Information about the Project

As a Parish Council keen to promote the health & well being of parishioners, it is hoped to provide high quality recreational facilities by refurbishing an old multi use games area (MUGA) that currently can only be used as tennis courts.

In use for more than 20 years, the surface has deteriorated & the markings are worn and have in many places disappeared . A new surface & fencing compliant with current safety & accessibility standards will ensure the whole community can enjoy a wide range of sporting activities, which are currently unavailable, for many years to come.

The Parish Council has been awarded some funds for improving Parish community assets and the existing sports facilities were identified as a  project that could potentially be suitable. This money together with various grants would enable the Parish Council to deliver a modern MUGA for the residents of the wider community within the Parish to be able to use to improve their health & well being. 

A large proportion of the funds available for the project must be spent within a limited period of time, otherwise they will be lost.  This issue, together with the desire to complete the project during the winter period when the facilities are least in use, means that there is an amount of urgency to move this project forward so that we have a good chance of delivering our exciting new sports facilities in good time for Spring 2023.  

Refurbishment would mean the provision of a fresh tarmac surface, with appropriate new fencing and markings for each sport to provide a safe accessible facility for all. The proposed design divides the whole area into two, retaining two tennis courts, but opening up the potential to play basketball, netball and football on these courts also.

These courts would all meet the current safety run off measurements recommended by Sport England which not only makes them safer, but affords more people the opportunity to use the facility at any one time. Integral goal areas to play football plus panels with cricket wickets will enable these games to be played and it is proposed to have climbing wall panels on the external fence walls.

The new design will not only be easier to maintain but it will also meet the new anti bullying requirements & the local schools will be able to offer students the use as part of the sports curriculum & open up potential opportunities for after school activities. 

Existing Footprint

The current footprint would increase from existing 

34m x33m to 42m x 35m.

The court orientation would need to change to facilitate installation on the site

to allow the correct sized safety run offs for each sport.  

      Existing Orientation                                   Proposed Orientation

Giving two equal sized areas of 21m x 35m :

2 full sized tennis courts & run offs

2 full sized netball courts & run off 

2 full sized basket ball court & run offs 

2 football areas 

The courts on both sides to be fully marked out as per the standard marking for each sport in contrasting colours to aid players recognition & minimise confusion during play.

Plans are based on the Sport England Recommended Court Sizes for Outdoor MUGAs

The link below is to a document which has some more detail about the proposed plans for the existing facilities. Copies of these were available at the public consultation session held in the Parish Meadows and below are some of the questions that arose from that session and have been included for those who were not able to attend in person.

muga consultation doc

If anyone would like to comment or have more questions about the proposal please email the Parish Clerk

clerk@ironacton-pc.gov.uk

FQA’s 

Why a tarmac surface? 

This is the recommended surface for an outdoor facility that is not locked or monitored as most robust against malicious damage.

Why will the footprint of the facility need to increase? 

This is to enable the provision of two equal sized areas in which the courts can be marked out to conform to the specifications recommended by Sport England to ensure the correct safety run offs & distance between courts. 

Why can’t there be a separate MUGA & keep the tennis courts separate? 

The largest proportion of the cost is the tarmac footprint. After considerable consultation with  various MUGA specialist companies such as Wicksteed & GB Sports & Leisure where many potential configurations were looked at, the proposed layout provides the  potential for the widest combination of sports with the smallest increase of footprint  which would allow the project to be kept within budget. 

How is the project to be funded?

A substantial amount of money has been offered to the Parish Council to fund a community asset project such as the one proposed. However the amount on its own is not enough to cover the cost of the entire project so a number of grants have been applied for. A requirement of the application process for these grants is to demonstrate that the facility is inclusive and would bring greatest benefit to the widest number of people hence the proposed design includes a number of sports to meet this criteria. 

How will the provision of the tennis nets be managed?

Initially the idea was to have a lockable unit with a passcode that would be issued on booking. Whilst a lockable unit is still a good option, following initial consultation with Parishioners, this aspect is to be reviewed with the view to having a system where by one court will have tennis nets in place when the court is not booked for other activities  in order to facilitate the use of the courts for tennis by those that might find the setting up / taking down of nets a challenge.   

What are anti bullying recommendations? 

It is now recommended that all public sports spaces have easy access / exit points to reduce the risk of someone becoming trapped by assailants in a fenced off area. The current facilities have gates, one of which is difficult to enter/exit due to its location & the amount of vegetation blocking it & the other is not easy to open quickly. 

Why do we need to have the other sports? 

The old surface shows that in the past netball & football markings were also present together with the tennis courts. The Parish Council has been approached to broaden the number of sports facilities to cater for a wider age range & those who do not wish to play tennis. The local schools have also expressed interest in using the facilities as part of the curriculum activities & possibly after school clubs. To meet the criteria specified within the various grant applications, it is has to be shown that the facility will be open to the widest number of people within the local Parish community.   The provision of tennis courts only would not provide a facility which was open to the widest number of people within our Parish and so would not satisfy the eligibility criteria for financial grants.

Will there be a booking system? 

 While the facility will remains unlocked, the PC would encourage all potential users to book via the website to ensure fair usage & those with a reservation will have precedence over those who have turned up to play without a booking . The current booking system would have to be developed to reflect the wider choices & priority given to those who live within the parish. 

Will there be a charge to use? 

There are no plans at present to charge although the PC reserves the right to review this aspect.