Football teams can get ready for kick-off
AMATEUR football teams in Rochdale have been given the go-ahead to start playing again.
The sport was suspended last week after local lockdown measures were imposed on the borough following a spike in coronavirus cases.
They included a return of the 2m social distancing guidelines, which council chiefs said made it unsafe to hold training sessions and matches.
But now town hall bosses have written to clubs to say councilowned pitches will be reopened ‘as soon as practicable’.
A letter to clubs states: “The advice released earlier this week by the council has been re-assessed and advice below has changed.
“As you may be aware two weeks ago Rochdale implemented its own additional measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus before the Government imposed similar measures with associated enforcement powers on July 31.
“The council was considering what the implications of our local measures were, and in particular on our own facilities.
“We have now undertaken this work and will be reopening our own pitches as soon as practicable. We fully support grassroots sport in our borough and this letter is to let you know that our pitches will be open as soon the standard programme of mowing and pitch marking is completed.
“It is expected that mowing will be completed by August 14 and line marking of all sites will completed by August 28.”
When pitches do reopen a maximum of 30 people, including players, coaches and spectators, will be permitted, changing rooms will be closed and at playing fields with multiple pitches kick-off times will be staggered to avoid what the council described as ‘bottlenecks’.
The letter adds: “Rochdale Borough Council will closely monitor and review the situation and will take appropriate action to deal with any breaches of this guidance. Please remember that the rules are designed to keep people safe and it is essential that we all adhere to them closely.”