Why can’t we use pitch we paid for?
PEOPLE have united in protest as a petition calling on councillors to “save” a 3G football pitch in West Lancashire has collected more than 16,000 signatures.
Thhe 3G pitch next to the former Glenburn Sports College in Skelmersdale, which closed down in 2016, has been unused since.
Carl Eaton, manager of the Skem Men-Aces disabled football club, set up the online petition, addressed to Lancashire County Council, on Care 2 Petitions just over one week ago.
Already, it has gained over 16,000 signatures – of its 17,000 target.
In the petition, Carl says that Lancashire County Council “should be ashamed” after leaving 3G football pitch unused.
He said: “In the eyes of myself, and many others, this is a total outrage when you consider that it was the taxpayers of Skelmersdale who funded this fabulous facility and now to leave it unused is nothing short of disgraceful.
“Yet another kick in the teeth for our forgotten town.”
He also suggests that the pitch should be open to the use of community groups from the local area.
The 55-year-old from Skelmersdale added: “Hand it over to a community group or groups, where they could keep it maintained and run it how they see fit.
“I’m absolutely of no doubt at all that if several clubs where to make good use of the facility, as it was intended for, it would put Skelmersdale back in touch with grassroots football.
“Skelmersdale has lost so many of its sports facilities, and we cannot let this happen again.
“At a time when we are supposed to be encouraging children to be more active, it’s shameful that this facility is being left unused.
“Speaking as the manager of the Skem MenAces disabled football club, this location would be ideal for us during the summer months when we go outside.”
He added that saving the pitch would be in the interests of many local Skelmersdale clubs, not just his own.He has also organised a protest, which will take place on March 10, from 4pm to 5pm, at the site of the former Glenburn College.
Carl said: “I am stunned and quite frankly shocked that my petition has reached over an astonishing 16,000 signatures.”
It was originally planned that the pitch would be relocated to Delph Side Primary School, but those plans proved unsuccessful last month.
In response to the petition, a spokesperson for Lancashire County Council said: “For safety reasons, it is unlikely that we could give unsupervised access to the pitch, especially while the demolition work is taking place on this site.
“We’ve already had several expressions of interest from local organisations and schools about relocating the 3G pitch, which we’re looking into, so that the pitch can be used by the local community.”