Dear Parishioner
You will receive a Parish Council Consultation Document regarding the Community Field, next to the existing Playing Fields, and the plans to convert it from an agricultural field into a recreational facility. We would like to ensure that you have all the background necessary to make an informed contribution to the future of the Community Field.
Firstly, the Football Club is NOT trying to take over the Community Field. There has been much misinformation spread about the club and the Community Field in the past few months.
There is plenty of room for both a football pitch and many other facilities for children and adults. We support this integrated use and have been collaborating to implement an overall plan for some years. A similar community consultation in 2017 produced some excellent proposals for various facilities which could all be installed, e.g. a multi-use games area, running/cycle track etc.
The football pitch which we request will provide a much-needed “overflow” facility to take the pressure off the existing ground and facilitate football for all ages. The single pitch would also be marked to accommodate junior pitches within it.
When not in use for matches or training, the pitch would be available as an open play area for the whole Community – as well as for any other local sports group if appropriate, fetes etc..
The Football Club offers to manage and maintain this area at no cost to the parish. Portable goals would be located on the pitch area to enable casual kick-abouts for the children, just as happen now, but would be moveable to enable other use of the ground as required
The background is that the field was generously gifted to the Parish Council, by two then-members of the Football Club, for use by “all community sports groups and recreational use by the general public with priority given to local sports groups”. The Giftors were motivated by their passion for football, but hoped that everyone would benefit from other facilities as well.
We believe that the conditions of the gift means that the Parish Council should include a football pitch. Until recently the Parish Council have understood the legal and moral obligations in this way, and amicable progress has been made with all the surveys, discussions and legalities involved.
However, since changes in leadership on the Parish Council last year, this collaboration has been stalled – as has progress on the Field. The Football Club has been very unfairly misrepresented and the automatic inclusion of a football pitch has been noisily opposed by a small minority.
We therefore encourage you to participate in the Consultation – and to support the inclusion of a football pitch as well as all your other desired facilities. We all want to see the wonderful potential of this area developed for the benefit of the whole village, as soon as possible.
Bartestree Football Club
Contact: Dave Matthews, Stalls Cottage, Bartestree, 07929 734129
