Henwick playing field refurbishment plans amended following Sport England objection
Thatcham’s hockey club has amended its application to refurbish and enlarge the Henwick playing fields following an objection from Sport England.
The non-departmental public body dubbed the plans as “poor”, leading the club to drop the full sized artificial grass pitch from its plans.
The original plans, objected to by Sport England in September, were for a refurbishment and enlargement of existing tennis courts, providing an artificial half pitch as well as the full sized artificial grass pitch, which was intended for multi-sport use.
The multi-use facility was faced with objection on the basis that it was not considered in “accord with any of the exceptions to Sport England’s Playing Fields Policy”.
The drawings submitted in the original plans, made in August, display a hockey surface but Sports England pointed out that multi sports use on this surface could lead to claims against the club, should injuries occur during rugby games on a hockey field.
It said: "It is not suitable for competition football, and it is questionable whether competition netball and tennis could be played on it without further detail."
The developer, through agent Turley, has now stated that its new application proposes to refurbish and extend the existing redundant tennis courts to provide a ‘generation 2 pitch’ for multi-sports but the full sized pitch will no longer go ahead.
The report states that the hockey club disagrees with Sport England’s case that “the application fails to meet the exception tests set out within their guidance and within the National Planning Policy Framework”.
It states that the replacement will “allow multiple sports to use the facility, including hockey, netball, tennis, futsal, mini-soccer, lacrosse, softball, korfball and athletics”.
The report went on to say: “The planning application submitted for a multi-surface community court would increase the availability and opportunity for all round individual and team sports.
“It would allow multiple organisations to play their sports at the same time. It would allow multiple organisations to play during the winter months and it would allow multiple sporting organisations to have a surface to play their sport on without being affected by the weather.
“It would, more than anything, allow the public access to additional facilities to partake in minority sports.
“Far from reducing the amount of space available for sport, this application will increase provision, re-introduce tennis to the site and introduces netball.”
The new plans were discussed in a Thatcham planning and highways council meeting where councillors reviewed the amendment.
David Lister (Lib Dem, Thatcham West) noted: “We are very fortunate to have this facility in Thatcham, it is the best we have in West Berkshire.”
However, discussions were had within the chamber about withdrawing support for the proposal due to the concerns around disruptions to neighbouring residents.
A member of the public attended and raised issues with the development in relation to noise, lighting and parking disturbances.
He said: “The planning application is very vague.
“We [residents] are concerned about noise and lighting, there’s no studies about noise and lighting. The parking, every ones got different views about.”
He added: "We want to know how this impacts us."
Simon Pike (Lib Dem, Thatcham West) told the public member: “I have a lot of sympathy for you about the consultation. There are a number of omissions from the plan."
He added: "The design and access makes qualitative statements but nothing on noise and lighting."
The chamber agreed that more detail was required for their continued support in the development.
The amended plan is still awaiting a decision. Turley's response to Sports England can be viewed by searching 21/01790/FUL into the West Berkshire planning portal.
