WEST LANCASHIRE BOROUGH COUNCIL DRAFT PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT Appendix 5 WEST LANCASHIRE BOROUGH COUNCIL PLAYING PITCH STRATEGY DRAFT ASSESSMENT REPORT FEBRUARY 2015 Integrity, Innovation, Inspiration 1-2 Frecheville Courtoff Knowsley StreetBury BL9 0UF T 0161 764 7040F 0161 764 7490E [email protected] WEST LANCASHIRE BOROUGH COUNCIL PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT CONTENTS PART 1: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 3 PART 2: FOOTBALL ..................................................................................................... 13 PART 3: CRICKET ......................................................................................................... 40 PART 4: RUGBY UNION ............................................................................................... 54 PART 5: HOCKEY ......................................................................................................... 72 PART 6: ARTIFICIAL GRASS PITCHES (AGPS) .......................................................... 76 PART 7: BOWLING GREENS........................................................................................ 89 PART 8: OTHER SPORTS ............................................................................................. 99 APPENDIX 1: CONSULTEE LIST ................................................................................ 104 APPENDIX 2: SPORTING CONTEXT .......................................................................... 106 APPENDIX 3: WEST LANCASHIRE BOROUGH COUNCIL DISTRICT PROFILE ...... 113 APPENDIX 4: NON TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT CRITERIA ...................................... 132 WEST LANCASHIRE BOROUGH COUNCIL PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT PART 1: INTRODUCTION This is the Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) Assessment Report prepared by Knight Kavanagh & Page (KKP) for West Lancashire Borough Council (WLBC). The study covers all playing pitches as well as some non-pitch sports. The full list of sports facilities covered is set out below: Football pitches Cricket pitches Rugby union pitches Artificial grass pitches (AGPs) Bowling greens Other sports also included rugby league, golf, archery This report presents a supply and demand assessment of playing pitch facilities in accordance with Sport England’s Playing Pitch Strategy Guidance: An approach to developing and delivering a playing pitch strategy. It has been followed to develop a clear picture of the balance between the local supply of, and demand for, playing pitches and other outdoor sports facilities. The guidance details a stepped approach to developing a Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS). These steps are separated into five distinct sections: Stage A: Prepare and tailor the approach Stage B: Gather information and views on the supply of and demand for provision Stage C: Assess the supply and demand information and views Stage D: Develop the strategy Stage E: Deliver the strategy and keep it robust and up to date Stages A-C are covered in this report. February 2015 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 3 WEST LANCASHIRE BOROUGH COUNCIL PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT Stage A: Tailoring the approach A Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) for West Lancashire will provide the necessary robustness and direction to inform decisions affecting the provision of outdoor sports facilities. It forms part of a wider Leisure Strategy 2015 to 2025 for the Council including the arts, sports, golf course, the gallery, children's play, parks and countryside recreation. The overarching aims, objectives and key drivers for the development of the PPS are summarised below. Why the strategy is being developed Community Services through Leisure, Culture and Arts provides a leisure services function which operates under a number of strategic documents. These strategies/documents are now at a point where they need revisions, incorporating into other Borough Council strategic policy documents or complete replacement. The following Leisure Strategies/Policies are in place: Cultural Strategy- produced 2004 Play Strategy- produced 2004 Safeguarding Children Policy Physical Activity Strategy- produced 2004 Open Space, Sport and Recreational Strategy – produced February 2006 Open Space/Recreation Provision in New Residential Development SPD - produced April 2009 Playing Pitch Strategy- produced 2004 The leisure services offer has changed significantly since the production of the principal strategy documents in 2004. Changes have occurred to service delivery, incorporating both outsourcing of services together with service reductions, rationalisation, closure of facilities and curtailment of services. Nationally Local Authorities have a continuing need to work within reduced financial support. There is a continuing need for the Council to review services within a framework of reduced finances and to ensure that the Council operates in the most economic, efficient and effective manner. It is therefore now appropriate to compile clear strategies/policies for the future. One fundamental key driver is the challenging financial climate in which all local authorities are currently operating. The Council's current Business Plan covers the period 2011-2015 and sets out how we will achieve a 30% reduction in our annual budget to deal with the significant reductions in government grant funding that all local authorities face. These budget reductions are being achieved through a combination of improved economy and efficiency, partnership working, additional income generation and redirecting resources away from lower priority areas. Leisure Services have played its part in achieving these budget savings as have all Council Services. February 2015 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 4 WEST LANCASHIRE BOROUGH COUNCIL PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT The process of drawing up a new Council Business Plan for the period 2015-18 is already underway. Recent government announcements have indicated that our grant funding will be cut by a further 15% in 2015-16, with additional reductions being made in subsequent years. Our approach to dealing with this position is reflected in our corporate priority for "balancing the budget and providing the best possible services within the resources available". It is expected that all services, including Leisure, will have to deliver significant savings over the 3 year period 2015-18 to meet the funding cuts. The Leisure Services strategy will need to be drawn up taking into account this financial position. Housing growth is also significant in West Lancashire and another key driver is to establish the need for sports facilities to meet demand created from this growth. The Local Plan allows for the delivery of 4,860 net new dwellings with 2,000 of the homes being in Skelmersdale. The above housing development has been prioritised to the following sites: Yew Tree Farm, Liverpool Road South Burscough (500 dwellings) Grove Farm, High Lane, Ormskirk (300 dwellings) Fine Jane’s Farm, Moss road, Halsall (60 dwellings) Land at New Cut Lane, Halsall (150 dwellings) It is anticipated that Yew Tree Farm and Grove Farm will begin development in 2015. The 2004 Playing Pitch Strategy has been an important document, not only to provide background information to inform the open space strategy but also a key requirement for external funding for playing pitch improvements. The document provided an assessment of provision available, together with a forecast of expected needs and future demands. The document assisted the Council in meeting the requirements for external funding support from Sport England and the National Playing Fields Association (NPFA) and there is a recognised need to update it so it can continue to be used to inform future decision making and act as an evidence base for future funding opportunities both internally and externally. In addition to the generic key drivers set out above the main pitch sport National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) have sport specific key drives for the West Playing Pitch Strategy: National Governing Key drivers Body (NGB) The Football Association Working towards The FA National Facilities Strategy 2013–2015 (FA) and The FA National Game Strategy 2011–2015 (currently being reviewed). Prioritising pitch improvement through the regional pitch advisor scheme. To increase access to 3G pitches to meet demand from the Youth Review linked to priority for FA funding. Provide pitches and facilities to meet FA standards where needed. Implement an accurate pricing policy for grassroots football clubs including discounts for FA Charter Standard Clubs. Ensure there is an appropriate maintenance of grass and artificial pitches particularly to pitches which have been grant funding (i.e., Football Foundation). To ensure sustainable assets which may be appropriate for February 2015 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 5 WEST LANCASHIRE BOROUGH COUNCIL PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT National Governing Key drivers Body (NGB) community asset transfer as per Facilities Strategy ensuring ‘right clubs right sites’ approach. English Cricket Board Working towards ECB Champion Counties Strategic Plan 2014 (ECB) – 2017. Improve the quality of cricket pitches to achieve a greater capacity. Ensure there is access to education sites to accommodate cricket. Ensure there is enough provision for predicted growth. Enhancing opportunities for informal cricket e.g. Last Man Stands (LMS). To ensure sustainable assets which may be appropriate for community asset transfer England Hockey