandon Welfare Develop On Themes Within Enable and support self Ground) would like to take over The AAP Profiles, Where management of facilities by maintenance of the pitches and have a 3 Sport & Leisure Short Consultation Has voluntary sports clubs and other year plan to create more pitches and also Identified Clubs Seeking organisations where applicable. provide running facilities and an athletics To Self Administer club.
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Create Working Group With Education Sites Without Formal Dual Use A priority for the AAP as a significant Agreements. Develop A Administration Sport & Leisure Immediate proportion of provision falls within the Communication Process To education sector. Enable Schools, The Local Authority And Teams To Liaise
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