Talks under way to decide sport needs (From Ledbury Reporter)

Talks under way to decide sport needs

4:20pm Saturday 24th March 2012 in Ledbury By Gary Bills-Geddes

TALKS are under way between the Ledbury Sports Federation and Herefordshire Council to find suitable ground for a new sports complex.

Federation members, town councillor Bob Barnes and Coun Chris Ridler have met with planning officer Roland Close to help move the search forward.

In a report to the town council, Mr Barnes said: “He was not minded to support any use of land towards Parkway but preferred to see any new development occurring on the flat land by the rugby club.

“The present football and cricket clubs should remain, with their land being protected from any development.

“He thought that land could be made available on the viaduct housing site. He suggested that we seek out suitable parcels of land.”

The viaduct site has been earmarked for 700 new homes during the next 20 years or so.

The federation, a group representing the sporting interests of various clubs in the town, is asking the town’s sports clubs to set out the amount of land each club needs for present and future use.

Some clubs have already responded.

Ledbury Rugby Club has 18 acres but would like a further six acres to that pitches can be rested as required.

Ledbury Cricket Club has four acres, but requires 10 acres “to cover the need for young players properly, they need 10 acres”.

Ledbury Football Club has nine acres, including eight mini-pitches and six full-sized pitches.

Other sports to be considered in the consultation process will include tennis, athletics, cycling, rifle shooting and archery.

Coun Barnes said: “We should also consider the needs for a youth club.”

An open meeting will be called, on a date still to be fixed, to start fundraising and develop “a clear and simple plan”.

The idea is that any land boughtshould be in the care of Ledbury Town Council, and rents from users would be used to maintain facilities.