PROPOSALS to bring a 3G pitch to Lower Earley continue to be questioned by residents.
David Portus wanted to know why Sol Joel Park, in Earley, wasn’t being considered as a potential site.
Cllr Ian Shenton, the executive member for environment and leisure responded to all questions put to him by the public, including this one.
“Sol Joel Park was bequeathed to a trust, with the trustee being Reading Borough Council,” he explained. “Earley Town Council has a lease for, I believe 50 years, which started in 2001. They can only operate the park within the terms of their lease, with building work must be approved by the leaser and be within the rules of the trust.”
Why did the consultation recommend the school, was Mr Portus’ follow-up query.
Cllr Shenton said he couldn’t say why as it was chosen before the current administration took charge of the council.
Sandra Spencer pointed out that the proposed pitch would cost £800,000 before inflation rose to 11%.
“Bearing in mind building projects can run seriously over budget, and that the school has perfectly adequate sports facilities for all the pupils … who will be liable for any shortfall if there are unexpected extra costs?”
Cllr Shenton said the school felt its facilities were at capacity and the current pitches were not adequate for students, but the 3G pitch would benefit both students and the community.
He added that the council was undertaking a review of the project, which would include the finances.
Ms Spencer wanted to know what the current estimate for the pitch was. She added: “Would it not be viewed as a council squandering money at a time when many people are so desperate? They are turning to food banks, sitting in cold homes, worrying about how to pay the bills, and the council says it can no longer afford basic services such as weekly bin collections.”
Cllr Shenton said the council had two budgets – capital, for special projects, and revenue, for day-to-day expenses, and the two were not interchangeable.
“A 3G pitch, wherever it would be in Earley, would be funded by the capital budget, not the revenue one,” he said.
Jeremey Evershed said: “The Council can’t afford this proposal to become a burden on the public purse with on-going maintenance, administration and £25,000 per annum sinking fund commitment.”
He said he was not convinced about the council’s planned Service Level Agreement for the pitches.
Cllr Shenton said this was a ‘framework’ for how partners and the council work together to promote and develop football and sport within the community, as well as giving commitments that key partners should meet.
“The council have not had to deal with any serious issues or introduce penalties at other managed 3G sites,” he said.
“Do you think that is a realistic position, that you will not get any complaints for this pitch” Mr Evershed asked.
Cllr Shenton reiterated the council has not had to deal with a situation like that so far.
David Walker was not present, so his question was asked by Sandra Spencer. He wanted to know how “a costly and intrusive project” could be justified.
Cllr Shenton said it would take two weeks for the pitch to created, but its construction was just one part of a viability exercise that would be carried out.
Jim Badoo said that at consultation evenings held at Maiden Erlegh School residents were told the ground would be raised to created a level surface, necessary as it currently sloped. He wanted to know how high the ground would be raised and how high the fencing would be.
“It would be raised to the same height as the existing Astro pitch,” Cllr Shenton said. “This will be confirmed at the detailed design stage. The acoustic fence would be 4.5 metres, with the purpose of ball retention.
The exact location is yet to be confirmed – it will only be confirmed if the project were to proceed to the detailed planning and design stage.”
Mr Badoo said the recommended distance from a 3G pitch to housing should be 33 metres, not the eight Cllr Shenton had suggested it could be. This would have an impact on noise levels, being “at least 11 decibels higher than World Health Organisation limits”.
Cllr Shenton said it was factors such as this that would be highlighted in a consultation. “We are going to be looking very closely at every aspect,” he said. “We are considering every single aspect that the consultation has raised.”
Karen Brown said the Football Foundation has said there are 524 teams operating in Wokingham borough, and wanted to know if a full list could be published, including existing facilities, age of players, and if anyone plays for more than one team. This was the help ascertain if their needs could be met more locally.
Cllr Shenton said the information was available on the Football Foundation’s website, and there were 83 adult male teams, 14 adult female teams, 144 male youth teams, 50 female youth teams, three disability teams and 230 Mini soccer teams.
“Local to Maiden Erlegh School is Laurel Park FC, which has 33 teams, 46% of their members are female,” he said.
“They train at the school yard and use the grass pitches at Laurel Park to play league fixtures on Saturdays. Whiteknights FC have 18 teams defined by age. They train in indoor halls, hockey Astro pitches, school courts and commercial sites from September to April.”
Ms Brown then wanted to know how many 3G pitches would be needed to satisfy the Football Foundation, to which Cllr Shenton said a full analysis of the situation was currently being undertaken.
“When that is done, we will know where there are shortfalls, and where there aren’t.”
