A new artificial pitch planned as part of Lichfield’s new leisure centre will be tailored for youth rather than adult football, a report has revealed.
A formal planning application for the new facility at Stychbrook Park has been submitted.
As well as a swimming pool, gym and studio spaces, the new centre will have an outdoor 3G sports pitch.
But a report looking at the loss of the existing pitches, said the proposals would look to utilise a playing surface of 82 metres by 50 metres rather than the adult size of 106 metres by 70 metres.
“The need for 3G pitches is clear, and would offer a significant improvement on the existing sloped pitches, and would also offer floodlighting, fencing and storage.
“However, the introduction of flood lighting will require a certain distance to be maintained to the neighbouring properties.
“The prominence of youth 11v11 teams in the area, the need to encourage youth and senior football, while allowing the flexibility to provide 5v5 games and to mark out 9v9 games, as well as the need to retain a suitable distance from the site boundaries for new floodlighting, the under 13-14 82 metres by 50 metres pitch was decided to be the optimum proposed size.”
Planning report
The chosen pitch size would allow three 5v5 games to be played at the same time .
The report said that although two adult teams currently use the Stychbrook Park site, there were other available sites across the area.
“There is a spare capacity of adult grass pitches in the area and specifically in Lichfield city, but there is an overplay on youth 9v9 pitches and a future shortfall of mini 5v5 pitches.
“A variety of pitch sizes were reviewed. Given the spare capacity of adult grass pitches in the area, the retention of the existing pitch would not address the opportunities or direction of the playing pitch strategy.
“A larger 11v11 pitch was also reviewed. A public consultation with residents was conducted by the council on this basis, which provided feedback on a lack of park, proximity of the pitch to the site boundary as well as noise and floodlighting concerns.
“Concerns were also raised around the suitability of a large pitch to cater to youth, disability and over 50s groups.”
Planning report
Full details can seen on Lichfield District Council’s planning website.
In other words, the site is not big enough for a leasure centre. This is a typical false justification from our council for the delivery of an inferior product. The local neighbourhood has already expressed its concerns about this site and the loss of its park. I very much doubt that any discussion took place about the football pitches. In any case, the ‘leisure centre’ should be for all age groups….It is not a kindergarten !
Why is there no sportshall provision? There is only Burntwood Leisure centre which is always booked up in the evenings
So the local residents don’t want it. Only 2% of the District will use it. The football pitch will not be full size. Where will the ‘later’ sports hall module fit on this plan then? Will there ever be a sports hall? Sometime never.
Why can’t it go between the railway lines as part of the Curborough housing plan? At least you would have enough space and people buying houses would know what they are in the vicinity of.
I would say the cinema plan had turned turtle and this is the diversionary plan?
Like the mini-skateboard facility in Beacon Park it sounds like the cheapest option. Paying lip service to provision without really developing anything truly worthwhile with this once in a generation opportunity. Given that grass pitches are unplayable for long periods in the winter they do not represent a like-for-like alternative. No sports hall, badminton, basketball, indoor bowls etc, etc.
The councillors know that, like most of them, most members of the community won’t use these facilities anyway, so why bother with anything that will achieve a real level of utility maximisation. Just tick the ‘leisure centre done’ box and move on!
It gets better and better. First no sports hall/racket provision, now not even a proper football pitch. It’s ludicrous. Leave
the park alone you clowns.
This project is as doomed as the cinema. Wrong place & wrong facilities, & will never win a green award as the only way there from any reasonable distance will be car for the majority -, never mind the residents. And it is not cheap for what we do not want sited there.
It sounds like someone has measured the field properly and realise it’s not big enough for the proposed building car park and a full size pitch ? Well done Lichfield planners ? It’s another Kennings site in the offing so leave the existing pitch for the time being ? Don’t turn it into a redundant building site for years ! we’ve already got that ? 😂
Lichfield is crying out for more 11v11 football pitches. LDC need to wake up and start doing their research properly.
Well done Lichfield Council, no sports hall!!! Football pitches too small …Lichfield Council is totally incompetent, it fails to deliver in everything it touches…. Except giving permission for 1000 and 1000 more homes, they are totally ruining our wonderful city.
“Fed Up Resident” Lichfield Council does not exist.
“Well done Lichfield Council, no sports hall!!! Football pitches too small …Lichfield Council is totally incompetent, it fails to deliver in everything it touches…. Except giving permission for 1000 and 1000 more homes, they are totally ruining our wonderful city.”
Well, permission has not been granted. Also, “Fed Up Resident” do you vote, do you want to cough up more that 160 a year in your Council Tax. Would you stand for election
Why O why do we elect these idiots, another failure from LDC.
No sports hall now No proper football pitches.
Oh dear, £500000 for the development contract and here we are. Wrong size, wrong facilities and WRONG place! I said at the outset this plan was drawn up by a 6 year old with crayons (just like HS2). It’s just a box ticking, vote grabbing exercise. Do it properly please.
Looks pathetic. Goes well with every other crummy naff project in Lichfield.
They might want to reconsider and build a bigger car park, as there will be no access to the site by bus after 6pm in the evening and no bus service on a Sunday. So, where will 10 x 3 team members, brought by parents in the evening (remember, no buses) park if the Leisure Centre is fully used at the same time? Oh, on the local roads, especially Curborough Road, increasing the traffic hazard. And no pedestrian crossing in the plans either. Well thought out again. P…Up and brewery comes to mind.
Somewhat confused, the sketch doesn’t show the houses that are in close proximity to the park? Just a green space. Just be honest please, lives will be adversely affected by a ” leisure centre” in this location.
Do I understand correctly that Beacon Park is part of the Green Belt? Would it be possible to make Stychbrook part of the GB and swap the corresponding amount of land with Beacin Park and build a proper leisure centre at Beacon Park. It’s an ideal place with all its other facilities.
Already two good sized football pitches and a children’s play area. Why change it.
A good idea would be to refurbish the existing Friary Sports Centre 🤣