Popular social club wants to transform its sports facilities
PLANS have been revealed to transform sports facilities at Holy Trinity Recreation Ground at The Rookery Sports and Social Club on Roe Lane in Southport.
The scheme would involve the demolition of the existing sports club before the construction of a new sports pavilion with four changing rooms, spectator facilities and lounge facilities.
The ambitious scheme offers ‘the best opportunity to secure the long-term future for the buildings and site at The Rookery’ as it nears its 100th anniversary.
The land was left to a charity which is responsible for the care, maintenance and improvement of the nine-acre playing fields in 1925.
The gift was made by a local philanthropist for the recreational improvement of the local residents of the parish.
Today, the site supports three cricket clubs, a tennis club and one football club Southport Trinity AFC - which is Southport’s oldest amateur football club.
But the facilities - which include an old-fashioned communal bath - are outdated and need updating.
The clubhouse, which is over 65 years old and is used for social events, after-match refreshments and fundraising activity, is also in need of modernisation.
A partial refurbishment of the lounge and bar was completed in 2018, only for it to be severely damaged by a fire just three days after opening, which has led to ‘a severe reduction in revenue.’
Holy Trinity Recreation Ground Ltd is a registered charity located at The Rookery.
The proposed football and cricket part of the site extends to an area of 33,956 sq m (3.39 hectares), 8.3 acres and is laid out as sports pitches comprising of two senior 11-a-side football, one nine-a-side, two five-a-side and one seven-aside football pitches and two cricket squares.
The three cricket clubs consist of five senior, one ladies team and three junior sides with around 100 playing members and 50 social members in total.
The football club has one senior and 20 junior sides with around 300 players, 50 officials, coaches and managers.
The tennis club has around 50 members.
The ground is used for several community group activities such as: Boot Camp; walking football for elderly exercise and wellbeing; Holy Trinity Primary School uses the grounds for its annual sports day and football practice and matches; Chess; Sub Aqua Club; darts and dominoes team.
The chess, sub aqua and darts and dominoes events took place in the old clubhouse and are temporarily located elsewhere. The intention is that they come back to the site.
In a planning application to Sefton Council, Richard Every Architect Ltd, on behalf of the club, said: “The clubhouse would be available for community use with social and fundraising events.
“The revenue from the clubhouse generated an income which is required to cover groundworks, utilities, rates, and insurance costs.
“The clubhouse facilities were in poor repair with structural problems and out of date changing facilities including a communal bath and changing rooms which are no longer fit for purpose.
“With the aim of increasing revenue, the charity funded a partial refurbishment of the function room which would enhance fundraising for the long-term plans including a complete overhaul of the facilities on offer.
Southport Trinity AFC is one of the sports clubs based at Holy Trinity Recreation Ground at The Rookery Sports and Social Club
“On April 3, 2018, the clubhouse and changing rooms were partially destroyed by the fire only three days after the completion of the lounge and bar refurbishment.
“This has led to a severe reduction in revenue and the temporary requirement of two temporary changing rooms in the car park which reduces the parking to two accessible spaces.
“The absence of the lounge and bar for over four years has increased the pressures on the finances and increased the reliance upon short term donations.
“This is not sustainable in the long term and has a major impact upon the development of the sports currently on offer.
“The existing clubhouse layout is unsuitable for today’s sporting demands for cricket and football. The existing communal shower and baths are unsuitable for developing the sports and making them available to a more diverse audience. The destruction caused by the fire provides an opportunity to redevelop the layout to today’s standards.”
The proposed works include demolition of the existing clubhouse and the construction of a modern facility with up-todate changing rooms including provision for officials, accessible changing room and function room with bar facilities.
There would be four changing rooms built in accordance with Sport England’s Design Guidelines.
Richard Every Architect Ltd said: “The layout will be in accordance with Sport England’s Design Guidelines (2016) with a view to providing up-to-date facilities that satisfy the demands of participant and spectator. The aim is to encourage and develop ladies and children’s participation in both cricket and football.
“This scheme offers the best opportunity to secure the longterm future for the buildings and site at The Rookery.
“The proposed works will ensure the longevity of the charity and clubs and provide sporting facilities for all.”