Playing Pitch Strategy for Bracknell Forest
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Playing Pitch Strategy for Bracknell Forest (2016 – 2036) Contents Page Number Chapter 1 Background and Context 1 Chapter 2 Prepare and Tailor the Approach 7 Chapter 3 Current and Future Picture 16 Chapter 4 Football 26 Chapter 5 Cricket 68 Chapter 6 Rugby Union 85 Chapter 7 Hockey 99 Chapter 8 Bowls 112 Chapter 9 Tennis 117 Chapter 10 Other Sports 126 Chapter 11 Strategy and Standards 140 Glossary and Abbreviations 152 Location of Bracknell Forest Playing Pitch Sites Appendix 1 154 (excluding Artificial Grass Pitches) Location of Bracknell Forest Artificial Grass Pitch Appendix 2 155 Sites Location of Other Sports Facilities in Bracknell Appendix 3 156 Forest CHAPTER 1 Background and Context Introduction 1.1 Bracknell Forest Council (BFC) has undertaken a Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) reviewing all pitches in the Borough. This will provide a clear vision and identify priorities for the future, based on local need. The strategy focuses on the period 2016 to 2036 to align with the new Local Plan period. It has been prepared in parallel with the Play, Open Space and Sport Study (POSS) 2017. 1.2 The strategy embraces one of the main ambitions of the Borough Council to plan positively, creatively and effectively to ensure that there is adequate provision of accessible, high quality sports pitches and facilities that meet the needs and aspirations of local people and visitors now and in the future. 1.3 This report has been prepared with a number of objectives which are fully set out in Chapter 2 and which review: the amount of provision; its quality; availability and accessibility. It also reviews likely demand and needs up to 2036 and makes strategy, policy and implementation recommendations. Summary of Findings 1.4 The findings from the Playing Pitch Strategy are: Football (Chapter 4) • There are 111 Football Pitches on 52 sites in the Borough with 92 being grass pitches and 19 Artificial Grass Pitches (AGPs). • In terms of the quality of the grass pitches, 21 grass pitches rated as good, 42 standard and 29 Poor. • Of the 19 AGPs; 5 were rated as good, 9 as standard and 5 rated as poor quality. • Bracknell Town Football Club’s brand new 3G AGP was not audited for its quality but given that it is state of the art is would rate highly (good). • The accessibility of football pitches is generally good with a large number of pitches across the borough and a large proportion of these are on or within settlement boundaries although there is a large range in the quality of pitches. • Football provision is adequate but hasn’t increased in recent years despite demand and population in the area increasing. • In terms of grass pitch provision; there is a mismatch between data and the feedback of users who feel there is a quantity and quality shortage. There is a current need for 7 full-sized 3G Artificial Grass Pitches (AGP’s) in the area. • Many sites do not meet the needs of residents and suffer from drainage issues. • There will be a demand for smaller, more local pitches for younger children and a projected requirement for 8 further 3G AGP facilities by 2036. • Whilst supply and demand for provision is likely to balance; peak time demand will outweigh supply and over-use is likely to lead to poor quality grass pitches. • Policy and recommendations should plan for enhancing the quality and capacity of existing provision and creating new provision. 1 Cricket (Chapter 5) • There are 8 generally available cricket grass pitches but there are more within schools (private and state) and within institutions (Sandhurst Royal Military Academy (RMA) which add to the overall supply in the Borough. • In terms of their quality, 4 pitches were rated as good, 2 as standard and 2 rated as poor quality. • Cricket pitches are spread well across the parishes, offer facilities within a short distance of most settlements and are all accessible to the community. Some residents in Crowthorne Parish and the south of Winkfield Parish may have to travel further to reach a good quality cricket pitch. • Current Cricket provision in the area is adequate to meet demand with a number of local affiliated cricket clubs. • However, two key clubs (Sandhurst & Binfield) state that they have a deficit of community use provision which may need addressing. • Quality of provision is adequate at all sites other than Braybrooke and The Parks which are disused / currently not fit for purpose. • Projections forecast a future demand for 3 additional youth teams. • Whilst there is a surplus in overall capacity, 2 larger clubs will need a facility development strategy to match their infrastructure and volunteer structures. Rugby Union (Chapter 6) • There are 38 rugby pitches on 10 sites in the borough. • In terms of their quality using the Rugby Football Union (RFU) criteria, 19 pitches were rated as good, 12 as standard and 6 rated as poor quality. • Rugby sites are fairly well spread throughout the Borough however not all rugby sites allow community access. • Demand has remained static in recent years, current supply of rugby pitches is characterised by poor drainage and a lack of secured use for communities. • The low quality and resulting carrying capacity of sites means that there is a deficit of rugby facilities in the area. • Bracknell Rugby Club states that their facilities at Lily Hill Park are unfit for purpose despite investment from the RFU and the club. They expressed a need for refurbished ancillary facilities at Lily Hill Park and Calfridus Way to allow for club income generation. • Growth projections forecast the equivalent of 4 new teams in the youth/mini age groups. Growth in adult rugby will be restricted if facilities are not improved. • There is not enough provision to meet future demand. • The main policy and recommendations are to improve the quality and capacity of existing rugby pitches and their ancillary facilities. Hockey (Chapter 7) • There are 9 Artificial Grass Pitches (AGP’s) for playing Hockey on 8 sites in the Borough. • In terms of their quality, 2 AGP’s were rated as good, 6 as standard and only 1 rated as poor quality. • Hockey sites are well spread across the borough although 2 sites are not currently available for community use. • Birch Hill Recreation Ground is the predominant location of facilities in the area. Demand in the near future will be significantly influenced by the choice of home site for a new club South Berkshire Hockey Club (SBHC). This may not be in the borough. 2 • Currently there is enough provision to meet demand; however this will change if SBHC find a new site within the south Berkshire area. Their current capacity is fully used at match times. • Existing facilities are adequate but if the provision for a revenue source is required, the social facilities will need refurbishment. • Growth projections indicate minor increases in demand for Junior Hockey however this may be underestimated due to the recent success of Olympic Hockey teams. • If clubs and England Hockey are successful at retaining new and returning hockey players, further provision is needed. SBHC would require 2 full sized AGP with a clubhouse if located in the borough. • The main policy and recommendations are to secure increased community use for some facilities and to improve existing or provide new pitches and ancillary facilities for secured community use particularly if the newly formed SHBC look for a new home ground within Bracknell Forest. Bowls (Chapter 8) • There are 3 bowling greens in the Borough containing 17 rinks in the Borough. • The national decline in uptake of bowls has not been reflected in Bracknell Forest where there has been a steady increase in membership numbers. • There are no bowling greens in Binfield, Warfield, Winkfield and Sandhurst parishes. • There are several clubs which have secured community use however the quality of pitches can deteriorate throughout the season. • The number of bowlers per green in the Bracknell area is twice the national average and projected population increases could add to this pressure. • Improvements to the Great Hollands site will improve the accessibility and quality of secured provision but further greens are needed to sustain good quality pitches. • There is a lack of reliable data to indicate whether demand will increase but it is reasonable to assume an ageing population and increasing population will increase demand. • The main policy recommendations are to improve the quality of existing bowling greens and possibly provide new bowling greens in the outlying residential areas such as Binfield and Warfield where there is a growth in housing and where demand for bowling can’t be met by improving the quality of existing greens. Tennis (Chapter 9) • There are 59 tennis courts over 11 sites in the borough. • 40 of the courts are floodlit and all sites but one site have secured community use. • Demand for tennis in Bracknell is high. • Most sites are operating under their maximum membership capacity. • The lack of ‘Pay and Play’ schemes reduces accessibility. • There was no feedback from clubs to illustrate the quality of tennis facilities in the area but a large proportion of courts are floodlit and privately owned or managed indicating good levels of maintenance. • Accessibility can be significantly improved by increasing the number of ‘Pay and Play’ schemes across the borough. • The main policy recommendations are to protect existing tennis courts, work with the owners/managers of tennis facilities to increase the number of ‘pay and play’ tennis facilities across the borough and provide new tennis courts in recreational 3 grounds which have the operational support and potentially resources to promote tennis in the borough. Other Sports (Chapter 10) • There is a good variety of other sports facilities in the Borough including 19 sports halls, 10 swimming pools, 11 health and fitness suites, 5 golf courses, 2 climbing walls, equestrian centres, a dry ski slope, an ice rink, mountain bike trails and high ropes (Go Ape).