Kentish Express Ashford & District
Call for big expansion of borough’s sport facilities
Experts say more than 20 new sports fields will be needed to keep up with the demand of the growing population in the borough.
Sport and leisure consultancy Max Associates was brought in to assess the current and future needs for sports clubs in Ashford, Tenterden and the surrounding villages.
The company has recommended a “hub” approach of combining sports facilities, with key emphasis placed on new facilities at the proposed Discovery Park as part of the Chilmington Green housing development.
But its report to Ashford Borough Council’s cultural projects manager, Len Mayatt, states there will also be a need to find new pitches and fields elsewhere.
It follows surveys by Sport England showing that levels of sporting participation in Ashford have fallen below the national average, with two thirds of adults admitting they don’t participate in sport at least once a week.
The report also shows that indoor sports halls such as the Stour Centre are currently operating at 100% capacity, while membership of the Kestrels Gymnastics Club in Tenterden is oversubscribed, with demand expected to grow.
The sport that will generate the most demand for new facilities is football, with the Football Association identifying the need for 15 new pitches and three 3G artificial pitches.
In terms of future strategic objectives, the report highlights a need to create a 3G pitch at Homewood School in Tenterden, along with a new pitch at the Finberry and Chilmington Green housing developments.
Meanwhile, the Rugby Football Union states there is a need to find a further two new pitches near to Ashford Rugby Club, and a further two new pitches at Chilmington Green.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has identified the need for Mersham Cricket Club to get an extra field, and says that provision should also be made at Chilmington Green.
England Hockey states there will be a need for a further artificial pitch at Ball Lane, and that space should be made available at Chilmington if this cannot be secured.
The report also identified the option to create three floodlit tennis courts, which can also be used for netball, which would also be located at Chilmington.
Ashford Borough Council’s cabinet will discuss the report at its meeting at the Civic Centre at 7pm tonight (Wednesday).