Call For New Approach Over Churchill Fields

Churchill Fields

An Austerlands engineer has called for councillors to “totally readdress” the project to improve the drainage at Churchill Fields.

Retired project manager Rob Knotts, from Austerlands, has compiled a dossier on the subject, as the public consultation continues.

Mr Knotts, who is involved with the Voice of Saddleworth group which aims to field independent candidates in May’s local and parish elections, said in his report that the current plans “lack feasibility, viability and credibility.”

A  public meeting was told last week that more than £300,000 could be raised to sort out the drainage, with half from council sources and the rest potentially available in grants from the Football Foundation and Rugby Football League.

Councillors presented one possible option for the fields, with four full-size pitches for football and rugby, along with one smaller pitch and a training area. The existing running track would be ripped up, and replaced with a grass one during the summer months.

That idea has angered local athletics club Saddleworth Runners, who weren’t invited to earlier meetings which took place between councillors and other sporting clubs. Councillors have said that was because the runners weren’t on a list of registered clubs which have paid to use the fields in the last three years.

In his report, Mr Knotts criticised councillors for showing a “lack of transparency and communication.” He added that, in his view, “only those organisations viewed as potential supporters of the plans” had been involved in the process. He criticised what he described as a “narrow focus on soccer and rugby” adding that this “does not accord with the government’s aim to increase sporting participation by all groups in society, including isolated groups and the disabled.”

On the technical issues surrounding the drainage problems, Mr Knotts said the council’s decision to employ an agronomist to put together a report on the fields wasn’t far-reaching enough. He said that someone with expertise in land drainage engineering, particularly as it relates to sporting grounds such as golf courses, should be brought in to make an assessment.

Mr Knotts went on to propose that councillors should encourage individiual sporting clubs to apply for Lottery funding through Sport England. He added: “Greater involvement of interested parties would allay fears that the proposals presented so far presented are a ‘done deal.'”

Councillors repeatedly stressed at last week’s meeting in Uppermill that they will take on board all feedback received, both at the meeting itself and in consultation forms which were handed out to many of the 300 or so local people who attended. The Saddleworth Runners also indicated they were prepared to put any disagreements over their lack of involvement up to now behind them, and work with the councillors from here on in.

Cllr Barbara Beeley

Cllr Barbara Beeley, who chairs the Oldham Council-funded Saddleworth and Lees District Partnership which has taken the lead in trying to resolve the issues at the fields, has said: “We have a strong commitment to sort out the drainage problems at Churchill Playing Fields and provide Saddleworth with one of the best sports facilities in the borough in full consultation with the local community and local sports clubs.”

She added: “It is only since the Liberal Democrat administration at Oldham Council created District Partnerships with real budgets that we have had the opportunity to explore and help fund solutions to the drainage problems and worn out playing surfaces.”

Cllr Beeley has also stated: “This is the best opportunity we have had to finally sort out Churchill Playing Fields’ drainage and improve the facilities for sport. Without this funding Churchill Playing Fields will continue to deteriorate to the point where it will be unusable for anything at any time.”

You can read more stories about Churchill Fields from Saddleworth News here.

Author: Jude Gidney - Editor

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