QUALITY, INTEGRITY, PROFESSIONALISM
Knight, Kavanagh & Page Ltd
Company No: 9145032 (England)
MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS
Registered Office: 1 -2 Frecheville Court, off Knowsley Street, Bury BL9 0UF
T: 0161 764 7040 E: mail@kkp.co.uk www.kkp.co.uk
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY PLAYING PITCH
STRATEGY
ASSESSMENT REPORT
SEPTEMBER 2016
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
CONTENTS
PART 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 1
PART 2: FOOTBALL ...................................................................................................... 14
PART 3: THIRD GENERATION TURF PITCHES ........................................................... 40
PART 4: RUGBY UNION ................................................................................................ 48
PART 5: HOCKEY .......................................................................................................... 68
PART 6: RUGBY LEAGUE ............................................................................................. 85
PART 7: CRICKET ......................................................................................................... 91
PART 8: BOWLS .......................................................................................................... 107
PART 9: TENNIS .......................................................................................................... 114
PART 10: OTHER SPORTS ......................................................................................... 124
PART 11: GOLF ........................................................................................................... 127
APPENDIX 1: SPORTING CONTEXT .......................................................................... 136
NATIONAL CONTEXT .................................................................................................. 136
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ABBREVIATIONS
3G
Third Generation (artificial grass pitch)
AGP
Artificial Grass Pitch
BC
Bowling Club
CC
Cricket Club
CSP
County Sports Partnership
ECB
England and Wales Cricket Board
EH
England Hockey
FA
Football Association
FC
Football Club
FE
Further Education
FPM
Facilities Planning Model
GCB
Gloucestershire Cricket Board
GFA
Gloucestershire Football Association
GIS
Geographical Information Systems
HC
Hockey Club
HE
Higher Education
JFC
Junior Football Club
KKP
Knight, Kavanagh and Page
LDF
Local Development Framework
LMS
Last Man Stands
LTA
Lawn Tennis Association
NGB
National Governing Body
NPPF
National Planning Policy Framework
ONS
Office of National Statistics
PQS
Performance Quality Standard
PF
Playing Field
RFL
Rugby Football League
RFU
Rugby Football Union
RFC
Rugby Football Club
RLFC
Rugby League Football Club
S106
Section 106
TC
Tennis Club
TGR
Team Generation Rate
U
Under
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PART 1: INTRODUCTION
This is the Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) Assessment Report prepared by Knight Kavanagh
& Page (KKP) for Cheltenham & Tewkesbury.
This report presents a supply and demand assessment of playing pitch facilities in
accordance with Sport England’s Playing Pitch Strategy Guidance: An approach to
developing and delivering a playing pitch strategy. It has been followed to develop a clear
picture of the balance between the local supply of, and demand for, playing pitches and
other outdoor sports facilities.
The guidance details a stepped approach to developing a Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS).
These steps are separated into five distinct sections:
Stage A: Prepare and tailor the approach
Stage B: Gather information and views on the supply of and demand for provision
Stage C: Assess the supply and demand information and views
Stage D: Develop the strategy
Stage E: Deliver the strategy and keep it robust and up to date
Stages A-C are covered in this report.
Stage A: Tailoring the approach
Why the strategy is being developed
The Joint Core Strategy (JCS) is a partnership between Gloucester City Council,
Cheltenham Borough Council, and Tewkesbury Borough Council, supported by
Gloucestershire County Council. The JCS was formed to produce a co-ordinated strategic
development plan to show how this area will develop during the period up to 2031. This plan
is currently subject to an examination, an Inspectors report is expected spring 2016.
Tewkesbury has an existing Playing Pitch Assessment and Strategy 2008. The strategy
splits the Borough into five geographical areas and provides calculations for standards of
provision.
Cheltenham has a Playing Pitch Strategy 2002 and audit of which much of the mapping and
audit data is still relevant for the purposes of producing a new strategy and audit; however,
it needs to be reviewed.
The overarching aims, objectives and key drivers for the development of the PPS are
summarised below:
To provide robust and up-to-date assessments of the needs for playing pitch and
outdoor sports facilities and opportunities for new provision.
To inform the development and implementation of planning policy and by doing so
inform Local Plan requirements and relevant supplementary guidance documents.
To inform the assessment of planning applications and masterplans in relation to new
housing developments, particularly the four strategic sites; North West Cheltenham and
North Gloucester (Innsworth), North Gloucester (North and South Churchdown /
Brockworth), MOD Ashchurch and South Cheltenham.
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The report should set out recommendations to address areas of deficiency, including
opportunities for the enhancement of existing land, and recommendations to address
an over-provision of land in some areas of each district, including options for a more
effective use of open space.
To provide evidence to help the councils and clubs secure both internal and external
funding for the creation of new pitches and the upgrading of existing pitches.
To ensure the most efficient management and maintenance of playing pitch provision
in light of budgetary pressures.
To help prioritise internal capital and revenue investment.
To reflect awareness of any relevant sports development programmes and changes in
how the sports are played in terms of what to deliver in the future.
To account for local priorities as set out in the Cheltenham Corporate Strategy and the
Tewkesbury Council Plan.
Scope of the project
Having assessed the characteristics and sporting habits of Cheltenham and Tewkesbury,
it seems appropriate to focus on football, cricket, rugby union and hockey. Other pitch
sports worthy of inclusion include rugby league (one club, All Golds RLFC), lacrosse
(predominately in Cheltenham and at independent schools), rounders (in addition to school
participation/pitches there is Cheltenham District Mixed Rounders League) and croquet
(two clubs; Cheltenham Croquet Club and Beckford Croquet Club, Tewkesbury) and as
such supply and demand for these sports will be carried out.
In addition, the scope has been extended to include the non-pitch sports of golf, tennis,
netball, bowls and athletics. For these sports a light touch review is carried out using the
supply and demand principals of Sport England’s Guidance; Assessing Needs &
Opportunities Guide (ANOG) are followed.
The following types of outdoor sports facilities were agreed by the steering group for
inclusion in the Assessment and Strategy:
Football pitches
Cricket pitches
Rugby union pitches
Artificial grass pitches (AGPs – including use for hockey)
Other pitch sports
Pitch sports will be assessed using the guidance set out in Sport England’s Playing Pitch
Strategy Guidance: An approach to developing and delivering a playing pitch strategy.
Outdoor sports
Bowling greens
Tennis courts
Athletics
Golf
Netball
The extent of the study area
The study area will comprise the whole of the Cheltenham Borough Council and
Tewkesbury Borough Council administrative areas. Neighbouring boroughs include
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Gloucester, Wychavon, Stroud, Forest of Dean, Malvern Hills and Cotswold. Please see
map overleaf.
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The following has been defined as the full Study Area:
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What makes the area different?
Tewkesbury borough is the northernmost district in the south-west region. The population
is approximately 86,890 spread across 160 square miles. The area is predominantly rural
in nature with over 50% living in rural settlements and large market towns. Key settlements
in addition to the main town of Tewkesbury include Ashchurch, Bishop's Cleeve,
Churchdown and Winchcombe. Reflecting its predominately rural nature, there are 50
town/parishes.
In terms of deprivation nationally, Tewkesbury is ranked 275 out of 326 councils (1 being
most deprived) this puts us in the top 20% of areas with low deprivation. Within the borough
there are small pockets of deprivation within general areas of prosperity.
Cheltenham, also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in
Gloucestershire, located on the edge of the Cotswolds. Its population is 116,781, ranked
186th out of 326 English districts based on population. It has the most complete 19th
Century town plan in England and with its historic parks, squares and tree lined avenues
makes the Borough unique and has given the title of ‘a town within a park’.
The districts of Cheltenham include: Arle, Benhall, Charlton Kings, Cleevemount, Fairview,
Fiddler's Green, Hesters Way, Lansdown Leckhampton, Lynworth, Montpellier, Oakley,
Pittville, Prestbury, the Reddings, Rowanfield, St Luke's, St Mark's, St Paul's, St Peter's,
Springbank, Springfields, Swindon Village, Tivoli, Up Hatherley, Whaddon and Wyman's
Brook. The Borough has a great diversity of communities with well-established
neighbourhood-based communities including five parish councils.
There are significant pockets of deprivation in Cheltenham with 19.6% of the population
falling within the most deprived 30% nationally. Conversely, however, 43.6% are within the
two least deprived groups (nationally this is 20%).
Around 10,000 students are accommodated at the University of Gloucestershire which has
a vast range of sports clubs including football, rugby and hockey but also lacrosse. Its main
grass pitch site is located in Cheltenham at the Folly which although well used for University
fixtures is also used by community clubs at weekend. The University also operates a sports
venue in neighbouring Gloucester, Oxstalls Campus which includes an artificial grass pitch
(AGP) and a grass lacrosse pitch, however, it is expected that both will be lost in 2017 as
the University plans to redevelop the site. At present, the AGP is used by Cheltenham
Ladies Hockey Club for midweek training whilst the lacrosse pitch is used by Cheltenham
Cougars Lacrosse Club. It is expected the clubs will need to find adequate provision locally
once development work begins; this could be within Cheltenham or Tewkesbury and
potentially lead to increased demand for both sports.
There are some other notable cross boundary issues identified through the Gloucester
Playing Pitch Strategy, for example, Gloucester City FC is currently displaced to
Cheltenham Town FC due to flood damage at Meadow Park in Gloucester. As there are no
current third generation turf pitches in Gloucester, some clubs travel into Tewkesbury to
access provision at Tewkesbury School and Winchcombe School.
Although rugby union is most popular in the Area, All Golds Rugby League FC (linked to
the University) plays at the Prince of Wales Stadium and although there are some quality
issues at the site, the Club is happy to continue playing within Cheltenham. However, if
developments planned at Bishops College (Gloucester) are able to include facilities which
meet Rugby League Championship 1 stadium requirements the Club would consider
moving back into Gloucester.
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Context
Strategy
Key features and aims
Joint Core Strategy-
Cheltenham,
Tewkesbury,
Gloucester
The Joint Core Strategy (JCS) is a partnership between Gloucester
City Council, Cheltenham Borough Council, and Tewkesbury Borough
Council, supported by Gloucestershire County Council. The JCS was
formed to produce a coordinated strategic development plan to
show how this area will develop during the period up to 2031.
Cheltenham
Sustainable
Community Strategy
2008
The strategy has been prepared by Cheltenham Strategic Partnership
(CSP) which brings together core partners, thematic partnerships,
community and voluntary sectors. The aims of the CSP are:
To be the partnership of partnerships for Cheltenham, providing
strategic co-ordination, ensuring linkages with other plans and bodies
established at the regional, sub-regional and local level and agreeing a
community strategy that sets the vision and priorities for the area and
gaining consensus about the way forward.
To develop and drive the effective delivery of the community strategy
action plan through effective performance management and holding
delivery partners and partnerships to account.
The strategy has four key aims;
To set out local communities’ needs and aspirations
To provide an assessment of the future challenges facing
Cheltenham and what we collectively need to do to respond.
To set out an aspirational long term vision for the achievement of
sustainable development in Cheltenham.
To focus and shape existing and future activity of public, private,
voluntary and community organisations that operate locally so that
they effectively meet community needs and our longer term
aspirations.
Tewkesbury Borough
Council Health &
Wellbeing
Framework 2016
The framework devised by Tewkesbury Borough Council sets out a
clear fundamental vision, which is ‘to help communities to help
themselves to be healthy’. It aims to do so by encouraging the five
ways to wellbeing highlighted by the New Economic Foundation, which
are to connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give. The
framework links to other Council strategies and aims to do so in the
following ways to help improve health in the Borough:
Supporting partners to enable healthier communities.
Supporting the health priorities that arise through the Place
Programme.
Using the Council Plan priorities that influence health improvement.
Implementing the policies relating to health (i.e. infrastructure)
identified through the Joint Core Strategy, Borough Plan and
Neighbourhood Development Plans.
By implementing the actions identified in the Sports, Social and
Open Study (of which this PPS forms part of).
By implementing the emerging county ‘Enabling Active
Communities’ programme.
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Strategy
Key features and aims
Gloucestershire Joint
Health and Wellbeing
Strategy
The strategy focuses on strengthening health and wellbeing and
preventing ill health in Gloucestershire. It is underpinned by the
following principles, which will help guide the focus on:
Supporting communities to take an active role in improving health.
Encouraging people to adopt healthy lifestyles to stop problems
from developing.
Taking early action to tackle symptoms or risks.
Helping people to take more responsibility for their health.
Helping people to recover quickly from illness and return home to
their normal lives.
Supporting individuals or communities where life expectancy is
lower than the county average or where quality of life is poor.
Active Gloucester
Sports Partnership
The vision is to make Gloucestershire a physically active and thriving
sporting county. More simply, more people to be more active and more
often.
Active Gloucestershire aim to work in partnership with a whole range of
public, not-for-profit and private sector organisations to increase and
improve the range and quality of opportunities for people to be active
and play sport.
Cheltenham Leisure
and Culture Review
The Leisure and Culture Commissioning Review sets out a framework
for delivery of services and in particular the sports facilities and delivery
of some key outcomes, which for sport, play and active living is that
“More people are inspired to be physically, socially and mentally
active and are able to live life to the full”
This PPS forms part of an overarching Green Space, Recreation, Community & Faith
Facilities and Social Infrastructure Study. In some cases sports clubs which have ownership
or leasehold of their home site may be able to offer opportunities for wider community
benefit through use of ancillary facilities or car parking capacity, which link to other themes
featured within the encompassing study. Use of sports club pitches generally does not
extend further than club use with the exception of some school use in cases where clubs
may host school fixtures or festivals. However, there may be potential for greater use of
clubhouse and social facilities by local community groups, particularly midweek when many
sports clubs are otherwise unused and often unmanned. Revenue generation is of key
importance for sports clubs and letting facilities to other users such as playgroups, senior
citizens clubs or for functions could provide a source of additional revenue to strengthen
future sustainability. Limited community use of sports club facilities is likely due to a lack of
promotion or organisation from within clubs as many representatives are volunteers and
tend to commit what free time they are able to contribute towards pitch maintenance and
improving or preparing facilities for sporting use at weekends.
Stage B: Gather information and views on the supply of and demand for provision
It is essential that a PPS is based on the best and most accurate and up-to-date information
available about the supply of and demand for playing pitches. This section provides detail
about how this information has been gathered in Cheltenham & Tewkesbury.
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An audit of playing pitches
PPS guidance uses the following definitions of a playing pitch and playing field. These
definitions are set out by the Government in the 2010 ‘Town and Country Planning
(Development Management Procedure) (England) Order’.
1
Playing pitch – a delineated area which is used for association football, rugby, cricket,
hockey, lacrosse, rounders, baseball, softball, American football, Australian football,
Gaelic football, shinty, hurling, polo or cycle polo.
Playing field – the whole of a site which encompasses at least one playing pitch.
This PPS counts individual grass pitches (as a delineated area) as the basic unit of supply.
The definition of a playing pitch also includes AGPs.
Quantity
All playing pitches are included irrespective of ownership, management and use. Playing
pitch sites were initially identified using Sport England’s Active Places web based
database. The Council and NGBs supported the process by checking and updating this
initial data. This was also verified against club information supplied by local leagues. For
each site the following detail is recorded in the project database. (It is supplied as an
electronic file):
Site name, address (including postcode) and location
Ownership and management type
Security of tenure
Total number, type and quality of pitches
A description and the quality of the ancillary facilities
Accessibility
Not all pitches offer the same level of access to the community. The ownership and
accessibility of sports pitches also influences their actual availability for community use.
Each site is assigned a level of community use as follows:
Available for community use and used - pitches in public, voluntary, private or
commercial ownership or management (including education sites) recorded as being
available for hire and currently in use by teams playing in community leagues.
Secured community use - there should be a good degree of certainty that the pitch
will be available to the community for at least the following three years. A judgement
is made based on the information gathered and a record of secured or unsecured
community use put against each site.
Available but unused - pitches that are available for hire but are not currently used
by teams which play in community leagues; this most often applies to school sites but
can also apply to sites which are expensive to hire.
No community use - pitches which as a matter of policy or practice are not available
for hire or use by teams playing in community leagues. This should include
professional club pitches along with some semi-professional club pitches where play
is restricted to the first or second team.
Disused – pitches that are not being used at all by any users and are not available
for community hire either. Once these sites are disused for five or more years they
will then be categorised as ‘lapsed sites’.
1
. www.sportengland.org>Facilities and Planning> Planning Applications
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Lapsed - last known use was as a playing field more than five years ago (these fall
outside of Sport England’s statutory remit but still have to be assessed using the
criteria in paragraph 74 of the National Planning Policy Framework).
In addition, there should be a good degree of certainty that the pitch will be available to
the community for at least the following three years. A judgement is made based on the
information gathered and a record of secured or unsecured community use put against
each site.
Disused/lapsed sites
Site name
Local
Authority
Status
Comments
Alstone Croft Playing
Field
Cheltenham
Disused
Three football pitches (two youth
11v11 and one mini 7v7) no
longer marked or available for
community use. However, the
site continues to be regularly
used by both Gloucester Road
and Christ Church primary
schools.
Queen Elizabeth II
Playing Field
Cheltenham
Disused
CBC owned, former landfill site
which had one adult football pitch
over 15 years ago but no
changing facilities. Subsidence
meant the area did not serve well
as a pitch and requires ball stop
netting at one end due to
neighbouring houses.
Elmfield Playing Field
Cheltenham
Disused
CBC owned, last marked as
sports provision over 20 years
ago. No changing onsite, not
maintained as grass open space.
YMCA
Cheltenham
Disused
Full sized sand based AGP with
floodlighting, resurfaced in 2007.
Now closed and the site of
Saxon Quarter housing
development. Only indoor sports
centre remains onsite.
Triscombe Way Open
Space
Cheltenham
Disused
Mini soccer pitch with no
changing facilities never used
due to poor location and no
through road. Deemed to cause
too much traffic congestion and
despite Council preference for
the pitch to be located at the
front of the development it was
permitted on appeal.
Christ College Sports
Pitches
Cheltenham
Lapsed
One youth 9v9 pitch and one
youth 11v11 football pitch
previously used by Christ
College.
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Site name
Local
Authority
Status
Comments
Pittville School
Cheltenham
Disused
One adult pitch situated at the
top of the school grounds. Pitch
not been used by either school or
community clubs for a number of
years. School intends to sell land
for housing to develop hockey
AGP.
Toby Carvery Brockworth
Tewkesbury
Lapsed
Previously the Cross Hands
public house, had one natural
turf cricket square and one adult
football pitch.
Gloucester Road Football
Pitch
Tewkesbury
Lapsed
One adult football pitch located
adjacent to Gloucester Road.
Tewkesbury Leisure Centre
since built on the land.
Quality
The capacity for pitches to regularly provide for competitive play, training and other activity
over a season is most often determined by their quality. As a minimum, the quality and
therefore the capacity of a pitch affects the playing experience and people’s enjoyment of
a sport. In extreme circumstances it can result in a pitch being unable to cater for all or
certain types of play during peak and off peak times.
It is not just the quality of the pitch itself which has an effect on its capacity but also the
quality, standard and range of ancillary facilities. The quality of both the pitch and ancillary
facilities will determine whether a pitch is able to contribute to meeting demand from
various groups and for different levels and types of play.
The quality of all pitches identified in the audit and the ancillary facilities supporting them
is assessed regardless of ownership, management or availability. Along with capturing
any details specific to the individual pitches and sites, a quality rating is recorded within
the audit for each pitch.
The ratings are used to help estimate the capacity of each pitch to accommodate
competitive and other play within the supply and demand assessment.
In addition to undertaking non-technical assessments (using the templates provided within
the guidance and as determined by NGBs), users and providers were also consulted with
regard to quality and in some instances the quality rating adjusted to reflect this.
Developing a picture of demand
Current demand
Presenting an accurate picture of current demand for playing pitches (i.e. recording how
and when pitches are used) is important in order to carry out the full supply and demand
assessment. Demand for playing pitches tends to fall within the following categories:
Organised competitive play
Organised training
Informal play
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In addition, unmet and displaced demand for provision is also identified on a sport by sport
basis. Unmet demand is defined as the number of additional teams that could be fielded
if access to a sufficient number of pitches (and ancillary facilities) was available. Displaced
demand refers to teams that are generated from residents of the area but due to any
number of factors do not currently play within the area.
Future demand
Future demand is an informed estimate made of the likely future demand for pitches in the
study area. This is generally based on the most appropriate current and future population
projections for the relevant age and gender groupings for each sport. Key trends, local
objectives and targets and consultation also inform this figure. Using population growth
factors, an estimate can be made of the likely future demand for playing pitches in
Cheltenham & Tewkesbury.
Population growth
The current resident joint population across Cheltenham and Tewkesbury is 203,671
2
. By
2037 the population is projected to increase to 238,255
3
which is an increase of 34,584 (or
equivalent to a percentage increase of 17%) according to ONS data.
Team generation rates (TGR)
TGRs provide an indication of how many people it takes to generate a single team (for all
pitch sports) and can help with estimating the change in demand for pitch sports that may
arise from any population change in the study area.
A TGR can be calculated by dividing the current population within an age group for a sport
by the number of teams in the area within that age group. In order to calculate future
demand for pitches, current team generation rates (TGRs) are used.
Future demand for playing pitches is presented on a sport by sport basis within the
relevant sections of this report.
Example
An area may have 10 youth boys’ football teams of a particular age category and a current
population of 900 boys within the relevant age group. This would equate to a TGR of one
team per 90 boys in the age group (i.e. suggesting that it currently takes 90 boys within
the age group to generate one team). A PPS may be looking ten years into the future at
which point the population of this age group is projected to total 1,440. The TGR would
therefore suggest that the projected increase of 540 junior boys within this age group may
generate an additional six teams.
If it assumed that the six teams will play home and away fixtures they will demand a home
pitch for matches every other week, equating to 0.5 match equivalent sessions a week or
three match equivalent sessions a week for the six teams. The breakdown of when
matches are played in the study area suggests that two thirds take place on a Sunday
morning and the other third on a Saturday morning. Allocating the six teams in line with
this current breakdown would generate a demand for two match equivalent sessions
during the peak period of Sunday morning and one elsewhere in the week (i.e. Saturday
2
Data Source: Mid-2015 Lower Layer Super Output Area population estimates for England and Wales
3
Data Source: ONS 2014-based projections 2014-2039
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mornings). The project team should also indicate the likely training requirements for such
teams based on knowledge of how teams currently train and any known changes in how
training activity may take place (e.g. use of AGPs once a week).
Consultation
A variety of consultation methods were used to collate demand information. Face to face
consultation was carried out with key clubs from each sport. This allowed for collection of
detailed demand information and exploration of key issues to be interrogated and more
accurately assessed.
For data analysis purposes an online survey (converted to postal if required) was utilised.
This was sent to all clubs not covered by face to face consultation.
Stage C: Assess the supply and demand information and views
Supply and demand information gathered within Section B was used to assess the
adequacy of playing pitch provision. It focused on looking at how much use each site could
potentially accommodate (on an area by area basis) compared to how much use is
currently taking place.
Understand how a site is being used
Qualitative pitch ratings are linked to a pitch capacity rating derived from NGB guidance
and tailored to suit a local area. The quality and use of each pitch is assessed against the
recommended pitch capacity to indicate how many match equivalent sessions per week
(per season for cricket) a pitch could accommodate.
This is compared to the number of matches actually taking place and categorised as
follows to identify:
Potential spare capacity: Play is below the level the site could sustain.
At capacity: Play is at a level the site can sustain.
Overused: Play exceeds the level the site can sustain
Develop the current picture of provision
Once capacity is determined on a site by site basis, actual spare capacity is calculated on
an area by area basis via further interrogation of temporal demand. Although this may
have been identified it does not necessarily mean that there is surplus provision. For
example, spare capacity may not be available when it is needed or the site may be retained
as ‘strategic reserve’ to enable pitch rotation to reduce wear and tear.
Capacity ratings assist in the identification of sites for improvement/development,
rationalisation, decommissioning and disposal.
Develop the future picture of provision - scenario testing
Modelling scenarios to assess whether existing provision can cater for unmet, displaced
and future demand is made after the capacity analysis. This will also include, for example,
removing sites with unsecured community use to demonstrate the impact this would have
if these sites were to be decommissioned in the future. Scenario testing occurs in the
strategy report and therefore does not form part of the assessment report.
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Identify the key findings and issues
By completing Steps 1-5 it is possible to identify several findings and issues relating to the
supply, demand and adequacy of playing pitch provision. This report seeks to identify and
present the key findings and issues, which should now be checked, challenged and agreed
by the Steering Group prior to development of the Strategy (Section D).
The following sections summarise the local administration of the main grass pitch sports.
Each provides a quantitative summary of provision and a map showing the distribution of
facilities. It also provides information about the availability of facilities to/for the local
community and, the governing body of each sport and regional strategic plan (where they
exist). Local league details are provided in order to outline the competitive structure for
each sport. The findings of club consultation and key issues for each sport are summarised.
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PART 2: FOOTBALL
2.1: Introduction
The organisation primarily responsible for the development of football in Cheltenham and
Tewkesbury is Gloucestershire FA. It is also responsible for the administration, in terms of
discipline, rules and regulations, cup competitions and representative matches,
development of clubs and facilities, volunteers, referees, coaching courses and delivering
national football schemes.
This section of the report focuses on the supply and demand for grass football pitches. Part
3 captures supply and demand for third generation turf pitches (3G). In the future it is
anticipated that there will be a growing demand for the use of AGPs for competitive football
fixtures, especially to accommodate mini and youth football.
Consultation
In addition to face to face consultation with key clubs and the Cheltenham Saturday/Youth
League, an electronic survey was sent to all football clubs playing in Cheltenham and
Tewkesbury with contact details having been provided by the County FA. Consultation
(either through a survey or face to face interview) represents a 67% club response rate and
85% team response rate. The results are used to inform key issues within this section of
the report. The following clubs and leagues were met with face to face:
Bishops Cleeve FC
Bishops Cleeve Colts FC
Charlton Rovers FC
Charlton Rovers Youth FC
FC Barometrics FC
FC Barometrics Youth FC
FC Lakeside Youth & Adult FC
Leckhampton Rovers FC
Tewkesbury Town FC
Tewkesbury Town Colts FC
2.2: Supply
The audit identifies a total of 170 grass football pitches in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury of
which 147 are available for community use on some level. There are three FA or FIFA
certified 3G pitches on which competitive football matches can be played, located at All
Saints Academy, Tewkesbury Secondary School and Winchcombe School. The map
overleaf identifies all pitches within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury regardless of community
use.
Table 2.1: Summary of grass pitches available for community use
Pitch type
Total
Adult
Youth 11v11
Youth 9v9
Mini 7v7
Mini 5v5
79
8
22
31
7
147
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PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 15
Table 2.2: Summary of grass pitches available for community use in Cheltenham
Table 2.3: Summary of grass pitches available for community use in Tewkesbury
Most pitches in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury are adult sized which is, in part, due to youth
11v11 teams playing on adult pitches. This is not ideal for youth players and is not in line
with the recent FA Youth Review. Adult pitches used by both adult and youth teams (pitch
numbers in brackets) include:
Dowty Sport and Social, Tewkesbury (5)
Bishops Cleeve Sports Field, Tewkesbury (5)
King George V Playing Field, Cheltenham (4)
Burrows, Cheltenham (3)
Swindon Village, Cheltenham (3)
The Folly, Cheltenham (3)
Disused and lapsed sites
The following sites are recorded as previously having football provision which has since
become either disused or lapsed.
Table 2.4: Disused sites with football provision
Disused site
Local
authority
Comments
Changing
provision?
Queen Elizabeth II
Playing Field
Cheltenham
Previously had one adult football pitch
on site.
No
Elmfield Playing
Field
Cheltenham
Previously had one adult football pitch
on site.
No
Sand Pits Playing
Field
Cheltenham
Previously had one adult football pitch
and one junior football pitch.
No
Triscombe Way
Open Space
Cheltenham
Previously had one mini football pitch.
No
Pittville School
Cheltenham
One adult pitch situated at the top of
the school grounds. Pitch not been
used by either school or club for a
number of years. School plan to sell
land for housing to develop hockey
AGP.
Yes
Christ College
Sports Pitches
Cheltenham
One youth 9v9 pitch and one youth
11v11 football pitch previously used by
Christ College.
No
Toby Carvery
Brockworth
Tewkesbury
Previously had one adult football pitch
marked onto a cricket outfield.
Onsite
pavilion
Pitch type
Total
Adult
Youth 11v11
Youth 9v9
Mini 7v7
Mini 5v5
31
8
7
17
1
64
Pitch type
Total
Adult
Youth 11v11
Youth 9v9
Mini 7v7
Mini 5v5
48
-
15
14
6
83
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September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 16
Figure 2.1: Location of football pitches in Cheltenham
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Figure 2.2: Location of football pitches in Tewkesbury
Future supply
There are four planned developments for new football provision to be created in
Tewkesbury over the next five years. These have not been included within the analysis but
will form part of the accompanying action plan. They are:
Cold Pool Lane (Tewkesbury Area 5) - newly refurbished site within Tewkesbury which
is in the process of being asset transferred to a local club. Football provision will include
two adult pitches, one junior pitch and four team changing facility.
Coopers Edge (Tewkesbury Area 1/Stroud) – provisionally planned to open 2018 with
one adult pitch four team changing facility. Right on the authority border and the
development will be split across Tewkesbury and Stroud.
Invista Ground (Tewkesbury Area 5) – provisionally planned to open 2017 with two
junior pitches and pavilion shared with cricket provision.
Longford (Tewkesbury Area 1) – planned to include one adult and two junior pitches
accompanied by four team changing facility.
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September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 18
Population increases and growth in housing developments anticipated are expected to
generate additional demand for sports facilities including football pitches. The PPS findings
should be used to guide the development of any new sporting provision which may include
the creation of additional pitches, new ancillary facilities or new sites to best accommodate
both the newly generated demand and current requirements. The subsequent increased
population will create a need for further infrastructure developments which may include
additional or extended school provision. Again, the PPS findings should be used to guide
the composition of sports provision should this happen, to best serve the requirements of
schools, communities and sport as a whole.
Pitch quality
The quality of football pitches in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury has been assessed via a
combination of non-technical assessments (as determined by The FA) and user
consultation to reach and apply an agreed rating as follows:
Good
Standard
Poor
Pitch quality is primarily influenced by the carrying capacity of the site; often pitches are
over used and lack the required routine maintenance work necessary to improve drainage
and subsequent quality. It is likely that pitches which receive little to no ongoing repair or
post-season remedial work will be assessed as poor, therefore limiting the number of games
able to take place each week without it having a detrimental effect on quality. Conversely,
well maintained pitches which are tended to regularly are likely to be of a higher standard
and capable of taking a number of matches without a significant reduction in surface quality.
The percentage parameters used for the non-technical assessments were as follows; Good
(>80%), Standard (50-80%), Poor (< 50%). It should be noted that all of the sites that
received a ‘standard’ rating from the non-technical assessments scored between 50% and
57%.
The tables below summarises the quality of grass pitches that are available for community
use.
Table 2.5: Summary of football pitch quality (community use pitches)
Pitch type
Good
Standard
Poor
Adult
2
59
18
Youth 11v11
2
3
3
Youth 9v9
1
16
5
Mini 7v7
-
24
7
Mini 5v5
-
6
1
Total
5
108
34
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September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 19
Table 2.6: Summary of football pitch quality in Cheltenham (community use pitches)
Pitch type
Good
Standard
Poor
Adult
1
20
10
Youth 11v11
2
3
3
Youth 9v9
1
4
2
Mini 7v7
-
15
2
Mini 5v5
-
1
-
Total
4
43
17
Table 2.7 Summary of football pitch quality in Tewkesbury (community use pitches)
Pitch type
Good
Standard
Poor
Adult
1
39
8
Youth 11v11
-
-
-
Youth 9v9
-
12
3
Mini 7v7
-
9
5
Mini 5v5
-
5
1
Total
1
65
17
The non-technical pitch quality audit shows that the majority (74%) of pitches available for
community use are standard quality and only 23% are poor quality, with only five pitches
rated as good quality (3%). Most adult pitches (75%) are rated as standard quality and the
remaining are poor (23%), with only two good quality pitches. Most mini pitches are rated
as standard quality (80%), with 15% poor and none good.
Private sites (e.g. sports clubs) typically offer better quality facilities than council and parish
council parks/playing fields and school pitches. In general, such sports clubs tend to have
dedicated ground staff or volunteers working on pitches and the fact that they are often
secured by fencing prevents unofficial use. Private site hire is often at full cost recovery.
The maintenance and use of council sites tends to be less frequent and unofficial use of
these sites can further exacerbate quality issues.
Specific comments relating to the pitch conditions at individual sites can be seen in the table
below. The comments are a combination of club feedback and site assessment information.
Table 2.8: Summary of pitch quality comments
Site
Analysis
Area
Comments
Priors Farm
Cheltenham
The pitch suffers from poor drainage. Each season
large amounts of fixtures are cancelled due to
waterlogging and poor pitch conditions.
Swindon Village
Cheltenham
Pitch has poor drainage and as a consequence large
amounts of fixtures get cancelled per season.
The Beeches
Cheltenham
Goalmouth showing signs of wear. Drainage is
inadequate and many fixtures are cancelled in the
winter period.
Naunton Park
Cheltenham
The ground is compacted meaning the site quickly
waterlogs.
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Site
Analysis
Area
Comments
King George V
Playing Field
(Cheltenham)
Cheltenham
The pitch has good drainage, but some pitches are
beginning to sink and this could become dangerous.
Bishops Cleeve FC
Tewkesbury
Area 3
The main pitch was unplayable from December to the
start of February due to poor drainage. Pitch on
average plays between 90-100 games per season.
One of the main reasons cited by clubs for a decline in pitch quality is related to reports of
limited pitch maintenance or a lack of available funds to carry out appropriate maintenance.
Other reasons cited for the decline in pitch quality include:
Over marked pitches
High amount of rainfall this season (2015/16)
Uneven and hard surfaces
Overplay in bad weather
Casual use
Dog foul/litter
Lack of investment and limited maintenance including infrequent grass cutting
Lack of remedial work i.e. seeding
Adult matches churning up pitches before afternoon youth games
Ancillary facilities
Generally, the standard of changing facilities within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury is
considered to be good. Only two clubs replying to surveys and consultation noted changing
provision to be of an overall poor standard.
FC Barometrics report that changing facilities are both of a poor quality and dated. The
Club plays at Newlands Sports Ground owned by Cheltenham Tigers RFC, which similarly
indicate that changing provision is poor. The size of individual changing rooms is
inadequate for teams and there are 12 communal shower heads for all teams (including
the rugby section).
The University of Gloucestershire FC indicate that changing rooms are too small at the Folly
and when both rugby and football is being played at the same time the facility is inadequate
to handle requirements for all teams. The site is also reported to suffer from break ins and
vandalism.
New changing facilities were recently built at Alderton Playing Field. The site has two new
changing rooms built and shower facilities to serve the two adult pitches on site. A new
pavilion including changing provision was also recently built in September 2016 at King
George V Playing Field (Tewkesbury), whilst changing provision may potentially be
provided at Wheatpieces Playing Field linked to Section 106 funding as part of a current
planning application for land nearby.
Rowanfield Rovers FC has recently entered into a ten year lease agreement with
Cheltenham Borough Council on the changing facilities at King George V Playing Field
(Cheltenham) and neighbouring adult pitch. The building was previously subject to arson
and as a result has no roof, leaving it vulnerable to the weather which has left it derelict and
unfit for purpose with need for a complete internal refit. The Club has three age junior groups
with little potential for revenue generation yet plans to complete the required refurbishment
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by February. Pitch maintenance is the responsibility of the Club, though in practice it is likely
that the Council will continue to maintain the pitch as it does the others onsite.
Security of tenure
The majority of teams in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury play on council, or parish council
managed pitches and are therefore considered to have secured tenure as part of their
maintained sports and leisure provision offering. The main allocation of pitch provision
within Tewkesbury is managed individually by parish councils, in contrast, a high proportion
of pitches are managed by the Council in Cheltenham.
Bishops Cleeve FC currently has five years left on the current lease agreement at Kayte
Lane from a local farmer. Negotiations are currently underway to renew the lease until
2038; however, the Club indicates that the farm owner is reluctant to offer a longer term
lease on the site.
Cheltenham Civil Service FC currently plays at the Cheltenham Area Civil Service Sports
Association Ground. The site is considered to have secured tenure after the ground
negotiated a new 14-year lease from Cheltenham Borough Council.
Cheltenham Saracens FC report that it has 15 years left remaining on its lease at Peters
Field from Cheltenham Borough Council. The Club is keen to renew the lease and improve
the current site for its long term use.
FC Lakeside, Tewkesbury Town Youth/Adult and Charlton Rovers FC all report a desire to
move away from pitch rentals and look to secure tenure at a self-managed site if the
opportunity was available. This could present opportunities for clubs to take on greater
responsibility for maintenance and to develop playing provision. However, clubs looking to
do so should be considered to have a robust infrastructure, sufficient personnel resource,
be financially sound and able to realistically sustain and take responsibility for such an
asset, whilst fully understanding the financial and legal implications of doing so.
Football pyramid facilities
There are four clubs in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury that play within the non-league football
pyramid:
Gloucester City FC (Step 2)
Bishops Cleeve FC (Steps 4 & 7A)
Cheltenham Saracens FC (Step 6)
Cheltenham Civil Service FC (Step 7A)
Cheltenham FC has recently been promoted from the non-league pyramid (step 1) back
into the Football League Division Two.
Clubs within the step system must adhere to ground requirements set out by the FA. The
higher the level of football being played the higher the requirements. Clubs cannot progress
into the league/step above if the ground requirements do not meet the correct
specifications. Ground grading, as it is referred to, assesses grounds from A to H, with ‘A’
being the requirements for Step 1 clubs.
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Cheltenham Town FC has recently been promoted from the non-league pyramid (step 1)
back into the Football League Division Two. Cheltenham Town FC plays the highest level
of football in the area. Gloucester City FC has imported demand from nearby Gloucester
since 2007 when its Meadow Park ground was again flooded and eventually condemned.
The Club rents the Whaddon Road ground from Cheltenham Town FC and shares use in
order to meet Step 2 ground grading requirements. Gloucester City FC has plans for a new
stadium at Meadow Park which was recently addressed in the Gloucester PPS. The Club
is in the process of preparing to submit a funding application to the Football Foundation
Football Stadia Improvement Fund to help towards a new stadium.
All step football facilities are considered to be unavailable for community use with priority
access given to the performance teams from the individual clubs. The site pitches are
generally considered inaccessible by community teams as step football teams require
pitches to be of a high standard for play and therefore limit the amount of use on the pitches.
2.3: Demand
A total of 289 affiliated teams are identified as playing matches on football pitches within
Cheltenham and Tewkesbury. This consists of 93 men’s, seven women’s, 111 youth boys’,
10 youth girls’ and 68 mini soccer teams. Of these, 16 teams were identified as consistently
playing home matches on a 3G pitch.
As a further breakdown, Cheltenham consists of 42 men’s, five women’s, 61 youth boys,
four youth girls and 37 mini teams. Tewkesbury consist of 51 men’s, two women’s, 50 youth
boys, six youth girls and 31 mini teams.
Leagues
The vast majority of adult football takes place on Saturday afternoons with most teams
playing in the Cheltenham Associational Football League. Most teams within this league
are heavily reliant on the availability of council/parish council pitches. Around half of the
teams within the League play on council managed pitches, for example, Swindon Village,
The Beeches and Naunton Park.
The majority of youth football within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury is played within the
Cheltenham Youth Football League, which is similarly reliant on council/parish council sites
as playing venues.
Unmet demand
Unmet demand is existing demand that is not getting access to pitches. It is usually
expressed, for example, when a team is already training but is unable to access a match
pitch, or when a league has a waiting list due to a lack of pitch provision, which in turn is
hindering the growth of the League. There is currently no specific unmet demand within
Cheltenham and Tewkesbury.
Latent demand
During the consultation process Charlton Rovers FC identifies that if more pitches were
available, at its home ground or in the local area, it could develop more teams in the future.
Sport England’s Segmentation Tool enables analysis of ‘the percentage of adults that would
like to participate in football but are not currently doing so’. In Cheltenham the tool identifies
latent demand of 1,317 people. The most dominant segment is ‘Jamie – sports team lads’
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September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 23
(28%). In Tewkesbury, the tool identifies latent demand of 765 people. The most dominant
segment ‘Ben – competitive male urbanites’ (26%).
Displaced demand
Displaced or exported demand refers to Cheltenham and Tewkesbury registered teams that
currently access pitches outside of the local authority for home fixtures, normally because
pitch requirements cannot be met, usually because of pitch supply or in some cases quality
issues.
In Cheltenham and Tewkesbury most of the displaced demand derives from adult teams,
five of which are Vets teams displaced due to the nature of the GFA Vets league which
takes place on 3G pitches at Hartpury College as a central venue format.
Some teams export demand to use pitches in Gloucester since the Cheltenham Sunday
League folded in 2012, leading clubs to join the Gloucester & District Sunday League
(GDSL). The GDSL hires a number of pitches at Plock Court in Gloucester for clubs to use.
Table 2.9: Summary of displaced match demand
Club
Team
Where displaced?
Local Authority
Ashleworth
Woodpeckers Youth FC
U12, U13,
U14
Hartpury College
Forest of Dean
C&G AFC
Vets
Hartpury College (3G Pitch)
Forest of Dean
Coopers Edge FC
Vets
Hartpury College (3G Pitch)
Forest of Dean
Cornerstone United FC
1st team
Evesham High School
Wychavon
Upton Cornerstone FC
2nd
Upton upon Severn RFC
Malvern Hills
CT Outcast FC
Vets
Hartpury College (3G Pitch)
Forest of Dean
FC St Leonards Youth
U11
Upton St Leonards Primary
School
Stroud
FC Two 20
1
st
team
Plock Court
Gloucester
Gloster Rovers FC
1
st
team
Plock Court
Gloucester
Leckhampton Rovers
FC
Vets
Hartpury College (3G Pitch)
Forest of Dean
Southside Star FC
Vets
Hartpury College (3G Pitch)
Forest of Dean
Tewkesbury Town Colts
U12 x2
Beckford Social Club
Wychavon
Future demand
Population increases
Team generation rates are used below as the basis for calculating the number of teams
likely to be generated in the future based on population growth.
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Table 2.10: Team generation rates (Cheltenham)
Age group
Current
population within
age group
Current no.
of teams
Team Generation
Rate
(2037)
Future
population
within age
group
Predicted future
number of
teams
Additional teams
that may be
generated from
the increased
population
Senior Men’s (16-45)
24,088
47
513
25,777
50.3
3
Senior Women’s (16-45)
24,053
5
4811
24,571
5.1
0
Youth Boys (12-15)
2,438
33
74
3,009
40.7
7
Youth Girls (12-15)
2,510
4
628
2,996
4.8
0
Youth Boys (10-11)
1,194
22
54
1,395
25.7
3
Youth Girls (10-11)
1,147
0
0
1,334
0
0
Mini Soccer Mixed (8-9)
2,517
17
148
2,698
18.2
1
Mini Soccer Mixed (6-7)
2,585
9
287
2,666
9.3
0
Table 2.11: Team generation rates (Tewkesbury)
Age group
Current
population within
age group
Current no.
of teams
Team Generation
Rate
(2037)
Future population
within age group
Predicted future
number of
teams
Additional teams
that may be
generated from
the increased
population
Senior Men’s (16-45)
13,877
54
257
15,822
61.6
7
Senior Women’s (16-45)
14,136
2
7068
15,373
2.2
0
Youth Boys (12-15)
1,868
26
72
2,424
33.7
7
Youth Girls (12-15)
1,716
5
343
2,265
6.6
1
Youth Boys (10-11)
932
19
49
1,193
24.3
5
Youth Girls (10-11)
923
1
923
1,137
1.2
0
Mini Soccer Mixed (8-9)
1,870
15
125
2,287
18.3
3
Mini Soccer Mixed (6-7)
1,995
4
499
2,262
4.5
0
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Team generation rates (TGRs) based on future population in Cheltenham indicate that
participation is anticipated to create at least the following teams:
Cheltenham
Three men’s adult teams
Seven youth 11v11 boys’ teams
Three youth 9v9 boys’ teams
One mini 7v7 team
Tewkesbury
Seven men’s adult teams
Seven youth 11v11 boys’ teams
One youth girls’ team
Five youth 9v9 boys’ teams
Three mini 7v7 teams
It is important to note that TGRs are based on population figures and cannot account for
specific targeted development work within certain areas or focused towards certain groups,
such as NGB initiatives or coaching within schools. For example, there is a focus on
developing girl’s football within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury and this is likely to lead to
more girls’ teams in the future and therefore demand for more pitches.
There has been a recent decrease nationally in participation at adult level and that the
number of FA affiliated adult teams playing competitive football has dropped. Similarly,
there has been a decline in the number of youth players making the transition from youth
football to adult leagues. The Cheltenham Association Football League chairman indicated
that within the league the number of teams registering has declined in the past five years.
A number of clubs within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury indicate the desire to grow the
number of teams:
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Table 2.12: Potential increases identified by clubs
Club
Future
demand
Analysis area
Match
equivalent
sessions
Pitch type
Lakeside FC
1 x Adult
2 x U9
Cheltenham/
Tewkesbury Area 1
1.5
Adult
Mini 7 v 7
Tewkesbury Town FC
1 x Adult
Tewkesbury Area 2
0.5
Adult
Leckhampton Rovers FC
3 x U9
Cheltenham
1.5
Mini 7 v 7
Churchdown Panthers FC
1 x Adult
2 x U9
Tewkesbury Area 5
1.5
Adult
Mini 7v7
Prestbury Phantoms AFC
2 x U12
2xU14
2xU15
2xU16
Cheltenham
4
Youth 9 v 9
Youth 11 v 11
Brockworth Albion FC
2 x U13
1x U12
1x U9
Tewkesbury Area 5
2
Youth 11 v 11
Youth 9 v 9
Mini 7 v 7
Southside Star FC
1xU14
1xU15
1xU16
Cheltenham
1.5
Youth 11 v 11
Winchcombe Town FC
1xU13
1xU12
1xU9
Tewkesbury Area 4
1.5
Youth 11v 11
Youth 9 v 9
Mini 7 v 7
Cheltenham Spa Ladies
FC
1xU13
1xU12
Cheltenham
1
Youth 11 v 11
Youth 9 v 9
Fintan FC
1x Adult
1 x U16
Cheltenham
1
Adult
Youth 11 v 11
Regency FC
1 x Adult
Cheltenham
0.5
Adult
University of
Gloucestershire Football
FC
2 x Adult
Cheltenham
1
Adult
Training
Access to affordable floodlit training facilities is a key issue for most clubs in Cheltenham
and Tewkesbury, particularly those with a large number of youth and mini teams. There are
only three full sized 3G pitches, located at All Saints Academy, Tewkesbury Secondary
School and Winchcombe School all of which are on the FA register.
Further to this, there are three sand based AGPs within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury which
are well used by teams for training located at Brockworth Sports Centre, Balcarras Sports
Centre and Bourneside Sports Centre. Of responding clubs, 17 indicate a need for specific
access to 3G pitch provision for midweek training across Cheltenham and Tewkesbury,
equating to 137 teams.
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September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 27
2.4: Capacity analysis
The capacity for pitches to regularly provide for competitive play, training and other activity
over a season is most often determined by quality. As a minimum, the quality and therefore
the capacity of a pitch affects the playing experience and people’s enjoyment of playing
football. In extreme circumstances it can result in the inability of the pitch to cater for all or
certain types of play during peak and off peak times. Pitch quality is often influenced by
weather conditions and drainage.
As a guide, The FA has set a standard number of matches that each grass pitch type should
be able to accommodate without adversely affecting its current quality (pitch capacity).
Taking into consideration the guidelines on capacity the following was concluded in
Cheltenham and Tewkesbury:
Table 2.13 applies the pitch ratings against the actual level of weekly play recorded to
determine a capacity rating as follows:
Potential capacity
Play is below the level the site could sustain
At capacity
Play matches the level the site can sustain
Overused
Play exceeds the level the site can sustain
Education sites
For the purposes of capacity analysis only education sites with regular known and recorded
community use have been included. All other schools with no recorded community are
shown below in the Table. In many cases, where there is no identified community use at
present there is little capacity to accommodate further play. Maintenance of school pitches
is generally carried out to a basic standard and may not include much beyond grass cutting
and line marking. This combined with the significant usage throughout the school week for
curricular sport, extracurricular training sessions and fixtures often impacts on surface
quality and far exceeds recommended capacity.
Some schools do not allow community use in order to manage poor quality pitches for their
own use throughout the week. Schools may also play fixtures on Saturday mornings during
the winter because of bad light after school which may limit capacity for community use,
particularly in the case of youth and mini pitches as this coincides with the main junior
football leagues which operate on Saturday mornings. In Cheltenham and Tewkesbury this
is not the case and most school fixtures are played after school during the week until late
October when visibility decreases, starting again in February when it improves.
Adult pitches
Youth pitches
Mini pitches
Pitch
quality
Matches per
week
Pitch
quality
Matches per
week
Pitch
quality
Matches per
week
Good
3
Good
4
Good
6
Standard
2
Standard
2
Standard
4
Poor
1
Poor
1
Poor
2
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 28
Table 2.13: Football pitch capacity analysis (recorded community use)
Site
ID
Site name
Local
Authority/Analysis
Area
Available for
community
use?
Security of
tenure
4
Management
Pitch type
Pitch size
Quality rating
No. of
pitches
5
Current play
(in match
sessions)
FA
recommended
site capacity
(in match
sessions)
Capacity
(match
equivalent
sessions)
Match
sessions
available in
peak period
2
Alderton Playing Fields
Tewkesbury Area 2
Yes
Secure
Sports Club
Adult
Poor
1
0.5
1
0.5
0.5
4
Apperley Playing Fields
Tewkesbury Area 2
Yes
Secure
Sports Club
Adult
Standard
1
1
2
1
-
6
Bishops Cleeve Sports Field
Tewkesbury Area 3
Yes
Secure
Parish
Council
Adult
Standard
5
4.5
10
6.5
5
Youth
9v9
Standard
2
3.5
5
1.5
1.5
Poor
1
Mini
7v7
Poor
2
1
4
3
-
5v5
Poor
1
0.5
2
1
1
8
Brockworth Sports Centre
Tewkesbury Area 5
Yes
Secure
School
Adult
Standard
1
1
2
1
0.5
Youth
9v9
Standard
1
0.5
2
1.5
0.5
Mini
7v7
Standard
1
1
4
3
-
5v5
Standard
2
1
8
7
1
13
Churchdown Park
Tewkesbury Area 5
Yes
Secure
Local
Authority
Youth
(Mini)
9v9
(7v7)
Standard
1
0.5
2
1.5
1
14
Churchdown Academy
Tewkesbury Area 5
Yes
Secure
School
Adult
(Youth)
(9v9)
Standard
3
1
6
5
3
15
Civil Service Sports Association
Ground
Tewkesbury Area 2
Yes
Secure
CSSC
Adult
Good
1
4
5
1
-
Standard
1
19
Dowty Sports and Social Club
Tewkesbury Area 1
Yes
Unsecure
Commercial
Management
Adult
Standard
5
8.5
10
1.5
0.5
Youth
9v9
Standard
2
2
4
2
1
Mini
7v7
Standard
1
0.5
4
3.5
0.5
20
Gotherington Playing Field
Tewkesbury Area 3
Yes
Secure
Community
Organisation
Adult
(Youth)
(9v9)
Poor
1
0.5
1
0.5
0.5
Mini
7v7
Poor
1
0
2
2
1
21
Highham Playing Field
Tewkesbury Area 1
Yes
Secure
Sports Club
Adult
Poor
1
1
1
-
-
Mini
7v7
Standard
1
4
4
-
-
5v5
Standard
1
4
4
-
-
24
John Daniels Playing Field
Tewkesbury Area 5
Yes
Secure
Local
Authority
Adult
Standard
1
0.5
2
1.5
1
Youth
9v9
Standard
1
0.5
2
1.5
1
Mini
7v7
Standard
1
2
4
2
-
25
Kayte Lane (Bishop Cleeve FC)
Tewkesbury Area 3
Yes
Secure
Sports Club
Adult
Standard
2
2.5
4
1.5
0.5
26
King George V Playing Field
(Tewkesbury)
Tewkesbury Area 4
Yes
Secure
Sports Club
Adult
Standard
2
2
4
2
1
Youth
9v9
Standard
1
0
2
2
1
27
Longford Parish Park
Tewkesbury Area 1
Yes
Secure
Parish
Council
Adult
Standard
1
1.5
2
0.5
-
28
Mill Lane Playing Fields
Tewkesbury Area 5
Yes
Secure
Sports Club
Adult
Poor
2
1
2
1
1
29
Minsterworth AFC
Tewkesbury Area 1
Yes
Secure
Sports Club
Adult
Poor
1
0
1
1
1
30
Newlands Park Sports Ground
Tewkesbury Area 3
Yes
Secure
Sports Club
Adult
Standard
2
3
4
1
-
4
Unless local information suggests otherwise it can be assumed that the availability of all pitches in LA, town and parish council and sports club ownership will be secure.
5
Where pitches are overmarked, recommended capacity is based on the larger pitch size, whilst type and usage of smaller pitch sizes marked within are shown in italics.
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 29
Site
ID
Site name
Local
Authority/Analysis
Area
Available for
community
use?
Security of
tenure
4
Management
Pitch type
Pitch size
Quality rating
No. of
pitches
5
Current play
(in match
sessions)
FA
recommended
site capacity
(in match
sessions)
Capacity
(match
equivalent
sessions)
Match
sessions
available in
peak period
31
Norton Recreational Ground
Tewkesbury Area 1
Yes
Secure
Local
Authority
Mini
7v7
Standard
1
0
4
4
1
38
Tewkesbury School
Tewkesbury Area 2
Yes
Unsecure
School
Adult
Standard
3
3
6
3
2.5
Youth
9v9
Standard
1
0
2
2
1
Mini
7v7
Standard
1
1
4
3
-
5v5
Standard
2
1
8
7
1
39
The Gould Field
Tewkesbury Area 2
Yes
Secure
Parish
Council
Adult
Standard
2
1
4
3
2
40
The Woodpeckers Sport and Social
Tewkesbury Area 1
Yes
Secure
Sports Club
Youth
9v9
Poor
1
0
1
1
1
Mini
7v7
Poor
1
0
2
2
1
45
Twyning CC
Tewkesbury Area 2
Yes
Secure
Sports Club
Youth
9v9
Standard
1
1.5
2
0.5
-
Mini
7v7
Standard
2
1
8
7
1
48
Pamington Fields
Tewkesbury Area 2
Yes
Secure
Private
Adult
Standard
1
1.5
2
0.5
0.5
52
Chosen Hill Old Boys RFC
Tewkesbury Area 5
Yes
Secure
Sports Club
Adult
Standard
2
1
4
3
2
54
Brockworth RFC
Tewkesbury Area 5
Yes
Secure
Sports Club
Adult
Poor
1
1.5
1
0.5
-
57
Winchcombe FC
Tewkesbury Area 4
Yes
Secure
Parish
Council
Adult
Standard
1
1
2
1
0.5
64
AGG Gardeners
Cheltenham
Yes
Secure
Local
Authority
Adult
Standard
1
0.5
2
1.5
0.5
68
Bourneside Sports Centre
Cheltenham
Yes
Unsecure
School
Adult
Poor
1
1.5
1
0.5
-
Youth
9v9
Poor
2
1
2
1
1
69
Brizen Farm Playing Field
Cheltenham
Yes
Secure
Local
Authority
Mini
7v7
Standard
1
0
4
4
1
70
Burrows
Cheltenham
Yes
Secure
Local
Authority
Adult
Standard
3
1
6
5
2.5
Youth
11v11
Standard
1
3
2
1
-
73
Cheltenham Saracens FC
Cheltenham
No
Secure
Sports Club
Adult
Standard
1
2
2
-
-
82
Clyde Crescent Recreation Ground
Cheltenham
Yes
Secure
Local
Authority
Adult
Standard
1
1
1
1
0.5
88
Hatherley Park
Cheltenham
Yes
Secure
Local
Authority
Mini
7v7
Standard
1
0
4
4
1
89
King George V Playing Field
(Cheltenham)
Cheltenham
Yes
Secure
Local
Authority
Adult
(Youth)
(11v11)
Standard
4
(3)
5
8
3
3
Mini
7v7
Standard
2
1.5
8
6.5
0.5
90
Lakeside Primary School
Cheltenham
Yes
Unsecure
School
Youth
(Mini)
9v9
(7v7)
Standard
1
(2)
2
2
-
-
94
Oakwood Primary School
Cheltenham
Yes
Unsecure
School
Youth
(Mini)
9v9
(7v7)
Standard
1
(1)
1
2
1
0.5
97
Naunton Park
Cheltenham
Yes
Secure
Local
Authority
Adult
Poor
2
2.5
2
0.5
-
Youth
11v11
Poor
1
2
1
1
-
Mini
7v7
Poor
1
0
2
2
1
101
Pittville School
Cheltenham
Yes
Unsecure
School
Adult
(Youth)
(9v9)
Standard
2
3
4
1
0.5
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 30
Site
ID
Site name
Local
Authority/Analysis
Area
Available for
community
use?
Security of
tenure
4
Management
Pitch type
Pitch size
Quality rating
No. of
pitches
5
Current play
(in match
sessions)
FA
recommended
site capacity
(in match
sessions)
Capacity
(match
equivalent
sessions)
Match
sessions
available in
peak period
104
Priors Farm
Cheltenham
Yes
Secure
Local
Authority
Adult
Poor
2
0.5
2
1.5
1.5
Youth
11v11
Poor
1
2.5
1
1.5
-
107
Springfield’s Park
Cheltenham
Yes
Secure
Local
Authority
Adult
(Youth)
(11v11)
Standard
2
(1)
5
4
1
-
111
Swindon Village
Cheltenham
Yes
Secure
Local
Authority
Adult
Poor
3
4
3
1
-
Mini
7v7
Poor
1
2
2
-
-
112
The Beeches
Cheltenham
Yes
Secure
Local
Authority
Adult
Poor
2
3.5
2
1.5
-
Youth
11v11
Poor
1
3
1
2
-
114
The Folly
Cheltenham
Yes
Secure
University
Adult
Standard
3
8
6
2
-
117
Whaddon Recreation Ground
Cheltenham
Yes
Secure
Local
Authority
Adult
Standard
1
1.5
2
0.5
-
Mini
7v7
Standard
1
1
4
3
-
128
University of Gloucestershire Park
Campus
Cheltenham
Yes
Secure
University
Mini
7v7
Standard
6
0.5
24
23.5
5.5
131
Churchdown Village Infants School
Tewkesbury Area 5
Yes
Secure
School
Youth
9v9
Standard
1
1.5
2
0.5
-
132
Prestbury Playing Fields
Cheltenham
Yes
Secure
Parish
Council
Adult
Standard
2
2.5
4
1.5
1
133
Warden Hill Primary School
Cheltenham
Yes
Secure
School
Youth
9v9
Standard
1
1
2
1
1
Mini
5v5
Standard
1
0
4
4
1
Table 2.14: Football pitches at education sites (no recorded community use)
Site
ID
Site name
Local Authority/Analysis
Area
Available for community
use?
Management
Pitch type
Pitch size
Quality rating
No. of pitches
17
Cleeve School Grass Pitches
Tewkesbury Area 3
Yes - Unused
School
Adult
Standard
2
42
Winchcombe School
Tewkesbury Area 4
No
School
Adult
Standard
1
66
Balcarras Sports Centre
Cheltenham
Yes - Unused
School
Adult
Good
1
Youth
11v11
2
9v9
1
106
Springbank Primary Academy
Cheltenham
No
School
Mini
5v5
Standard
1
108
St Edwards Preparatory School
Cheltenham
No
School
Adult
Good
1
Mini
7v7
Good
1
110
St Thomas More Primary
Cheltenham
No
School
Youth
9v9
Standard
1
135
St James Primary
Cheltenham
No
School
Mini
5v5
Standard
1
137
Ashchurch Primary School
Tewkesbury Area 2
No
School
Mini
7v7
Poor
1
138
Benhall Infant School
Cheltenham
No
School
Mini
7v7
Standard
1
139
Innsworth Junior School
Tewkesbury Area 1
Yes- Unused
School
Mini
7v7
Poor
1
141
Tredington Primary School
Tewkesbury Area 3
No
School
Mini
7v7
Standard
1
142
Bishops Cleeve Primary School
Tewkesbury Area 3
No
School
Mini
7v7
Standard
1
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 31
2.5: Supply and demand analysis
Peak time
The peak time varies for the different pitch types. Peak time for adult football in Cheltenham
and Tewkesbury is Saturday PM, for youth 11v11 pitches peak time is Sunday PM and for
youth 9v9 and mini 7v7 pitches, peak time is Saturday AM. Though peak time for youth 9v9
pitches is Saturday mornings, it should be noted that the Cheltenham Youth League U11
and U12 leagues operate across both Saturday and Sunday mornings due to the limited
number of youth 9v9 pitches. If more pitches of this format were available (or some play
were to be transferred to 3G pitches), more or all of the 9v9 football within this league could
take place on one morning.
Spare capacity
The next step is to ascertain whether or not any identified ‘potential capacity’ can be
deemed ‘actual spare capacity’. There may be situations where, although a site is
highlighted as potentially able to accommodate some additional play, this should not be
recorded as spare capacity against the site. For example, a site may be managed to
regularly operate slightly below full capacity to ensure that it can cater for a number of
regular friendly matches and activities that take place but are difficult to quantify on a weekly
basis.
Table 2.15 considers site by site the capacity of the pitches to accommodate further play
and for them to be deemed as having ‘actual spare capacity’. A pitch is only said to have
‘actual spare capacity’ if it is available for community use and available at the peak time for
that format of the game. Any pitch not meeting these criteria has been discounted.
Pitches that are of a poor quality are not deemed to have actual spare capacity due to the
already low carrying capacity of the pitches. Any identified spare capacity should be
retained in order to relieve the pitches of use, which in turn will aid the improvement of pitch
quality. In addition, teams do not want to play on poor quality pitches.
Over marked pitches which are used and exhibit potential spare capacity have not been
considered available to accommodate further play in order to protect pitch quality, given
the nature of repeated and sustained use over a short period of time.
Where there is potential spare capacity exhibited at school sites beyond current community
use, this has not been included due to the significant additional use during the week by
schools for curricular, extracurricular and competitive sport.
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 32
Table 2.15: Actual Spare Capacity
Site
ID
Site name
Available for
community
use?
Type of
tenure
Analysis area
Pitch type
Pitch
size
No. of
pitches
Current
play
(match
sessions)
Overused (+), At
Capacity (/) or
Potential to
Accommodate
additional play (-)
Match
equivalent
sessions
available in
peak period
Comments
2
Alderton Playing Fields
Yes
Secure
Tewkesbury Area 4
Adult
1
0.5
0.5
-
Spare capacity discounted due to the poor
quality of the pitch.
4
Apperley Playing Fields
Yes
Secure
Tewkesbury Area 2
Adult
1
1
1
-
No match equivalent sessions available
during the peak period.
6
Bishops Cleeve Sports Field
Yes
Secure
Tewkesbury Area 3
Adult
5
4.5
6.5
5
Spare capacity exists on this site.
Youth
9v9
3
3.5
1.5
1.5
Spare capacity exists on this site.
8
Brockworth Sports Centre
Yes
Unsecure
Tewkesbury Area 5
Adult
1
1
1
0.5
Spare capacity exists on this site.
Youth
9v9
1
0.5
1.5
0.5
Spare capacity exists on this site.
13
Churchdown Park
Yes
Secure
Tewkesbury Area 5
Youth
9v9
1
0.5
1.5
1
Spare capacity exists on this site.
14
Churchdown Academy
Yes
Unsecure
Tewkesbury Area 5
Adult
(Youth)
9v9
3
1
5
3
Spare capacity exists on this site.
19
Dowty Sports and Social
Yes
Secure
Tewkesbury Area 1
Adult
5
8.5
1.5
0.5
Spare capacity exists on this site.
Youth
9v9
2
2
2
1
Spare capacity exists on this site.
Mini
7v7
1
0.5
3.5
0.5
Spare capacity exists on this site.
20
Gotherington Playing Fields
Yes
Secure
Tewkesbury Area 3
Adult
(Youth)
(9v9)
1
0.5
0.5
-
Spare capacity discounted due to the poor
quality of the pitch.
Mini
7v7
1
0
2
-
Spare capacity discounted due to the poor
quality of the pitch.
24
John Daniels Playing Field
Yes
Secure
Tewkesbury Area 5
Adult
1
0.5
1.5
1
Spare capacity exists on this site.
Youth
9v9
1
0.5
1.5
1
Spare capacity exists on this site.
25
Kayte Lane (Bishops Cleeve FC)
Yes
Secure
Tewkesbury Area 3
Adult
2
2.5
1.5
-
Step 4 football club. Access only for teams
associated to the club.
26
King George V Playing Field
(Tewkesbury)
Yes
Secure
Tewkesbury Area 4
Adult
2
2
2
1
Spare capacity exists on this site.
Youth
9v9
1
0
2
1
Spare capacity exists on this site.
28
Mill Lane
Yes
Secure
Tewkesbury Area 5
Adult
2
1
1
-
Spare capacity discounted due to the poor
quality of the pitch.
29
Minsterworth AFC
Yes
Secure
Tewkesbury Area 1
Adult
1
0
1
-
Spare capacity discounted due to the poor
quality of the pitch.
31
Norton Recreational Ground
Yes
Secure
Tewkesbury Area 1
Mini
7v7
1
0
4
1
Spare capacity exists on this site.
38
Tewkesbury School
Yes
Unsecure
Tewkesbury Area 2
Adult
3
3
3
2.5
Spare capacity exists on this site.
Youth
9v9
1
1
2
1
Spare capacity exists on this site.
39
The Gould Field
Yes
Secure
Tewkesbury Area 2
Adult
2
1
3
2
Spare capacity exists on this site.
40
The Woodpeckers Sport and Social
Yes
Secure
Tewkesbury Area 1
Youth
9v9
1
0
1
-
Spare capacity discounted due to the poor
quality of the pitch.
Mini
7v7
1
0
2
-
Spare capacity discounted due to the poor
quality of the pitch.
45
Twyning CC
Yes
Secure
Tewkesbury Area 2
Mini
7v7
2
1
7
1
Spare capacity exists on this site.
48
Pamington Fields
Yes
Secure
Tewkesbury Area 2
Adult
1
1.5
0.5
-
Spare capacity discounted to protect quality.
52
Chosen Hill Old Boys RFC
Yes
Secure
Tewkesbury Area 5
Adult
2
1
3
2
Spare capacity exists on this site.
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 33
Site
ID
Site name
Available for
community
use?
Type of
tenure
Analysis area
Pitch type
Pitch
size
No. of
pitches
Current
play
(match
sessions)
Overused (+), At
Capacity (/) or
Potential to
Accommodate
additional play (-)
Match
equivalent
sessions
available in
peak period
Comments
57
Winchcombe FC
Yes
Secure
Tewkesbury Area 4
Adult
1
1
1
-
Spare capacity discounted to protect quality.
64
AGG Gardeners
Yes
Secure
Cheltenham
Adult
1
0.5
2
0.5
Spare capacity exists on this site.
69
Brizen Farm Playing Field
Yes
Secure
Cheltenham
Mini
7v7
1
0
4
1
Spare capacity exists on this site.
70
Burrows
Yes
Secure
Cheltenham
Adult
3
1
5
2.5
Spare capacity exists on this site. Adult
pitches may be used as alternative to youth
11v11 pitches by junior clubs therefore
reducing capacity.
82
Clyde Crescent Recreation Ground
Yes
Secure
Cheltenham
Adult
1
1
1
0.5
Spare capacity exists on this site.
88
Hatherley Park
Yes
Secure
Cheltenham
Mini
7v7
1
0
4
1
Spare capacity exists on this site.
89
King George V Playing Field
(Cheltenham)
Yes
Secure
Cheltenham
Mini
7v7
2
1.5
6.5
0.5
Spare capacity exists on this site.
97
Naunton Park
Yes
Secure
Cheltenham
Mini
7v7
1
0
2
-
Spare capacity discounted due to the poor
quality of the pitch.
104
Priors Farm
Yes
Secure
Cheltenham
Adult
2
0.5
1.5
-
Spare capacity discounted due to the poor
quality of the pitch.
128
UoG Park Campus
Yes
Secure
Cheltenham
Mini
7v7
6
0.5
23.5
-
Although spare capacity exists further
investigation is needed into community use
aspects through the University.
132
Prestbury Playing Fields
Yes
Secure
Cheltenham
Adult
2
2.5
1.5
1
Spare capacity exists on this site.
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 34
Actual spare capacity has been aggregated up by area and pitch type.
Table 2.16: Actual Spare capacity summary
This table shows a total of 18.5 match sessions of actual spare capacity across Cheltenham
and Tewkesbury with the majority of space capacity being on adult pitches in the
Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Area 5 analysis areas.
Overplay
Overplay occurs when there is more play accommodated on a site than it is able to sustain
(which can often be due to the low carrying capacity of the pitches). Only sites which have
are overplayed and have current community use have been included in the overplay
summary, therefore school sites which may be overplayed due to curriculum use and
school fixtures have not been included.
Table 2.17: Overall overplay summary
Site
ID
Site name
Analysis area
Pitch
type
Pitch
size
No. of
pitches
Match
sessions
54
Brockworth RFC
Tewkesbury
Area 5
Adult
1
0.5
68
Bourneside Sports
Centre
Cheltenham
Adult
1
0.5
70
Burrows
Cheltenham
Youth
11v11
1
0.5
97
Naunton Park
Cheltenham
Adult
2
0.5
Youth
11v11
1
1
104
Priors Park
Cheltenham
Youth
11v11
1
1.5
107
Springfield Park
Cheltenham
Adult
(Youth)
(11v11)
2
(1)
1
111
Swindon Village
Cheltenham
Adult
3
1
112
The Beeches
Cheltenham
Adult
2
1.5
Youth
11v11
1
2
114
The Folly
Cheltenham
Adult
3
2
Analysis area
Actual spare capacity (match sessions per week)
Adult
Youth (11v11)
Youth (9v9)
Mini (7v7)
Mini (5v5)
Cheltenham
4.5
-
-
2.5
-
Tewkesbury Area 1
0.5
-
1
0.5
-
Tewkesbury Area 2
4.5
-
1
1
-
Tewkesbury Area 3
5
-
1.5
-
-
Tewkesbury Area 4
1
-
1
-
-
Tewkesbury Area 5
3
-
2
-
Cheltenham & Tewkesbury
18.5
-
6.5
4
-
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 35
Of the overplayed pitches, 11 are assessed as poor quality which accounts for eight match
equivalent sessions of overplay. An improvement in quality at these sites will not only result
in a reduction in overplay but, in some instances, create actual spare capacity.
All overplay occurs on adult and youth 11v11 pitches. Incidentally, all overplayed adult
pitches are accessed by youth 11v11 teams. By transferring this demand to dedicated
youth 11v11 pitches, most overplay would be alleviated.
2.18: Overplay Summary
2.6: Conclusions
Having considered supply and demand, the tables below identify the overall spare capacity
in each of the analysis areas for the different pitch types, based on match equivalent
sessions. Future demand is based on reported club plans to increase the number of teams,
whilst Team Generation Rates and displaced demand have been considered Borough wide
and added to the total for each area.
Table 2.19: Spare capacity/ overplay of adult pitches
The table above shows that supply is sufficient to cater for current demand across
Tewkesbury. However, there is a shortfall of three adult match sessions in Cheltenham
which is exacerbated by future demand, resulting in a shortfall of seven match sessions.
As previously mentioned, removing youth 11v11 play from adult pitches will help to reduce
shortfalls, as will quality improvements.
6
In match equivalent sessions
Analysis area
Overplay (match sessions per week)
Adult
Youth (11v11)
Youth (9v9)
Mini (7v7)
Mini (5v5)
Cheltenham
6.5
3.5
-
-
-
Tewkesbury Area 5
0.5
-
-
-
-
Cheltenham & Tewkesbury
7
3.5
-
-
-
Analysis area
Actual
spare
capacity
6
Demand (match equivalent sessions)
Overplay
Displaced
demand
Current
total
Future
demand
Total
Cheltenham Total
4.5
6.5
1
3
2.5
+1.5 TGR
7
Tewkesbury Area 1
0.5
-
-
0.5
0.5
-
Tewkesbury Area 2
4.5
-
-
4.5
0.5
4
Tewkesbury Area 3
5
-
-
5
-
5
Tewkesbury Area 4
1
-
-
1
-
1
Tewkesbury Area 5
6.5
0.5
-
6
0.5
5.5
Tewkesbury Total
17.5
0.5
1
16
1.5
+3.5 TGR
14
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 36
Table 2.20: Spare capacity/ overplay of youth 11v11 pitches
Table 2.20 shows that supply is sufficient to cater for current demand across Tewkesbury.
However, there is a shortfall of 4.5 youth 11v11 match sessions in Cheltenham which is
exacerbated by future demand, resulting in a shortfall of 14 match sessions. Future demand
also produces a shortfall across Tewkesbury amounting to 5.5 match sessions.
In addition, a further 24.5 youth 11v11 match equivalent sessions (49 youth 11v11 teams)
are recorded as taking place on adult pitches across the two areas and as such the shortfall
of youth 11v11 pitches is greater in practice. As such, there is a clear need for an increase
in youth 11v11 provision in order for this play to be transferred onto the correct pitch size.
Table 2.21: Spare capacity/ overplay of youth 9v9 pitches
Table 2.21 shows that supply in Tewkesbury is sufficient to cater for demand for youth 9v9
pitches both at present and in the future. However, there is a current shortfall of 0.5 youth
9v9 match sessions in Cheltenham which is exacerbated by future demand, resulting in a
shortfall of 3.5 match sessions.
7
In match equivalent sessions
8
In match equivalent sessions
Analysis area
Actual
spare
capacity
7
Demand (match equivalent sessions)
Overplay
Displaced
demand
Current
total
Future
demand
Total
Cheltenham Total
-
3.5
1
4.5
6
+3.5 TGR
14
Tewkesbury Area 1
-
-
-
-
-
-
Tewkesbury Area 2
-
-
-
-
-
-
Tewkesbury Area 3
-
-
-
-
-
-
Tewkesbury Area 4
-
-
-
-
0.5
0.5
Tewkesbury Area 5
-
-
-
-
1
1
Tewkesbury Total
-
-
-
-
1.5
+4 TGR
5.5
Analysis area
Actual
spare
capacity
8
Demand (match equivalent sessions)
Overplay
Displaced
demand
Current
total
Future
demand
Total
Cheltenham Total
-
-
0.5
0.5
1.5
+ 1.5 TGR
3.5
Tewkesbury Area 1
1
-
-
1
-
1
Tewkesbury Area 2
1
-
1
-
-
-
Tewkesbury Area 3
1.5
-
-
1.5
-
1.5
Tewkesbury Area 4
1
-
-
1
0.5
0.5
Tewkesbury Area 5
2.5
-
-
2.5
0.5
2
Tewkesbury Total
7
-
1
6
1
+2.5 TGR
2.5
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 37
Table 2.22: Spare capacity/ overplay of Mini 7v7 pitches
Table 2.22 shows that supply is sufficient to cater for current demand in both Cheltenham
and Tewkesbury. However, future demand produces a requirement for an additional one
match session in Tewkesbury.
Due to the nature of youth leagues in football within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, teams
do not enter a league format until the U9 age group, requiring mini 7v7 pitches. Therefore,
the demand for 5v5 pitches within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury is limited, with no teams
reporting future aspirations to develop sides at age groups below the age of nine. Clubs on
occasion do have younger age groups but competition and pitch usage is contained to
unmarked grass space for training purposes.
Taking into account the above tables, the table below summarises the level of spare
capacity and overplay on each pitch type across Cheltenham and Tewkesbury as a whole.
As seen, overall shortfalls are identified across each pitch type with the exception of adult
pitches.
Table 2.23: Cheltenham capacity/overplay summary
Pitch type
Actual
spare
capacity
10
Demand (match equivalent sessions)
Overplay
Displaced
Demand
Current Total
Future
demand
Total
Adult
4.5
6.5
1
3
4
7
Youth 11v11
-
3.5
1
4.5
9.5
14
Youth 9v9
-
-
0.5
0.5
3
3.5
Mini 7v7
2.5
-
-
2.5
2.5
-
In conclusion, across Cheltenham there are shortfalls of match sessions across adult, youth
11v11 and youth 9v9 pitches at present, with future demand increasing these shortfalls.
There are sufficient match equivalent sessions to cater for mini 7v7 football, whilst in future
capacity at this format will be balanced.
9
In match equivalent sessions
10
In match equivalent sessions
Analysis area
Actual
spare
capacity
9
Demand (match equivalent sessions)
Overplay
Displaced
demand
Current
total
Future
demand
Total
Cheltenham Total
2.5
-
-
2.5
2
+0.5TGR
-
Tewkesbury Area 1
1.5
-
-
1.5
0.5
1
Tewkesbury Area 2
1
-
-
1
-
1
Tewkesbury Area 3
-
-
-
-
-
-
Tewkesbury Area 4
-
-
-
-
0.5
0.5
Tewkesbury Area 5
-
-
-
-
1
1
Tewkesbury Total
2.5
-
-
2.5
2
+1.5 TGR
1
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 38
Table 2.23: Tewkesbury capacity/overplay summary
Pitch type
Actual
spare
capacity
11
Demand (match equivalent sessions)
Overplay
Displaced
Demand
Current Total
Future
demand
Total
Adult
17.5
0.5
1
16
5
14
Youth 11v11
-
-
-
-
55
5.5
Youth 9v9
7
-
1
6
3.5
2.5
Mini 7v7
2.5
-
-
2.5
3.5
1
In conclusion, across Tewkesbury there are no current shortfalls at any pitch format, though
future demand increases would create shortfalls and the need for additional match sessions
at the youth 11v11 and mini 7v7 formats.
11
In match equivalent sessions
Football – Cheltenham grass pitch summary
The audit identifies a total of 83 grass football pitches in Cheltenham of which 64 are
available for community use on some level.
There is one FIFA certified 3G pitch on which competitive football matches can be played,
located at All Saints Academy.
The majority (67%) of pitches available for community use are standard quality and 27%
are poor quality, with only four pitches rated as good quality (6%).
Generally, the standard of changing facilities within Cheltenham is considered to be good.
Only one Club highlighted facilities at the Folly to be of a poor standard.
Gloucestershire FA is concerned that Rowanfield Rovers FC has taken on lease of the
clubhouse at King George V Playing Field (Cheltenham) given its current condition, cost
and extent of works required and terms of the lease agreement.
There are a total of 149 football teams recorded within Cheltenham.
Team generation rates (TGRs) based on future population indicate that participation is
anticipated to create at least an additional three men’s adult teams, seven youth 11v11 boys’
teams, three youth 9v9 boys’ teams and one mini 7v7 team
10 clubs within Cheltenham indicated a need for specific access to 3G pitch provision for
midweek training.
The largest amount of overplay in Cheltenham (two match sessions) is located at The
Beeches on the youth 11v11 pitch.
In conclusion, across Cheltenham there are shortfalls of match sessions across adult, youth
11v11 and youth 9v9 pitches at present, with future demand increasing these shortfalls.
There are sufficient match equivalent sessions to cater for mini 7v7 football, whilst in future
capacity at this format will be balanced.
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 39
Football – Tewkesbury grass pitch summary
The audit identifies a total of 87 grass football pitches in Tewkesbury of which 81 are
available for community use on some level.
There are two FIFA certified 3G pitches on which competitive football matches can be
played, located at Tewkesbury Secondary School and Winchcombe School.
The majority (78%) of pitches available for community use are standard quality and 21%
are poor quality, with only one pitch rated as good quality (1%).
Generally, the standard of changing facilities within Tewkesbury is considered to be good.
Only one Club highlighted facilities at the Newland Sports Ground to be of a poor standard.
There are a total of 140 football teams recorded within Tewkesbury.
Team generation rates (TGRs) based on future population indicate that participation is
anticipated to create an additional seven adult men’s teams, seven youth boys 11v11
teams, one youth girls 11v11 team, five youth boys 9v9 teams and three mini 7v7 teams.
Eight clubs within Tewkesbury indicated a need for specific access to 3G pitch provision for
midweek training.
There are limited amounts of overplay recorded across Tewkesbury. The only overplay is
recorded at Brockworth RFC (0.5 match sessions).
In conclusion, across Tewkesbury there are no current shortfalls at any pitch format, though
future demand increases would create shortfalls and the need for additional match sessions
at the youth 11v11 and mini 7v7 formats.
There are four planned developments for new football provision to be created in
Tewkesbury over the next five years.
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 40
PART 3: THIRD GENERATION TURF PITCHES
3.1 Introduction
There are several surface types that fall into the category of artificial grass pitch (AGP).
The three main groups are rubber crumb (also known as third generation turf or 3G), sand
(filled or dressed) and water based.
Competitive football can take place on 3G surfaces that have been FA or FIFA certified
and a growing number of 3G pitches are now used for competitive match play at mini
soccer, youth and adult formats. The recommended FA dimensions for a full sized 3G
pitch are 100x64 metres with additional run off areas of three metres required on each
side. FIFA 3G pitch certification is required to host competitive adult match play at Step 3
and below, whilst for teams playing at Steps 1 or 2 pitches are required to have FIFA Pro
standard certification, further information on which is included later in the section. Football
training can take place on sand and water based surfaces but is not the preferred option.
World Rugby produced the ‘Performance Specification for Artificial Grass Pitches for
Rugby’, more commonly known as ‘Regulation 22’ that provides the necessary technical
detail to produce pitch systems that are appropriate for rugby union (this is also adopted
by rugby league). The artificial surface standards identified in Regulation 22 allows
matches to be played on surfaces that meet the standard. Full contact activity, including
tackling, rucking, mauling and lineouts can take place.
Competitive rugby league play and contact practice is permitted to take place on 3G
pitches which are deemed by the RFL to meet its Performance Standard for Synthetic Turf
Pitches. Pitches fall under two categories, with community club pitches requiring a retest
every two years and elite stadia pitches requiring an annual retest. Much of the criteria
within the RFL performance standard test also forms part of the World Rugby test,
consequently World Rugby certified 3G pitches are considered by the RFL to be able to
meet rugby league requirements and are deemed suitable for rugby league use but must
pass exclusive World Rugby and RFL performance standard tests.
England Hockey Artificial Grass Playing Surface Policy (June 2016) advises that 3G pitches
should not be used for hockey matches or training and that they can only be used for lower
level hockey (introductory level) when no sand based or water based AGPs are available.
Table 3.1: 3G surface type and sport suitability
Surface
Category
Comments
Rubber crumb
Long Pile 3G (60mm with
shock pad)
Rugby surface – must comply with World
Rugby type 22 and/or RFL Community
Standard, requires a minimum of 60mm pile.
Rubber crumb
Medium Pile 3G (55-60mm)
Preferred football surface for training and
competitive football subject to performance
standard testing. Suitable for non-contact
rugby union/league practice or play.
Rubber crumb
Short Pile 3G (40mm)
Acceptable surface for some competitive
football subject to performance standard
testing.
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PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 41
3.2 Supply
As seen in the table below, there are three full size 3G pitches across Cheltenham and
Tewkesbury, all of which are medium pile.
Table 3.2: Full size 3G pitches
ID
Site name
Analysis Area
No. of
pitches
Surface type
Community
use?
38
Tewkesbury School
Tewkesbury
Area 2
1
Medium Pile 3G
(55-60mm)
Yes
42
Winchcombe School
Tewkesbury
Area 4
1
Medium Pile 3G
(55-60mm)
Yes
65
All Saints Academy
Cheltenham
1
Medium Pile 3G
(55-60mm)
Yes
All of the pitches are FA certified to host competitive matches but none are certified by
World Rugby to host competitive rugby union play or contact practice.
Further to this there are 12 full sized sand based/filled AGPs within Cheltenham and
Tewkesbury (please see Part 5: Hockey for further details). However, it should be noted
that there is heavy use of these pitches for football training, particularly at Brockworth
Sports Centre, Balcarras Sports Centre and Bourneside Sports Centre.
Future Supply
There are currently no present plans to develop any 3G pitches in either Cheltenham or
Tewkesbury. However, The Cheltenham Trust has ambitions to create a Cheltenham
Sport and Play Hub at Pittville Park to include the development of sports facilities at the
neighbouring Prince of Wales Stadium. The Trust is currently exploring potential options
for redevelopment including the creation of 3G pitch provision onsite.
As part of its strategy for 3G pitches, the RFU is exploring opportunities for the creation of
a 3G pitch in the region. Cheltenham Tigers RFC was previously granted planning
permission for the creation of a 3G pitch at Newlands Park Sports Ground, though the
Club has not yet secured funding to undertake such a development.
Where possible, new 3G pitches to be used for football should meet FA recommended
dimensions shown in Table 3.3 to maximise their potential for future use for competitive
football, subject to performance standard testing.
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 42
Table 3.3: FA recommended 3G pitch sizes
Age group
Playing
format
Recommended pitch
dimensions (metres
excluding run offs)
Recommended
pitch dimensions
(metres including
run offs)
Mini-Soccer U7/U8
5v5
37x27
43x33
Mini-Soccer U9/U10
7v7
55x37
61x43
Youth U11/U12
9v9
73x46
79x52
Youth U13/U14
11v11
82x50
88x56
Youth U15/U16
11v11
91x55
97x61
Youth U17/U18
11v11
100x64
106x70
Over 18/Adult
11v11
100x64
106x70
Conversion from hockey suitable AGP surface types
Since the introduction of 3G pitches and given their popularity for football, providers have
seen this as a way to replace a worn sand or water based carpet and generate increased
revenue from hiring out a 3G pitch to football and rugby clubs and commercial football
providers. This has often come at the expense of hockey, with players now travelling further
distances to gain access to a suitable pitch and many teams consequently displaced from
their preferred local authority.
Due to its impact on hockey, it is appropriate to ensure that sufficient sand based AGPs
are retained for the playing development of hockey. To that end, a change of surface will
require a planning application and the applicants will need to show that there is sufficient
provision available for hockey in the locality. Advice from Sport England and England
Hockey should also be sought prior to any planning application being submitted.
It should also be noted that, if a surface is changed, it could require the existing floodlighting
to be changed and in some instances noise attenuation measures may need to be put in
place.
A 3G surface is limited in the range of sport that can be played or taught on it. Providers
proposing a conversion should take advice from the appropriate sports’ governing bodies
or refer to Sport England guidance: https://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/tools-
guidance/design-and-cost-guidance/artificial-sports-surfaces/
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PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 43
3.3 Quality
All three 3G pitches within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury assessed as good quality. This
is a consequence of a good maintenance regime and all three pitches being five years
old.
Table 3.3: Summary of quality
Sit
e
ID
Site name
Surface type
Year built
(refurbished)
Floodlit?
Quality
38
Tewkesbury School
Medium Pile 3G
(55-60mm)
2011
Yes
Good
42
Winchcombe School
Medium Pile 3G
(55-60mm)
2011
Yes
Good
65
All Saints Academy
Medium Pile 3G
(55-60mm)
2011
Yes
Good
In order for competitive matches to be played on 3G pitches, the pitch should be FA or FIFA
tested and approved and added to the FA pitch register, which can be found at:
http://3g.thefa.me.uk/?countyfa=Gloucestershire.
Pitches can also undergo FIFA testing to become a FIFA Quality pitch (previously FIFA
One Star) or a FIFA Quality Pro pitch (previously FIFA Two Star), with pitches commonly
constructed, installed and tested in situ to achieve either accreditation. This comes after
FIFA announced changes to 3G performance in October 2015 following consultation with
member associations and licenced laboratories. The changes are part of FIFA’s continued
ambition to drive up performance standard in the industry and the implications are that all
3G pitches built through the FA framework will be constructed to meet the new performance
criteria.
The changes from FIFA One Star to FIFA Quality will have minimal impact on the current
hours of use guidelines, which suggest that One Star pitches place more emphasis on the
product’s ability to sustain acceptable performance and can typically be used for 60-85
hours per week with a lifespan of 20,000 cycles. In contrast, pitches built to FIFA Quality
Pro performance standards are unlikely to provide the hours of use that some FIFA Two
Star products have guaranteed in the past (previously 30-40 hours per week with a lifespan
of 5,000 cycles). Typically, a FIFA Quality Pro pitch will be able to accommodate only 20-
30 hours per week with appropriate maintenance due to strict performance measurements.
Clubs playing in the football pyramid on 3G pitches meeting FIFA One Star or Two Star
guidelines will still be required to certify their pitches annually, however, if any pitch
replacement takes place the Club will need to meet the new FIFA performance criteria of
FIFA Quality or Quality Pro. To stay on the FA register, pitches below the national league
pyramid require FA testing every three years.
Bentham Country Club
Bentham Country Club (also known locally as Bentham Domes) is an indoor sports facility
previously used for football, tennis, netball and other recreational activities. There are
currently four years remaining on the lease from a private owner who has future plans for
residential redevelopment of the site should it cease to be run as a sports facility. There is
no intention to retain or install new sport provision as demand has subsequently fallen due
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PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 44
to the poor quality of provision. A report was produced in October 2016 to support the
reprovision of an off-site dome should the site close as a sports facility as proposed and
the following findings of which have been used to inform this section of the PPS.
The site has two large domes, one measuring approximately 37.5m by 37.5m with two
netball courts and the other measuring approximately 70m by 38m with two netball courts
and two small AGPs. The quality of provision at the site is poor with the 3G surfaces laid
by the site manager and installed to a poor standard, subsequent repair work has been of
a low standard and therefore overall quality of the site is low with a need for replacement
in the short term.
In the face of increased local competition, football use has declined significantly from over
250 teams in 2005/06 to approximately 45 as of October 2016. The facility has been
decreasing in popularity since the opening of the 3G pitch at the All Saints Academy where
Powerplay runs a competitive football league comparatively priced offering superior
facilities. The dimensions of the AGPs are considered not to lend themselves to training for
adult football, whilst though junior football teams have used the pitches for training in
previous years there are currently no junior teams training onsite. There are presently 39
small sided football teams using Bentham Country Club in the evenings between Monday
to Thursday, whilst a further six teams use on Sunday evenings.
The commissioned report finds that alternative capacity exists for 41 teams on Monday to
Thursday evenings and 52 on Sunday evenings. It concludes that though demand for
indoor netball provision remains high, demand for small sided football at Bentham Country
Club has declined significantly and current users can be accommodated by spare capacity
elsewhere. Moving this play to an improved facility may also allow Gloucestershire FA to
affiliate these teams as the current league provider does not affiliate.
Availability
In the main, availability of provision in the peak period is generally good. All 3G surfaces
within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury are well used throughout the weekday and weekends,
with generally only the 5.00 to 6.00pm timeslots available, this is typically less desired
because it is often too early for many teams whose players or volunteers are often just
finishing work. There is also usually less demand for pitches on Fridays as teams prepare
to play matches over the weekend.
3.4 Supply and demand analysis
The FA model
The FA considers high quality third generation artificial grass pitches as an essential tool in
promoting coach and player development. The FA can support intensive use and as such
are great assets for both playing and training. Primarily such facilities have been installed
for community use and training, however, are increasingly used for competition which The
FA wholly supports.
The FA’s long term ambition is to provide every affiliated team in England the opportunity
to train once per week on floodlit 3G surface, together with priority access for every Charter
Standard Community Club through a partnership agreement. The FA standard is calculated
by using the latest Sport England research "AGPs State of the Nation March 2012"
assuming that 51% of AGP usage is by sports clubs when factoring in the number of training
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 45
slots available per pitch at peak times. It is estimated that one full sized AGP can service
42 teams.
On the basis there are 289 football teams playing across Cheltenham and Tewkesbury,
there is a recommended need for at least seven full sized 3G pitches (rounded up from
6.88). There are currently three across the two Borough areas. However, when teams are
separated by local authority there is a need for three 3G pitches each in both Cheltenham,
and Tewkesbury. This represents current shortfalls of two full sized 3G pitches in
Cheltenham and one in Tewkesbury.
There are, however, four smaller sized pitches that help to accommodate demand, for
example, from mini teams and for training. Please note, none of these pitches are listed on
the FA register.
Table 3.4: Summary of smaller sized pitches
Site
ID
Site name
Surface type
Quality
Quantity
Size
5
Bentham Country Club
Short Pile 3G (40mm)
Standard
2
35x17
6
Bishops Cleeve Sports
Field
Short Pile 3G (40mm)
Standard
1
60x40
15
Civil Service Sports
Association Ground
Short Pile 3G (40mm)
Standard
1
40x40
68
Bournside Sports Centre
Medium Pile 3G (55-60mm)
Standard
1
37x17
Please note that the number of teams used in the FA model projection is subject to change
given further collation of demand information and analysis.
It is important to consider the impact that development of new 3G pitch provision might
have on 3G pitches in other nearby local authorities. For example, development of new
provision in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury may provide locally for teams currently displacing
training demand to Gloucester, whilst in turn the development of new 3G pitches in
Gloucester may impact in the same manner on 3G pitches such as Hartpury College in
Forest of Dean. Development of 3G provision should therefore be considered both locally
and regionally so not to impact on business models and sustainability of existing pitches.
Local demand
The FA considers high quality third generation artificial grass pitches as an essential tool in
promoting coach and player development. The pitches can support intensive use and as
such are great assets for both playing and training. Primarily such facilities have been
installed for community use and training, however, are increasingly used for competition
which The FA wholly supports. At present, 26 teams access 3G provision across the three
school sites in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury to play competitive match fixtures.
Additionally, sand based pitches are frequently used for training within Cheltenham and
Tewkesbury. However, many of the singular team clubs within Cheltenham & Tewkesbury
do not train throughout the week as hire of AGPs is generally considered to be too costly,
whilst some teams have a more social ethos without a desire for structured training
sessions.
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Access to affordable 3G provision is a priority for the FA as all of the multi team junior clubs
have various teams strewn across various venues in Cheltenham & Tewkesbury and
neighbouring authorities. Several AGPs (including small sized pitches) operate commercial
small sided football leagues which may limit capacity available for club training. For
example, PowerPlay runs leagues across Wednesday and Thursday at All Saints Academy
for a total of 6 hours.
Imported demand
Due to the popularity of 3G pitches demand from clubs from surrounding local authorities is
prominent. Winchcombe School indicates that the pitch is used regularly by Bredon Star
RFC, Broadway Juniors FC and Eckington FC Juniors are regular users of Tewkesbury
School.
Key trends and changes in demand for pitches
Demand from football for 3G AGPs has increased in recent years due to demand from clubs
for training but also due to a growing acceptance by local leagues of use for competitive
matches, where play on 3G pitches is now included within the FA Standard Code of Rule.
This considered, the general condition of local authority pitches and increasingly limited
budget for regular and adequate maintenance may lead more teams to consider AGPs as
a possible alternative should it be financially viable.
A number of leagues around the country now use 3G pitches as central venues where all
mini soccer play takes place, though this is not the case in Cheltenham & Tewkesbury.
Some leagues are also held at 3G central venues. This trend is likely to increase in the
future and more mini soccer and vets leagues could be played exclusively on 3G pitches.
Given the poor quality weather often experienced throughout the winter months of the
rugby union season, more clubs are becoming increasingly receptive towards training on
artificial pitches. Clubs traditionally train on match pitches where floodlights are in place
or one pitch designated for all training in particular, this is the case at Cheltenham North
RFC. It often results in deterioration in pitch quality coupled with decreasing maintenance
budgets. At present there is no rugby union training recorded as taking place on full sized
AGPs in the area and there is no World Rugby certified pitch.
The recent RFU strategy on investment in 3G pitches both at club and community based
sites is indicative of the growing acceptance of 3G pitches amongst clubs nationally. This
considered, all teams within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury reported demand to train on
affordable artificial surfaces.
Nationally clubs identify the use of AGPs for training as a method of protecting the match
pitches and providing a high quality surface for full contact practice. Competitive play
continues to take place on grass pitches for the most part, with ad hoc use of AGPs for
fixtures in the case of unsuitable pitches due to waterlogging or frost.
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Cheltenham 3G pitch summary
There is one 3G pitch within Cheltenham which is FA certified located at the All Saints
Academy
There are currently no World Rugby Approved 3G pitches within Cheltenham.
The FA estimates that there is a need for at least three full sized 3G pitches to service
football training needs in Cheltenham, representing a current shortfall of two full sized
pitches.
A large number of clubs highlighted a need for further accessible 3G provision within
Cheltenham.
Many singular team football clubs within Cheltenham & Tewkesbury do not train
throughout the week as hire of AGPs is generally considered to be too costly or there is no
desire to train.
Most football clubs use a variety of sites for team training, particularly those with a large
number of teams.
The All Saints Academy 3G pitch operates a commercial small sided football league which
limits availability for club training.
There are no plans for new provision within Cheltenham.
The RFU is investigating the eligibility and feasibility of developing a World Rugby
Complaint AGP in the locality, servicing both Cheltenham & Tewkesbury.
Tewkesbury 3G pitch summary
There are two 3G pitches within Tewkesbury, both of which are FA certified located at
Tewkesbury High School and Winchcombe School.
There are currently no World Rugby Approved 3G pitches within Tewkesbury.
The FA estimates that there is a need for at least four full sized 3G pitches to service
football training needs in Tewkesbury.
A large number of clubs highlighted a need for further accessible 3G provision within
Tewkesbury
Many singular team football clubs within Tewkesbury do not train throughout the week as
hire of AGPs is generally considered to be too costly or there is no desire to train.
Most football clubs use a variety of sites for team training, particularly those with a large
number of teams.
The small 3G pitch at Bishops Cleeve Sports Field operates a commercial small sided
football league which limits availability for club training.
There are no plans for new provision within Tewkesbury.
The closure of Bentham Domes may create increased demand for AGPs within
Tewkesbury as 76 not affiliated teams use the facility for mini leagues. This may put
pressure on existing AGPs within the area and reduce the amount of available time for
club training.
The RFU is investigating the eligibility and feasibility of developing a World Rugby
Complaint AGP in the locality, servicing both Cheltenham & Tewkesbury.
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PART 4: RUGBY UNION
4.1: Introduction
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the national governing body responsible for grassroots
and elite rugby in England. The RFU is split into six areas across the country with a
workforce team that covers development, coaching, governance and competitions.
Gloucestershire RFU administers the sport across the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, with
a County Development Manager and a team of community rugby coaches that deliver core
programmes in schools and clubs. The variety of programmes, which include 15-a-side,
10-a-side, 7-a-side, Tag and the O2 Touch programme, all aiming to increase and retain
participation within the game. In order to sustain and increase participation in the game,
facilities need to be appropriate, affordable and accessible. The rugby union playing season
operates from September to May.
Consultation
The following ten clubs are based within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury:
Brockworth RFC
Chosen Hill Former Pupils RFC
Cheltenham Civil Service RFC
Norton RFC
Cheltenham North RFC
Old Patesians RFC
Cheltenham RFC
Smiths (Industries) RFC
Cheltenham Saracens RFC
Tewkesbury RFC
All clubs were consulted either through a face-to-face consultation or via completion of an
online survey, resulting in a response rate of 100%.
4.2: Supply
In total, there are 63 senior and three mini grass rugby union pitches across Cheltenham
and Tewkesbury located across 27 sites. Of these, 23 pitches are not available for
community use and are predominantly located at private education sites.
See below for a breakdown of pitches unavailable for community use.
Table 4.1: Pitches unavailable for community use
Site
ID
Site name
Number of
pitches
Comments
10
Chosen Hill School
2
No community use to protect quality.
23
Imjin Barracks
1
No community use, strictly for
employees of the MOD.
42
Winchcombe School
1
No community use to protect quality.
72
Cheltenham College
8
No community use to protect quality.
83
Dean Close School
3
No community use to protect quality.
99
Pates Grammar School
3
No community use to protect quality.
108
St Edwards Preparatory
3
No community use to protect quality.
115
The Richard Pate School
2
No community use
There are currently no World Rugby compliant artificial 3G pitches within Cheltenham and
Tewkesbury.
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Please note that the audit only identifies dedicated, line marked pitches. For the purposes
of this report, being available for community use refers to pitches in public, voluntary,
private or commercial ownership or management (including education sites) that are
recorded as being available for use/hire by teams/clubs.
For rugby union pitch dimension sizes please refer to RFU ‘Grass Pitches for Rugby’ at:
http://www.rfu.com/managingrugby/clubdevelopment/facilitiesandequipment/~/media/files/
2009/facilitiesandequipment/facilities%20guidance%20note%202.ashx
Figure 4.1: Location of rugby pitches in the Cheltenham
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Figure 4.2: Location of rugby pitches in the Tewksbury
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Future Supply
There are plans for the creation of a new senior rugby union pitch at the proposed Coopers
Edge development on Lobleys Drive, a site which straddles the authority boundary with
Stroud but would create additional capacity accessible to Tewkesbury Area 1. However, it
is likely that the pitch would also be used by Stroud residents given the proximity which
may limit capacity available for Tewkesbury based clubs.
Ownership/management
The majority of clubs within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury are thought to have secured
tenure either ownership of their ground or through a secured lease agreement.
Cheltenham ‘Tigers’ RFC which plays at Newlands Park own all four rugby pitches and
ancillary facilities on site, as well as two adult sized football pitches. Cheltenham North
RFC, located at Stoke Orchard Rd own all ancillary provision on site, and one senior pitch,
the Club also lease a secondary pitch (which is in the process of being established) on a
25-year agreement from Grundon Waste Management Ltd. Tewkesbury RFC, located at
Ganders Lane currently own 30% of the site its two pitches and clubhouse lie on with the
remaining 70% of the land leased on a 70-year agreement from Tewkesbury Council.
Cheltenham Saracens RFC, Norton RFC and Chosen Hill Former Students RFC all
currently have lease agreements which are due to expire within the next ten years, the
agreement at the latter due to expire in September 2019.
Old Patesians RFC, Brockworth RFC and Smiths (Industries) RFC are the only teams
within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury which rent pitches and are considered to have
insecure tenure.
Cheltenham Civil Service RFC is part of the Cheltenham Civil Service Association. The site
has recently negotiated a new lease from CBC for 14 years to secure tenure on the site for
all associated sport clubs.
Table 4.3: Summary of club ownership
Own
Mixed tenure
Leased
Rent
Cheltenham ‘Tigers’
RFC
Cheltenham North
RFC
Tewkesbury RFC
Cheltenham Saracens
RFC
Norton RFC
Chosen Hill Former
Students RFC
Cheltenham Civil Service
RFC
Old Patesians RFC
Smiths (Industries) RFC
Brockworth RFC
Pitch quality
The methodology for assessing rugby pitch quality looks at two key elements; the
maintenance programme and the level of drainage on each pitch. An overall quality based
on both drainage and maintenance can then be generated.
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The agreed rating for each pitch type also represents actions required to improve pitch
quality. A breakdown of actions required based on the ratings can be seen below.
Table 4.4: Definition of maintenance categories
Category
Definition
M0
Action is significant improvements to maintenance programme
M1
Action is minor improvements to maintenance programme
M2
Action is no improvements to maintenance programme
Table 4.5: Definition of drainage categories
Category
Definition
D0
Action is pipe drainage system is needed on pitch
D1
Action is pipe drainage is needed on pitch
D2
Action is slit drainage is needed on pitch
D3
No action is needed on pitch drainage
Table 4.6: Quality ratings based on maintenance and drainage scores:
Maintenance
Poor (M0)
Adequate (M1)
Good (M2)
Drainage
Natural Inadequate (D0)
Poor
Poor
Standard
Natural Adequate (D1)
Poor
Standard
Good
Pipe Drained (D2)
Standard
Standard
Good
Pipe and Slit Drained (D3)
Standard
Good
Good
Of the 40 senior pitches available for community use, two pitches are rated as good quality,
13 pitches as standard and 25 as poor. Of the 25 poor quality pitches, 15 are located at
education sites.
Table 4.7: Quality of senior pitches available for community use.
Maintenance
Poor (M0)
Standard (M1)
Good (M2)
Drainage
Natural Inadequate (D0)
3
2
-
Natural Adequate (D1)
21
10
2
Pipe Drained (D2)
1
1
-
Pipe and Slit Drained (D3)
-
-
-
The two pitches located at Everest Road, the home site of Old Patesians RFC are
considered by both the Club and the RFU to be of a poor standard (M0/D0). The Club
indicates that there are a high number of injuries due to the severe unevenness of the
pitches which are inadequate to meet its needs of playing at National League standard. It
is also feels that the pitches are of too poor quality for its junior section to use and therefore
the Club annually rents pitches from education providers across Cheltenham to meet the
needs of its 500 member junior section. As a consequence of its poor pitch provision it now
struggles to recruit and retain players in the senior section.
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Cheltenham North RFC currently has access to two pitches on site at Stoke Orchard Rd,
both rated (M0/D1). All current play and training takes place on the main pitch adjacent to
the clubhouse as the secondary pitch is in the process of being established for long term
use. Both pitches have no pipe drainage installed, but the Club indicate that the pitches
drainage naturally to an adequate standard.
The two pitches located at Cheltenham Civil Service ground are rated as good quality
(M2/D1). The pitches are maintained by a private contractor to a high standard as a
consequence of being regularly aerated and fertilised.
Tewkesbury RFC has two pitches on site both rated poor (M1/D0). The site usually floods
twice per year and as a repercussion the pitches receive a large amount of maintenance
to make them playable throughout the season. The Club currently pays for regular verti
draining and sanding to ensure an adequate standard. It also indicates that the first team
pitch on site adjacent to the clubhouse is beginning to drop in the centre.
There are four pitches located at Newlands Park Sports Ground (Cheltenham Tigers RFC).
One pitch is a dedicated senior/junior training pitch with match standard floodlighting. The
pitch has planning permission for a 3G pitch, and the Club is actively looking to secure
funding to progress this development. The three remaining pitches are used solely for
fixtures and some junior/mini training.
Norton RFC report that part of its pitch was created from an old pond on site which was
filled in with clay, consequently drainage is poor as water cannot pass through the soil.
Cheltenham Saracens RFC have access to two senior pitches and one mini pitch at its
home site of King George V playing Fields – Cheltenham. Of the two senior pitches, one is
assessed as standard quality (M1/D1), and the other poor (M1/D0). The Club report that
the senior pitches are prone to waterlogging.
Ancillary facilities
All clubs in the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury have access to changing room facilities at
their respective home grounds. The quality of facilities varies from site to site but changing
facilities are generally described as good or acceptable, with the exception of Newlands
Park and Old Patesians RFC.
Newlands Park Sports Ground (Cheltenham Tigers RFC) currently has eight changing
rooms on site (and an additional room for the use of football/gym classes in the upstairs
function room) all of which are dated and small. There are 12 shower heads available for
all changing rooms shared in a communal block which are in a poor condition. The showers
are often overcrowded and in poor working order.
Tewkesbury RFC has recently developed new changing rooms which elevate itself over
potential floodwaters. The changing rooms were built to the latest RFU specifications and
are consequently of a high standard. Similarly, Norton RFC has recently invested in its
changing rooms to bring them up to current RFU standards.
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Chosen Hill Former Pupils RFC indicates that the boiler at the club, situated at Brookfield
Road (Cheltenham) needs improving as it doesn’t adequately provide enough hot water for
both sets of showers, whilst Brockworth RFC indicates that its shower provision is poor as
a consequence of weak water pressure.
Cheltenham Saracens RFC report that its ancillary provision at King George V playing
Fields (Cheltenham) is of a good quality. The Club indicate that it has a total of 6 changing
rooms (four with shower facilities) and that there are no issues to report about the facility.
Similarly, Cheltenham Civil Service RFC report that its changing rooms are of an adequate
standard.
Cheltenham North RFC has ambitions to redevelop and produce additional changing rooms
in order to help sustain its potential future growth of a junior section. Current provision does
not meet RFU regulations and is in need and renovation. Similarly, Old Patesians RFC have
ambitions to develop improved ancillary provision in the future, at present its facility offers
just two changing rooms and basic shower/toilet facilities and is an overall poor quality.
4.3: Demand
Demand for rugby pitches tends to fall within the categories of organised competitive play
and organised training.
Competitive play
There is a total of 76 competitive rugby union teams within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury,
and five teams playing infrequent friendly matches. A breakdown of the number of
competitive teams within each club is shown below.
Table 4.8 Summary of demand by analysis area
12
Number of teams includes both male and female sides from the age of 13 and upwards.
Club
Analysis area
No. of rugby union
teams
12
Senior
Junior
Mini
Cheltenham Saracens RFC
Cheltenham
3
1
-
Old Patesians RFC
Cheltenham
3
5
4
Smiths (Industries) RFC
Cheltenham
2
-
-
Norton RFC
Tewkesbury Area 1
1
-
-
Cheltenham Civil Service RFC
Tewkesbury Area 2
3
-
-
Tewkesbury RFC
Tewkesbury Area 2
3
8
6
Cheltenham North RFC
Tewkesbury Area 3
2
2
2
Cheltenham Tigers RFC
Tewkesbury Area 3
3
7
6
Brockworth RFC
Tewkesbury Area 5
1
2
-
Chosen Hill Former Pupils RFC
Tewkesbury Area 5
3
4
5
Total
24
29
23
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Training
Training on match pitches can have a detrimental effect on the overall quality of the
provision due to concentrated activity, which reduces the capacity for match play on the
pitches and consequently means they are more likely to be overplayed.
Cheltenham North RFC is the only team within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury which train
on its floodlit match pitch. The Club indicates that it often has to cancel a high proportion of
winter training sessions as a consequence of playing on its match pitch and furthermore,
struggles to recruit and retain players.
Norton RFC indicates it trains on its pitch frequently but without floodlights. The Club view
the need for floodlighting as a priority, similarly Cheltenham Saracens RFC report a strong
demand for floodlights at its home site for training as it currently trains at the Prince of
Wales Stadium.
The following clubs report having a floodlit training area or access to portable floodlights:
Cheltenham Tigers RFC
Cheltenham Civil Service RFC
Tewkesbury RFC
Smiths (Industries) RFC
Chosen Hill RFC
Old Patesians RFC
Tewkesbury RFC
Brockworth RFC
Cheltenham Civil Service RFC has access to a small 3G pitch on its facility which it uses
twice a week for training. All clubs, with the exception of Cheltenham Civil Service RFC
indicate a desire to train on 3G pitches.
Cheltenham Tigers RFC train on a dedicated floodlit pitch at its home ground (Newlands
Sports Ground). It should be noted that the pitch has planning permission to be developed
into a 3G pitch if necessary funding can be arranged.
Although Old Patesians RFC has a small floodlit training area, it isn’t of a sufficient
standard to host senior training and large segments of junior training. The Club therefore
has to travel to various locations in and outside of the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury to
find suitable training venues.
O2 Touch
O2 Touch is a non-contact form of rugby played socially across club sites across the
country. The aim of the sport is to provide a fun environment to socialise and improve
fitness levels. O2 Touch is currently played at the Newlands Sports Ground (Cheltenham
Tigers RFC) throughout the year.
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Dual use
There are no dedicated rugby league pitches marked out in Cheltenham or Tewkesbury
and rugby league is generally played on dual use pitches or pitches which are mainly used
and marked for rugby union. The sites listed below used for rugby union are also used for
rugby league during the summer, or throughout the rugby union season in the case of
university play in which case rugby league is considered a winter season sport.
Prince of Wales Stadium (dual use - Cheltenham)
Old Patesians RFC (Cheltenham)
Cheltenham North RFC (Tewkesbury Area 3)
King George V Playing Fields (Cheltenham Saracens RFC - Cheltenham)
The Folly (dual use - Cheltenham)
Summer rugby league use over the rugby union post-season can negatively impact on
quality if not carefully managed. This year round use reduces time available for rugby union
pitches to rest and recover and can also impact on the quality and effectiveness of remedial
and maintenance work undertaken in preparation for the next rugby union season. Given
that rugby league is a growing sport in the area, there are benefits to be had from dual use
of rugby union pitches, particularly at club sites where there is potential for revenue
generation throughout the summer and cross code transfer of players to grow membership
of both sports. This considered, with regards to pitch quality the current level of rugby
league use on rugby union pitches is sustainable providing the level of post-season
maintenance is not compromised.
Unmet demand
Unmet demand is existing demand that is unable to gain access to pitches. It is usually
expressed, for example, where a team is training but is unable to access a match pitch or
where a league has a waiting list due to a lack of pitch provision, which in turn is hindering
growth.
Old Patesians RFC report that it has a waiting list of 80 children which it cannot currently
accommodate into its teams due to lack of available pitch space. The Club has ambitions
of filtering these children into its teams to continuing the development into its junior section,
if pitch space was available. This would quantity into four junior sides (with 20 children per
squad), equating to two match equivalent sessions of pitch space required and additional
training demand for either grass pitches or AGP surfaces.
Future demand
Consultation with clubs generally suggests that there is a desire to increase the number of
teams with the following clubs reporting future demand:
Brockworth RFC has ambitions to increase the number of teams at the Club by one
senior men’s team, two junior boy’s teams and two mini teams, however, are aware it
would need to increase the number of pitches currently available on site to
accommodate any growth.
Cheltenham Civil Service RFC has future demand of one additional male senior team
but has no ambitions to develop a junior section as it feels that other clubs locally offer
a good platform for juniors to develop.
Cheltenham North RFC indicates it would like to continue developing a junior section
in the coming seasons. It suggests that when its second pitch becomes established it
will be in a position to offer more junior training/matches.
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Cheltenham Tigers RFC has future demand of one male senior team, one U19 team
and a junior girl’s colts team. The Club has ambitions of maximising use of its four
available pitches on site.
Cheltenham Saracens RFC and Smiths (Industries) RFC both have future demand of
one mini team each.
Norton RFC reports ambitions to develop two male senior teams and three mini sides.
The Club is aware that it will have to make sizeable improvements to its solitary pitch
to handle play on the site.
Tewkesbury RFC has future demand of one Veterans side, which would likely to play
occasional friendly fixtures.
The above has quantified to total six senior men’s teams, three junior boys team, one junior
girls team and seven mini teams, creating a total of 6.75 match equivalent sessions.
In addition, team generation rates can also be used as the basis for calculating the number
of teams likely to be generated in the future, based on population growth.
Table 4.9: Team generation rates - Cheltenham
Age group
Current
population
within age
group
Current
no. of
teams
Team
Generation
Rate
Future
population
within age
group
Predicted
future
number
of teams
Additional
teams that
may be
generated
from the
increased
population
Senior Men (19-45)
22,011
10
2201
23,494
10.7
0
Senior Women (19-45)
21,860
1
21860
22,163
1
0
Junior Boys (13-18)
3,913
6
652
4,565
7
1
Junior Girls (13-18)
4,054
0
0
4,680
0
0
Mini rugby mixed (7-12)
7,394
4
1849
8,220
4.4
0
TGRs forecast that population increases in Cheltenham are likely create at least one
additional junior boys’ team.
Table 4.9: Team generation rates - Tewkesbury
Age group
Current
population
within age
group
Current
no. of
teams
Team
Generation
Rate
Future
population
within age
group
Predicted
future
number
of teams
Additional
teams that
may be
generated
from the
increased
population
Senior Men (19-45)
12,430
14
888
14,093
15.9
1
Senior Women (19-45)
12,807
3
4269
13,705
3.2
0
Junior Boys (13-18)
2,868
13
221
3,536
16
3
Junior Girls (13-18)
2,637
2
1319
3,371
2.6
0
Mini rugby mixed (7-12)
5,579
19
294
6,949
23.7
4
TGRs forecast that population increases in Tewkesbury are likely create at least one
additional senior men’s team, three junior boys teams and four additional mini rugby teams.
It is important to note that TGRs are based on population figures and cannot account for
specific targeted development work within certain areas or focused towards certain groups,
such as NGB initiatives or coaching within schools.
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4.4: Capacity analysis
The capacity for pitches to regularly provide for competitive play, training and other activity
over a season is most often determined by quality. At minimum, the quality and therefore
the capacity of a pitch affects the playing experience and people’s enjoyment of playing
rugby. In extreme circumstances it can result in the inability of the pitch to cater for all or
certain types of play during peak and off peak times.
To enable an accurate supply and demand assessment of rugby pitches, the following
assumptions are applied to site by site analysis:
All sites that are used for competitive rugby matches (regardless of whether this is
secured community use) are included on the supply side.
All competitive play is on senior sized pitches (with the exception of where mini pitches
are provided).
From U13 upwards, teams play 15-a-side rugby and use a full pitch.
Mini teams (U7-12) play across half one adult team i.e. two teams per senior pitch.
For senior and junior teams the current level of play per week is set at 0.5 for each
match played based on all teams operating on a traditional home and away basis
(assumes half of matches will be played ‘away’).
For mini teams, play per week is set at 0.25 for each match played based on all teams
operating on a traditional home and away basis and playing across half one adult team.
All male senior club rugby takes place on a Saturday afternoon.
All female senior club rugby takes place on Sunday afternoon.
All U13-18 rugby takes place on a Sunday morning.
Training that takes place on club pitches is reflected by addition of team equivalents.
Team equivalents have been calculated on the basis that 30 players (two teams) train
on the pitch for 90 minutes (team equivalent of one) per night.
As a guide, the RFU has set a standard number of matches that each pitch should be able
to accommodate. Capacity is based upon a basic assessment of the drainage system and
maintenance programme ascertained through a combination of the quality assessment and
the club survey as follows:
Maintenance
Poor (M0)
Standard (M1)
Good (M2)
Drainage
Natural Inadequate (D0)
0.5
1.5
2
Natural Adequate (D1)
1.5
2
3
Pipe Drained (D2)
1.75
2.5
3.25
Pipe and Slit Drained (D3)
2
3
3.5
This guide should only be used as a very general measure of potential pitch capacity and
does not account for specific circumstances at time of use and assumes average rainfall
and an appropriate end of season rest and renovation programme.
The figures are based upon a pipe drained system at 5m centres that has been installed in
the last eight years and a slit drained system at 1m centres completed in the last 5 years.
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The peak period
In order to fully establish actual spare capacity, the peak period needs to be established.
Peak time for senior rugby union pitches in the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury is Sunday AM
due to the large number of junior and mini teams accessing senior pitches at this time.
Peak demand from senior men’s teams is Saturday PM.
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 60
Table 4.10: Rugby union quality and capacity summary for sites available for community use
Site
ID
Site name
Analysis area
Pitch type
Agreed quality
rating
Floodlit
Match equivalent
sessions
(per week)
Pitch capacity
(sessions per
week)
Capacity
rating
Comments
9
Cheltenham North
RFC
Tewkesbury Area 3
Senior
M1/D1
(Standard)
Yes
4.5
2
2.5
Main playing pitch. Pitch is floodlit and used all year round for
fixtures and training.
Senior
M0/D1
(Poor)
No
0
1.5
-
Pitch is yet to be established therefore no activity occurs on it. Club
hopes to have it in use by September 2017.
14
Churchdown Academy
Tewkesbury Area 5
Senior
M0/D1
(Poor)
No
1
1.5
0.5
School pitches. Match equivalent sessions added as a
consequence of school use.
Senior
M0/D1
(Poor)
No
1
1.5
0.5
Senior
M0/D1
(Poor)
No
1
1.5
0.5
15
Civil Service Sports
Association Ground
Tewkesbury Area 2
Senior
M2/D1
(Good)
No
1.5
3
1.5
Main pitch used at the ground. The pitch is 64m away from the
football pitch on site which is a requirement of the football league
regulations for Cheltenham Civil Service FC.
Senior
M2/D1
(Good)
No
0.5
3
2.5
Pitch is adjacent to the football pitch on site and therefore cannot
be used when football is played on the site.
17
Cleeve School
Tewkesbury Area 3
Senior
M0/D1
(Poor)
No
1
1.5
0.5
School pitches. Match equivalent sessions added as a
consequence of school use.
Senior
M0/D1
(Poor)
No
1
1.5
0.5
Senior
M0/D1
(Poor)
No
1
1.5
0.5
30
Newlands Park Sports
Ground
Tewkesbury Area 3
Senior
M1/D1
(Standard)
No
1.5
2
0.5
Home of Cheltenham Tigers RFC. 1
st
team pitch. Used solely for
matches.
Senior
M1/D1
(Standard)
No
2
2
-
Used solely for matches.
Senior
M1/D1
(Standard)
No
2
2
-
Used for matches and some junior/mini training
Senior
M1/D1
(Standard)
Yes
3.25
2
1.25
Dedicated match standard floodlit training pitch. Pitch is used solely
for training purposes only.
31
Norton Recreation
Field
Tewkesbury Area 1
Senior
M0/D1
(Poor)
No
1.5
1.5
-
Pitches used to capacity due to training/matches. Norton RFC
38
Tewkesbury School
Tewkesbury Area 2
Senior
M0/D1
(Poor)
No
1
1.5
0.5
School pitches. Match equivalent sessions added as a
consequence of school use.
Senior
M0/D1
(Poor)
No
1
1.5
0.5
Senior
M0/D1
(Poor)
No
1
1.5
0.5
Senior
M0/D1
(Poor)
No
1
1.5
0.5
41
The Vineyards
Tewkesbury Area 2
Senior
M0/D1
(Poor)
No
1.5
1.5
-
Pitches owned and maintained by Tewkesbury Council. Pitches
used as an overspill by Tewkesbury RFC.
Senior
M0/D1
(Poor)
No
1
1.5
0.5
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 61
Site
ID
Site name
Analysis area
Pitch type
Agreed quality
rating
Floodlit
Match equivalent
sessions
(per week)
Pitch capacity
(sessions per
week)
Capacity
rating
Comments
46
Tewkesbury RFC
Tewkesbury Area 2
Senior
M1/D0
(Poor)
No
2
1.5
0.5
1
st
team pitch. Prone to flooding. Used only match use.
Senior
M1/D0
(Poor)
No
2
1.5
0.5
Very small pitch. Mainly used for junior training/matches.
52
Chosen Hill Old Boys
RFC
Tewkesbury Area 5
Senior
M0/D2
(Poor)
No
2.25
1.75
0.5
First team pitch used for matches and some mini use. Pitches used
midweek by Chosen Hill School for fixtures.
Senior
M0/D0
(Poor)
No
5
0.5
4.5
Secondary match, half of which is also used for training using lights
along the tree line on the site perimeter. Pitches used midweek by
Chosen Hill School for fixtures.
Mini
M0/D0
(Poor)
No
1
0.5
0.5
Mini pitch overplayed due to training/matches.
54
Brockworth RFC
Tewkesbury Area 5
Senior
M1/D2
(Good)
No
1
2.5
1.5
First team pitch used solely for matches on Saturday and Sunday
afternoons.
Senior
M1/D1
(Standard)
No
1
2
1
School managed pitch used for junior matches and by the school
during the week.
65
All Saints Academy
Cheltenham
Senior
M0/D1
(Poor)
No
0.5
1.5
1
School pitch only used for training/matches. Most of the
educational use at the school is based on its 3G pitch.
66
Balcarras Sports
Centre
Cheltenham
Senior
M1/D1
(Standard)
No
1.5
2
0.5
School pitch. Match equivalent sessions added as a consequence
of school use. Old Patesians RFC U15 team uses the pitch Sunday
AM for training or a match fixture.
68
Bournside Sports
Centre
Cheltenham
Senior
M0/D1
(Poor)
No
1
1.5
0.5
School pitches. Match equivalent sessions added as a
consequence of school use.
Senior
M0/D1
(Poor)
No
1
1.5
0.5
Senior
M0/D1
(Poor)
No
1
1.5
0.5
89
King George V Playing
Field (Cheltenham)
Cheltenham
Senior
M1/D1
(Standard)
No
1
2
1
1
st
team pitch. Used solely for matches.
Senior
M1/D0
(Poor)
No
1
1.5
0.5
Pitch used for fixtures and training for the U13 team.
Mini
M1/D0
(Poor)
No
1.5
1.5
1.5
No mini teams at the club. Pitch reportedly unused.
98
Old Patesians Sports
and Social Club
Cheltenham
Senior
M0/D0
(Poor)
No
2
0.5
1.5
1
st
team pitch. Used for matches only. Open access site so pitch
does have some casual use.
Senior
M0/D0
(Poor)
No
0.5
0.5
0.5
Secondary pitch. No junior fixtures are allowed to be play as pitch
is deemed to be dangerous. Holds one senior fixture per week.
101
Pittville School
Cheltenham
Senior
M0/D1
(Poor)
No
1
1.5
0.5
School pitch. Match equivalent sessions added as a consequence
of school use
103
Prince of Wales
Stadium
Cheltenham
Senior
M1/D1
(Standard)
Yes
1.5
2
0.5
First team pitch for Smiths (Industries) RFC and the University of
Gloucestershire Men’s 1
st
team.
Senior
M1/D1
(Standard)
Yes
5.5
2
3.5
Pitch used primarily as a training pitch. Used by Smiths (Industries)
RFC, University of Gloucestershire and Cheltenham Saracens
RFC.
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 62
Site
ID
Site name
Analysis area
Pitch type
Agreed quality
rating
Floodlit
Match equivalent
sessions
(per week)
Pitch capacity
(sessions per
week)
Capacity
rating
Comments
114
The Folly
Cheltenham
Senior
M0/D1
(Poor)
No
1.5
1.5
-
Pitches used by the University of Gloucestershire
Senior
M0/D1
(Poor)
No
1
1.5
0.5
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 63
4.5 Supply and demand analysis
Spare capacity
The next step is to ascertain whether or not any identified ‘potential capacity’ can be
deemed ‘actual capacity’. There may be situations where, although a site is highlighted as
potentially able to accommodate some additional play, this should not be recorded as spare
capacity against the site. For example, a site may be managed to regularly operate slightly
below full capacity to ensure that it can cater for a number of regular friendly matches and
activities that take place but are difficult to quantify on a weekly basis.
Table 4.11: Spare capacity summary on senior rugby pitches
Site
ID
Site name
Analysis area
Spare
capacity
Comments
15
Civil Service
Sports Association
Ground
Tewkesbury Area 2
4
Spare capacity exists –
however, site is only considered
available for community use to
civil servants.
17
Cleeve School
Tewkesbury Area 3
1.5
Spare capacity exists although
further investigation is required
to establish how accessible the
pitches are to the community.
30
Newlands Park
Sports Ground
Tewkesbury Area 2
0.5
Minimal spare capacity exists
on the 1
st
team rugby pitch.
Preserve to maintain pitch
quality.
38
Tewkesbury
School
Tewkesbury Area 2
2
Spare capacity exists although
further investigation is required
to establish how accessible the
pitches are to the community.
41
The Vineyards
Tewkesbury Area 2
0.5
Limited spare capacity.
Preserve to maintain pitch
quality.
54
Brockworth RFC
Tewkesbury Area 5
1.5
Actual spare capacity on main
pitch.
1
Considered to have no capacity
for further use due to midweek
school use.
65
All Saints
Academy
Cheltenham
1
Spare capacity exists although
further investigation is required
to establish how accessible the
pitches are to the community.
66
Balcarras Sports
Centre
Cheltenham
0.5
Limited spare capacity at the
school site. Preserve to
maintain pitch quality.
68
Bournside Sports
Centre
Cheltenham
0.5
Spare capacity exists although
further investigation is required
to establish how accessible the
pitches are to the community.
89
King George V
Playing Field
(Cheltenham)
Cheltenham
1.5
Spare capacity exists.
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 64
Site
ID
Site name
Analysis area
Spare
capacity
Comments
101
Pittville School
Cheltenham
0.5
Spare capacity exists although
further investigation is required
to establish how accessible the
pitches are to the community.
103
Prince of Wales
Stadium
Cheltenham
0.5
Limited spare capacity on the
1
st
team at the site. Preserve to
maintain pitch quality.
114
The Folly
Cheltenham
0.5
Minimal capacity retained to
protect quality.
All schools require further investigation into the community use aspects of their pitches and
cannot be deemed spare capacity until it is clarified with the individual school.
There are 1.5 match equivalent sessions of spare capacity located at the King George V
Playing Field (Cheltenham) on a mini pitch, not included in the table.
Overplay
The table below highlights the level of overplay on senior rugby pitches across Cheltenham
and Tewkesbury.
Table 4.12: Overplay summary
Site
ID
Site name
Analysis area
Capacity
rating
98
Old Patesians Sport and Social
Cheltenham
1.5
103
Prince of Wales Stadium
Cheltenham
3.5
46
Tewkesbury RFC
Tewkesbury Area 2
1
9
Cheltenham North RFC
Tewkesbury Area 3
2.5
30
Newlands Park Sports Ground
Tewkesbury Area 3
1.25
52
Chosen Hill Old Boys RFC
Tewkesbury Area 5
5
In total, overplay amounts to 14.75 match equivalent sessions. Overall, overplay is a result
of poor quality pitches being used for both matches and training. There is a shortage of
pitches at both Old Patesians RFC and Chosen Hill Old Boys RFC and therefore matches
and training are concentrated on the pitches on site.
The Prince of Wales Stadium is used as a training venue for three clubs creating the high
amount of overplay on site. Cheltenham North currently concentrates all training on its one
match pitch resulting in the above overplay, once its secondary pitch is established overplay
should reduce on site. Tewkesbury RFCs overplay is a direct result of having access to one
senior pitch on its home site (not including the vineyards site). The overplay at Newlands
Park Sports Ground (Cheltenham Tigers RFC) is solely on its dedicated training pitch, with
limited spare capacity remaining on its first team pitch.
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 65
Conclusions
Having considered supply and demand above, the table below identifies the overall spare
capacity on senior pitches in each of the analysis areas, based on match equivalent
sessions. Future demand is based on reported club plans to increase the number of
teams, whilst Team Generation Rates have been considered Borough wide and added to
the total for each area. Future demand for mini teams is expressed as requiring 0.25
match sessions based on playing on senior pitches.
Table 4.13: Spare capacity of match equivalent sessions per week
In summary, there are existing shortfalls in Cheltenham of 5.5 match sessions on senior
pitches, increasing to 6.5 match sessions in light of future demand. There is also a
requirement for additional match sessions in Tewkesbury amounting to 10.25 match
sessions, increasing to 19.5 match sessions when considering future demand.
Cheltenham currently has large amounts overplay due to the demand for pitches from Old
Patesians RFC. The current situation in Cheltenham of restricted pitch access has
therefore created two match equivalent sessions of unmet demand within the Borough
through Old Patesians RFCs waiting list. Old Patesians RFC currently use five match
venues for its junior teams and are only considered to have secure tenure on its home
ground on an annual rent agreement. One pitch at Everest Road, the home site of Old
Patesians RFC is considered by the Club to be unplayable for junior rugby due to its
dangerous surface.
In Tewkesbury, both Cheltenham North RFC and Chosen Hill Old Boys RFC have a high
amount of overplay on both sites. This is a consequence of the shortage of pitches on each
individual site for the amount of matches and training which occurs on by the respective
club.
As there is a total of 65 rugby pitches within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, priority should
be with making these pitches more accessible as an option to alleviate overplay.
Cheltenham College has eight rugby union pitches on site rated as good (M2/D1) and could
alleviate large amounts of overplay if it became accessible.
13
In match equivalent sessions
14
Future demand is taken from both population growth and expressed club growth
Analysis area
Actual spare
capacity
13
Demand (match equivalent sessions)
Overplay
Unmet
Demand
Current
demand
Future
demand
14
Total
Cheltenham Total
1.5
5
2
5.5
0.5
+0.5 TGR
6.5
Tewkesbury Area 1
-
-
-
-
1.75
1.75
Tewkesbury Area 2
-
1
-
1
1
2
Tewkesbury Area 3
-
3.75
-
3.75
1.5
5.25
Tewkesbury Area 4
-
-
-
-
-
-
Tewkesbury Area 5
1.5
5
-
3.5
2
5.5
Tewkesbury Total
1.5
9.75
2
10.25
6.25
+ 3 TGR
19.5
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 66
The future demand column above does not account for the aspirations of Cheltenham North
RFC to develop a junior section at the Club as it is not quantifiable.
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 67
Cheltenham rugby union summary
In total, there are 32 senior and two junior grass rugby union pitches in Cheltenham located
across 13 sites. Of these 34 pitches, only 15 are considered available for community use.
Of the 15 grass pitches available for community use, four pitches are assessed as standard,
the remaining 11 are assessed as poor quality.
There is no World Rugby approved 3G pitch in the Cheltenham.
There are a total of 22 competitive rugby union teams within Cheltenham; 8 senior teams, 10
junior teams and 4 mini teams.
Consultation suggests that there is a desire to create a mini team at two clubs within
Cheltenham, equating to 0.5 match sessions of future demand.
Pitches situated at Everest Road (Old Patesians RFC) are of a particularly poor standard and
require investment.
Peak time for senior rugby union matches in Cheltenham is Saturday PM, however due to
large amounts of junior and mini play the peak demand for pitches is Sunday AM.
There are two match equivalent sessions of unmet demand in Cheltenham derived from a
waiting list at Old Patesians RFC
Overplay in both Cheltenham is a result of a shortage of available pitches for club use.
In summary, there are existing shortfalls in Cheltenham of 5.5 match sessions on senior
pitches, increasing to 6.5 match sessions in light of future demand. TGRs anticipate the
creation of one mini team.
The Prince of Wales Stadium has the highest amount of overplay in Cheltenham.
As there are 32 senior rugby pitches in Cheltenham, priority should be with making pitches
more accessible as an option to alleviate overplay, and improving pitch quality on club sites.
Tewkesbury rugby union summary
In total, there are 31 senior grass rugby union pitches and one mini pitch in Tewkesbury
located across 14 sites. Of these, 28 pitches are available for community use.
Of the 31 senior pitches, two pitches are classified as good quality, nine pitches as standard
and 20 poor quality pitches.
There is no World Rugby approved 3G pitch in Tewkesbury, however, Cheltenham Tigers
RFC has planning permission for a pitch on site at the Newlands Sports Ground.
There are a total of 55 competitive rugby union teams within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury;
16 senior teams, 20 junior teams and 19 mini teams.
Consultation suggests that there is a desire to increase the number of teams within six clubs
in Tewkesbury equating to 6.25 match sessions of future demand.
TGRs anticipate the creation of one senior team, two youth teams and five mini teams.
Peak time for senior rugby union matches in Tewkesbury is Saturday PM, however, due to
large amounts of junior and mini play the peak demand for pitches is Sunday AM.
Overplay in Tewkesbury is a result of a shortage of available pitches at club sites.
In summary, there is a requirement for additional match sessions in Tewkesbury amounting
to 10.25 match sessions, increasing to 19.5 match sessions when considering future
demand.
Chosen Hill Former Pupils RFC has the highest amount in the Borough with the site
overplayed by five match sessions per week.
As all pitches in Tewkesbury are available for community use, priority should be with
improving pitch quality at club sites to reduce shortfalls.
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 68
PART 5: HOCKEY
5.1: Introduction
Hockey in England is governed by England Hockey (EH) and is administered locally by the
Gloucestershire Hockey Association.
Competitive league hockey matches can only be played on sand filled, sand dressed or
water based artificial grass pitches (AGPs). Although competitive, adult and junior club
training cannot take place on third generation turf pitches (3G), 40mm pitches may be
suitable for introductory level hockey, such as school curriculum low level hockey. England
Hockey Artificial Grass Playing Surface Policy details suitability of surface type for varying
levels of hockey shown in Table 5.1.
Table 5.1: England Hockey guidelines on artificial surface types suitable for hockey
Category
Surface
Playing Level
Playing Level
England Hockey
Category 1
Water surface
approved within the
FIH Global/National
Parameters
Essential
International Hockey -
Training and matches
Desirable
Domestic National
Premier competition
Higher levels of EH
Player Pathway
Performance Centres
and upwards
England
England Hockey
Category 2
Sand dressed
surfaces within the
FIH National
Parameter
Essential
Domestic National
Premier competition
Higher levels of player
pathway: Academy
Centres and Upwards
Desirable
All adult and junior
League Hockey
Intermediate or
advanced School
Hockey
EH competitions for
clubs and schools
(excluding domestic
national league)
England Hockey
Category 3
Sand based surfaces
within the FIH
National Parameter
Essential
All adult and junior
club training and
league Hockey
EH competitions for
clubs and schools
Intermediate or
advanced schools
hockey
Desirable
England Hockey
Category 4
All 3G surfaces
Essential
None
Desirable
Lower level hockey
(Introductory level)
when no category 1-3
surface is available.
For senior teams, a full sized pitch for competitive matches must measure at least 91.4 x
55 metres excluding surrounding run off areas which must be a minimum of two metres at
the sides & three metres at the ends England Hockey preference is for four metre side &
five metre end run offs, with a preferred overall area of 101.4 x 63 metres though a minimum
overall area of 97.4 x 59 metres is accepted.
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 69
It is considered that a hockey pitch can accommodate a maximum of four matches on one
day (peak time) provided that the pitch has floodlighting. Training is generally midweek and
requires access to a pitch and floodlights.
Club consultation
There are nine hockey clubs within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, of which three were met
with face to face, and four responded to an online survey request equating to an 78%
response rate. Two clubs were unresponsive to an online survey.
5.2: Supply
There are currently 12 hockey compliant pitches suitable for matches across Cheltenham
and Tewkesbury, all of which offer community use, to some extent. Three are fully available
for community use and the remaining nine pitches either offer restricted access or are not
floodlit. Please refer to table 5.1 for individual pitch details.
Table 5.2: Full size sand AGPs by location
Site
ID
Site
Analysis
area
Number
of
AGPs
Floodlit
Surface
type
Community
use?
8
Brockworth Sports
Centre
Tewkesbury
Area 5
1
Yes
Sand filled
Yes
50
IMJIN Barracks (on
base)
Tewkesbury
Area 1
1
Yes
Sand filled
Restricted
66
Balcarras Sports
Centre
Cheltenham
1
Yes
Sand filled
Yes
68
Bournside Sports
Centre
Cheltenham
1
Yes
Sand
dressed
Yes
72
Cheltenham College
Cheltenham
1
Yes
Sand filled
Restricted
1
No
80
CLC Sports Centre
Cheltenham
1
Yes
Sand filled
Restricted
15
1
No
83
Dean Close School
Cheltenham
2
Yes/No
Water
based
Restricted
99
Pates Grammar
School
Cheltenham
1
No
Sand filled
Restricted
109
St Edwards Senior
School
Cheltenham
1
No
Sand filled
Restricted
The maps overleaf (Figures 5.1 & 5.2) show the location of all AGPs suitable for hockey,
regardless of size.
15
CLC College only allows access to its AGP for those aged 19 or below.
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 70
Future supply
There are proposals for the creation of a new full sized AGP at Cleeve School within the
main grounds rather than the playing fields located nearby. The school currently has over
1500 pupils but expects demand to increase by 400 pupils to around 1900 by the year
2022. A past proposal for a full sized AGP with surrounding athletics track was unsuccessful
based on floodlighting and noise issues given local housing behind the school. The area
has land drains installed and manholes in the grass surface which limits what pitches can
be marked and only a small grass hockey pitch can fit. The school is undecided of an
intended surface type but has preference for one which can accommodate both football
and hockey, possibly a sand based surface which can be marked for curricular tennis use
in summer. It has six hockey teams but finds that most other schools will not play on the
grass pitch and so most fixtures are played away at other schools, most of which have
AGPs onsite, incurring around £15,000 per year in travel costs.
The school already operates as a dual use facility and proposes to make community use
available at evenings and weekends, whilst it believes that local primary schools would be
interested in using the pitch during the day. A working group set up supporting proposals
includes five local hockey clubs, notably Cleevillians HC which currently exports from
Cleeve to Gloucester. Bishops Cleeve Colts FC is also part of the supportive group and
has a large number of teams, stating that it would use the pitch for training due to the small
size and poor quality of 3G provision at Bishops Cleeve Playing Fields. The school also
used this pitch previously but states too much time is lost during curriculum time walking
across to access it that it was not suitable, especially in light of quality issues.
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 71
Figure 5.1: Location of all sand AGP’s in Cheltenham
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 72
Figure 5.2: Location of all sand AGPs in Tewkesbury
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 73
Ownership/management
All pitches are owned and managed by education establishments with the exception of the
pitch located at Imjin Barracks which is owned by the Ministry of Defence (MOD)
Quality
Eight pitches assessed as standard quality or above. The two Dean Close AGPs are
currently standard quality but are due for resurfacing in 2017.
Pates Grammar School, St Edwards Senior School and CLC sports centres pitches are
assessed as being poor due to the poor quality of the carpet surface. This accounts for four
AGPs. Bourneside Sports Centre is assessed as standard, however, is expected to
gradually deteriorate in quality.
Cheltenham Hockey Club reports that the surface of the pitch at the Balcarras Sports
Centre is of an inadequate standard for high level hockey since its refurbishment in 2015
as it inhibits a fast style of play. It also indicates that the pitch floodlights are of a poor
standard with the Herefordshire, Gloucestershire & Wiltshire Umpire Association unwilling
to appoint an umpire after 3.30pm.
East Gloucestershire Hockey Club and Shipton Oliffe Hockey Club both report that the pitch
at St Edwards Senior School is of a poor standard. The pitch is reported to flood in the
winter period, doesn’t defrost adequately and has a poor surface grip underfoot.
Table 5.3: Summary of quality
Site
ID
Site name
No. of
pitches
Surface
type
Year built
(refurbished)
Floodlit
Quality
Qualit
y
score
%
8
Brockworth
Sports Centre
1
Sand
filled
2011
Yes
Standard
78%
50
IMJIN Barracks
(on base)
1
Sand
filled
2000
(2010)
No
Standard
N/A
66
Balcarras
Sports Centre
1
Sand
filled
2000
(2015)
Yes
Standard
76%
68
Bournside
Sports Centre
1
Sand
dressed
1990
(2003)
Yes
Standard
59%
72
Cheltenham
College
2
Sand
filled
1999
(2015)
Yes
Good
83%
No
80
CLC Sports
Centre
2
Sand
filled
1994
Yes
Poor
49%
No
83
Dean Close
2
Water
Based
1991
(2010)
Yes/No
Standard
52%
99
Pates Grammar
School
1
Sand
filled
2000
No
Poor
48%
109
St Edwards
Senior School
1
Sand
filled
1996
No
Poor
45%
The carpet of an AGP usually lasts for approximately 10 years. Five pitches in Cheltenham
and Tewkesbury have carpets which are past the ten year expected lifespan and may
require resurfacing in the near future.
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PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 74
The pitch at Pates Grammar School is currently 16 years old. The school has no plans to
resurface it as it is believed to be of a good enough standard for current use. The pitch
located at St Edwards Senior School is assessed as poor quality and its carpet is
currently 20 years old. The school is aware of its poor quality but doesn’t have adequate
funds to resurface it, similarly CLC has no plans in place to resurface its two pitches.
Conversion to 3G surfaces
Since the introduction of 3G pitches and given their popularity for football, providers have
seen this as a way to replace a worn sand or water based carpet and generate increased
revenue from hiring out a 3G pitch to football and rugby clubs and commercial football
providers. This has often come at the expense of hockey, with players now travelling further
distances to gain access to a suitable pitch and many teams consequently displaced from
their preferred local authority.
Due to its impact on hockey, it is appropriate to ensure that sufficient sand based AGPs
are retained for the playing development of hockey. To that end, a change of surface will
require a planning application and the applicants will need to show that there is sufficient
provision available for hockey in the locality. Advice from Sport England and England
Hockey should also be sought prior to any planning application being submitted.
It should also be noted that, if a surface is changed, it could require the existing floodlighting
to be changed and in some instances noise attenuation measures may need to be put in
place.
A 3G surface is limited in the range of sport that can be played or taught on it. Providers
proposing a conversion should take advice from the appropriate sports’ governing bodies
or refer to Sport England guidance: https://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/tools-
guidance/design-and-cost-guidance/artificial-sports-surfaces/
Ancillary provision
No clubs who have access to ancillary provision at school sites recorded any issues, as
such it is assumed ancillary provision is of an adequate standard. As access to pitches at
school sites are usually separate to ancillary provision, on occasion, access issues can
occur – however, no issues were reported.
Usage
Only three hockey compliant AGPs are fully available to the community during the peak
period (Monday to Thursday 17:00-21:00; Friday 17:00-19:00; Saturday and Sunday 09:00-
17:00) as identified by Sport England’s Facilities Planning Model (FPM) with no restrictions
on use of floodlighting throughout these hours. They are located at Brockworth Sports
Centre, Balcarras Sports Centre and Bourneside Sports Centre.
The nine remaining pitches either offer restricted access or are not floodlit. A breakdown of
pitch usage can be seen in table 5.5
Pitches located at St Edwards Senior School and Pates Grammar School both do not have
floodlights and therefore cannot be used as training venues. Further to this, both sites are
selective with community bookings and therefore only have limited midweek use. However,
St Edwards Senior is used as a home venue for East Gloucestershire Hockey Club and
Shipton Oliffe Hockey Club, whilst Pates Grammar School is used as a home venue for
Puffins Hockey Club and Winchcombe Hockey Club.
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PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 75
All floodlit AGPs are extensively used, especially in winter months for football training
purposes. However, some sites report that they are unable to offer weekend use for hockey
matches, for example, Cheltenham College reports that is unable to let out its pitches on
Saturdays for community use due to internal school use. Similarly, Dean Close only lets
out one of its two pitches to Cheltenham Civil Service Hockey Club on a Saturday, requiring
its additional pitch for private school use. CLC is only able to offer its pitches to those aged
U19 years and below due to planning conditions which also restrict available floodlit hours
to longer than 6:45pm, therefore given these issues the venue is of limited use for training
or weekend fixtures for senior teams.
Consultation with Cheltenham Hockey Club and Lansdown Hockey Club suggests that
clubs are struggling to access pitches for midweek training. Both clubs do access provision
as can be seen in Table 5.4
Winchcombe Hockey Club currently train on a 3G pitch at Winchcombe School which is
not in accordance with EH playing surface guidelines. The Club reports demand to access
a sand based AGP in the local area. Please refer to Table 5.4 for a full break down of club
playing and training venues.
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PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
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Table 5.4: Club Information
Club
Training venue
Playing venue
Comments
Cheltenham Hockey Club
Cheltenham College
Balcarras Sports Centre
Oxstalls Sports Park (Gloucester)
Balcarras Sports Centre
Would like to secure more training hours but
are unable to due to availability.
Cheltenham Junior Hockey Club
Cheltenham College
Balcarras Sports Centre
Variable
-
Cheltenham Civil Service Ladies
Hockey Club
Dean Close School
Dean Close School
Club content with pitch availability at the
school.
East Gloucestershire Ladies Hockey
Club
Dean Close School
St Edwards Senior School
Club only has access to half a pitch at Dean
Close. Limits the ability to structure training
sessions. Ideally would access a full pitch.
Club reports it struggles to get long term
bookings on any pitch within Cheltenham.
Lansdown Hockey Club
Brockworth Sports Centre (Seniors)
Bourneside Sports Centre (Juniors)
Brockworth Sports Centre
Club indicates that it cannot get enough access
to midweek pitch space to develop its junior
section. Club would like additional midweek
slots to provide more frequent, and more
structured training sessions.
Puffins Hockey Club
-
Pates Grammar School
Club doesn’t train – social hockey team playing
Monday mornings.
Shipton Oliffe Hockey Club
Balcarras Sports Centre
St Edwards Senior School
One team Club trains for one hour at Balcarras
sports centre on half a pitch. Reports that
quality of St Edwards Senior School pitch is
poor.
Winchcombe Hockey Club
Winchcombe High School
Pates Grammar School
Club train on the 3G surface at Winchcombe
High School. Not hockey compliant.
Brockworth Badgers Hockey Club
Imjin Barracks (on base)
Brockworth Sports Centre
Club train at Imjin Barracks owned by the
MOD. This is subject to a short cancellation
period and regarded as a solitary agreement
with the Club.
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PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 77
Club
Training venue
Playing venue
Comments
Hockey Fever
N/A
Cheltenham College
Hockey Fever is a new pilot scheme aiming to
increase participation in hockey held at
Cheltenham College. The scheme aims to
introduce non-club players and individuals into
a sport they may have never played before.
In total, six pitches are accessed on Saturday by eight clubs (Puffins Hockey Club play social hockey on a Monday). The three largest clubs in
the area, Cheltenham Hockey Club, East Gloucestershire Hockey Club and Lansdown Hockey Club all reported that they require more pitch
space, for longer periods to develop and grow the junior sections of each club.
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September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 78
Availability
The following table summarises the availability of full size AGPs for community use in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury. In addition, it records the availability of provision within the peak period. Sport England’s Facilities
Planning Model (FPM) applies an overall peak period for AGPs of 34 hours a week (Monday to Thursday 17:00-21:00; Friday 17:00-19:00; Saturday and Sunday 09:00-17:00). For an AGP to be considered fully
available during this period it must be fully floodlit and availability must not be limited by hours of floodlighting which may in some cases be restricted by existing planning conditions.
Table 5.5: Summary of AGP availability and usage (for community use pitches)
Site ID
Site name
Surface type
Floodlit
Quality
16
Number of
pitches
Comments
Community use?
8
Brockworth Sports Centre
Sand Filled
Yes
Standard
1
Pitch fully available for community use.
Yes
66
Balcarras Sports Centre
Sand Filled
Yes
Standard
1
Pitch fully available for community use.
Yes
68
Bournside Sports Centre
Sand dressed
Yes
Standard
1
Pitch fully available for community use.
Yes
72
Cheltenham College
Sand filled
Yes
(restricted)
Good
2
Pitch only available on weekdays for club training but use is restricted as
planning conditions dictate that floodlighting must be switched off by 6.45pm. No
weekend access permitted as pitches are used for school use.
Restricted
83
Dean Close School
Water based
Yes/No
Standard
2
Only Cheltenham Civil Service Hockey Club has access to the pitch on a
weekend. Limited midweek training slots available for clubs.
Restricted
99
Pates Grammar School
Sand filled
No
Poor
1
Pitch cannot be used for midweek training because there are no floodlights.
School selective on club users.
Restricted
109
St Edwards Senior School
Sand filled
No
Poor
1
Pitch has no floodlights and therefore cannot be used midweek.
Restricted
16
Quality is assessed via a combination of non-technical assessments carried out by KKP but also take account of user views and opinions.
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 79
Of the private schools in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, Cheltenham College does not let its
AGPs on a Saturday, whilst Dean Close allows for only one pitch to be hired; this is due to
the pitches being used solely for school activities. Both schools report high demand for its
pitches and indicate that they cannot adequately meet demand from local hockey clubs for
senior match day use. Both schools did not provide a booking sheet to establish total
community hours available/used but indicated they are well used. Cheltenham College
reported its pitches were at a 100% capacity.
Due to the nature of junior hockey fixtures within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury being on a
predominantly monthly basis (fixtures played Sunday AM/PM) AGPs are generally
considered to have spare capacity on Sunday. Venues for the festivals rotate around
Cheltenham and Tewkesbury and therefore spare capacity is generally considered
available on all sites – with the exception of when a festival occurs. Festivals are planned
at the beginning of the hockey season and each site will be aware of planned
events/available capacity.
Additionally, junior demand arises from Junior Development Centres (JDCs) and Junior
Academy Centres (JACs). These are local training centres which aim to promote a player
pathway at junior age hockey. These are running at the following locations in Cheltenham
and Tewkesbury:
Balcarras School
Cheltenham College
Cheltenham Ladies College
Dean Close
Pates Grammar School
As Pates Grammar School, St Edwards Senior School and Dean Close have pitches which
are not floodlit; mid-week capacity for these sites is reduced, and therefore limited.
5.3: Demand
There are nine hockey clubs playing across Cheltenham and Tewkesbury consisting of 50
teams, which as a breakdown equates to 10 men’s, 13 women’s, one veteran (men’s) and
26 junior teams. Cheltenham Hockey Clubs’ senior men’s first team play at the highest level
in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, competing in the National Hockey League – Conference
West. The majority of other senior teams fall into the GoCrea8 Men’s League or the West
Clubs Women’s Hockey League. Junior hockey is generally played under a festival format
known as the Gloucestershire Hockey Association festival.
The table below highlights the number of teams within each club as well as the number of
(playing) members.
Table 5.3: Number of teams in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury
Name of club
Number of teams
Number of members
Men’s
Women’s
Veteran
Junior
Senior
Junior
Cheltenham Hockey Club
5
4
-
2
306
-
Cheltenham Junior
Hockey Club
-
-
-
9
-
257
Cheltenham Civil Service
Ladies Hockey Club
-
1
-
-
31
-
East Gloucestershire
Ladies Hockey Club
-
1
-
3
N/A
N/A
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Name of club
Number of teams
Number of members
Men’s
Women’s
Veteran
Junior
Senior
Junior
Lansdown Hockey Club
5
4
1 Men’s
7
102
120
Puffins Hockey Club
-
1
-
-
20
-
Shipton Oliffe Hockey
Club
-
1
-
-
21
-
Winchcombe Hockey
Club
1
-
-
-
15
4
Brockworth Badgers
Hockey Club
-
1
-
-
26
-
Hockey Fever
108
-
Total
11
13
1
21
629
381
All responsive clubs indicate that they struggle to access training facilities in the week due
to the competitive nature of bookings. Clubs report that preference is given to football clubs
and the ability to achieve structured training for all teams and age groups is difficult.
Displaced demand
Cleevillians HC is based in Cleeve (Tewkesbury) and has two senior men’s teams. Both
teams currently export demand and play at Oxstalls Indoor Tennis Centre (Gloucester)
where the club uses one match session per week and shares use of the pitch with
Gloucester HC. The Club is part of a group involved with proposals for a new full sized AGP
at Cleeve School and the school believes that a pitch would provide an opportunity for the
Club to be accommodated back within the local community.
Unmet/latent demand
As previously mentioned, all clubs report unmet demand for additional training hours on
hockey suitable AGPs.
Lansdown Hockey Club believes it could develop a large junior section if pitch space was
readily available. At present the Club has a block booking at Bourneside Sports Centre
which adequately suits the need for all team training. However, if the Club grew it would
have unmet demand for additional training facilities. It also indicates that it would be unable
to add any additional senior teams at present due to the lack of pitch availability within both
Cheltenham and Tewkesbury.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that St Edwards Senior School is considering using its AGP
on Saturdays in the next academic year for school use, similar to Cheltenham, College and
Dean Close; this location is the home site for East Gloucestershire Hockey Club and Shipton
Oliffe Hockey Club (and on occasion Cheltenham Hockey Club Juniors). If this did occur,
both of the main hockey club users would struggle for pitch space and may have to export
demand to neighbouring areas.
Sport England’s Segmentation Tool enables the analysis of ‘the percentage of adults that
would like to participate in hockey but are not currently doing so’. The tool identifies latent
demand of 197 people in Cheltenham. The most dominant segment is ‘Leanne – Supportive
Singles’, of which 24 people (12%) would like participate in hockey. The tool also identifies
latent demand of 131 people in Tewkesbury. The most dominant segment is ‘Chloe –
Fitness Class Friends’, of which 18 (14%) would like to participate in hockey.
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September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 81
Future demand
The vision of England Hockey is for England to be a ‘Nation Where Hockey Matters’
supported by five objectives:
Grow Participation
Deliver International Success
Increase Visibility
Enhance Infrastructure
Be a strong and respected Governing Body
Since 2012 there has been approximately a 65% increase in participation by U16 and 8%
increase in over 16s nationally. At a local level growth in Gloucestershire has been almost
40% in U16s, which equates to an increase of over 400 junior participants. A number of
clubs in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury have indicated they want to develop their junior
sections further but are restricted by lack of available pitch space. England Hockey’s
aspiration is to double the number of participants in the sport over the next ten years.
In addition to traditional 11-a-side league hockey, England Hockey are encouraging clubs
to increase their informal hockey offerings, such as small-sided-game sessions and play
and pay sessions to engage new participants and increase participation in the sport,
especially where lifestyle means players would not be able to commit to regular training
and matches. Fitting within this approach is Hockey Fever, a new initiative that has
commenced in Cheltenham. It is aimed at non-club players and those that have not played
hockey before.
Of the consulted clubs, Cheltenham Hockey Club has ambitions to develop an additional
senior ladies team as so it has an equal number to the men’s section. Similarly, East
Gloucestershire Hockey Club has ambitions to grow by one senior ladies team.
Lansdown Hockey Club reports ambitions to grow by two senior teams and to keep
developing its junior section, however, lack of pitch availability is currently inhibiting this
growth.
Winchcombe Hockey Club, Cheltenham Civil Service Hockey Club, Brockworth Badgers
Hockey Club and Shipton Oliffe Hockey Club all report no planned future demand.
In addition, team generation rates are used below as the basis for calculating whether the
number of teams is likely to increase in the future based on population growth. Forecasts
indicate the likely creation of one junior boys team and two junior girls’ teams across the
two Boroughs.
Table 5.4: Team generation rates
Age group
Current
population
within age
group
Current
no. of
teams
Team
Generation
Rate
Future
population
within age
group
Predicted
future
number
of teams
Additional
teams that
may be
generated
from the
increased
population
Senior Men’s (16-45)
52,462
12
4372
55,189
12.6
0
Senior Women’s (16-45)
52,712
13
4055
53,795
13.3
0
Junior Boys (11-15)
5,381
9
597
6,466
10.8
1.8
Junior Girls (11-15)
5,312
12
447
6,470
14.5
2.5
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September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 82
Peak time demand
The majority of men’s and women’s teams (24) currently play matches on a Saturday. Junior
teams tend to play in festival style matches which are organised on an ad hoc basis usually
played on a Sunday throughout the day.
5.4 Supply and demand analysis
There are currently 24 senior teams which require a pitch at peak time (Saturday) equating
to 12 match sessions. However, displaced demand from Cleevillians HC amounts to one
match session (two teams), therefore when accounting for this there is current demand of
13 match sessions which is able to be sufficiently accommodated by existing supply. Future
demand increases will generate a further four senior teams, creating a future requirement
for 15 match sessions or four pitches (rounded from 3.75) which too is able to be
accommodated by current supply.
The PPS guidance considers a floodlit pitch as able to accommodate a maximum of four
matches on a Saturday with teams playing in a home and away format. At present there are
three pitches (Balcarras Sports Centre, Bourneside Sports Centre and Brockworth Sports
Centre) which meet these conditions, in addition to a further two (Pates Grammar School
and St Edwards Senior School) which have no floodlighting and are therefore considered
only able to accommodate two matches per day. As such, there are 16 match sessions
available on these pitches.
Dean Close School currently only has one team using one of its floodlit AGPs at peak time
and is unlikely to allow further use of its pitch facilities at weekends. Based on anecdotal
evidence that St Edwards Senior School may consider using its AGP for school use on
Saturdays rather than allowing club use as is presently the case, there could potentially be
a loss of one available and currently used AGP. This would reduce the number of pitches
available at peak time from five to four at a loss of two match timeslots but current demand
would still be able to be accommodated, however it would not be sufficient to accommodate
future demand.
Due to the nature of junior hockey in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury and its festival format
primarily accessing pitches on Sundays, current supply is deemed to meet demand.
Access to training provision is a key issue and clubs in both Cheltenham (Cheltenham HC
and East Gloucestershire Ladies HC) and Tewkesbury (Lansdown HC) highlight issues with
accessing sufficient pitch space for training. There is a need to access greater capacity for
midweek hockey training which could be achieved through use of capacity freed up by
transfer of football demand to increased 3G provision, creation of new AGPs suitable for
hockey, improving existing facilities with floodlights and through securing greater access at
sites where community use is currently limited or not permitted.
With a minimum of four fully accessible, floodlit pitches being required in Cheltenham and
Tewkesbury for matches, priority should be placed on ensuring the sustainability of the
current pitch stock, making the current stock of pitches more accessible, working with
England Hockey, leagues and clubs to look at alternative days of play, such as Sunday.
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 83
17
Lansdown HC accesses provision in both Cheltenham (junior training) and Tewkesbury (senior training and
matches)
Cheltenham hockey summary
There are currently 10 full size AGPs, suitable for hockey across Cheltenham, all of which
offer community use to some extent. All community use full size AGPs are located on
education owned/managed sites.
The AGPs at Cheltenham College are considered to be of good quality. In contrast
resurfacing is needed at CLC sports centre, Pates Grammar School, St Edwards Senior
School and shortly at Bourneside Sports Centre. This represents five AGPs.
There are eight
17
hockey clubs with a total of 36 teams playing and/or training in
Cheltenham, made up of eight men’s (one a midweek Vets team), eight women’s, and 20
junior teams.
Cheltenham Hockey Club, East Gloucestershire Hockey Club all report future demand of
at least one senior team.
Team generation rate forecasts indicate the likely creation of one junior boys team and
two junior girls’ teams across the two Boroughs.
All clubs report unmet demand for additional training hours on hockey suitable AGPs for
both adults and juniors.
Cheltenham HC exports demand for training to Gloucester.
Lansdown Hockey Club reports unmet demand for additional training hours on hockey
suitable AGPs. The Club considers itself a Cheltenham based club and juniors train at
Bourneside Sports Centre, yet the Club accesses the pitch at Brockworth Sports Centre in
Tewkesbury for training and senior matches as it cannot access capacity within
Cheltenham.
There is adequate provision of AGPs in Cheltenham to service current demand. If
accessibility issues & floodlight provision were to be resolved it would also meet future
demand. This is on the basis that four matches/eight teams can be accommodated per
AGP at peak time.
Although there are six AGPs available on a Saturday, only Balcarras Sports Centre and
Bourneside Sports Centre offer full availability in the peak period of four match equivalent
sessions each.
Accessibility and capacity on Saturdays at the four other sites is limited. Pates Grammar
School and St Edwards School offer capacity of two match equivalent sessions due to lack
of floodlighting, whilst one pitch at Dean Close is also without lighting. Capacity and access
at Dean Close School is also limited due to school fixtures played on Saturdays, whilst like
Pates Grammar School it offers selective community use made available on a club by club
basis rather than broadly available.
Given that all provision is located on education sites, this presents accessibility issues
which need to be resolved to enable existing provision to meet current and future demand
identified.
The key issue for clubs in Cheltenham is access to sufficient capacity for midweek
training for both adults and juniors.
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September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 84
Tewkesbury hockey summary
There are currently two full size AGPs, suitable for hockey within Tewkesbury located at
Brockworth Sport Centre and IMJIN barracks.
The AGP located at IMJIN barracks offers very limited community use with Brockworth
Badgers HC using the facility for one training session per week.
The AGPs at Brockworth Sports Centre and IMJIN barracks are both assessed as standard
quality.
There are two
17
hockey clubs with a total of 10 teams playing and/or training in Tewkesbury,
which as a breakdown equates to four men’s, five women’s and one junior team.
Lansdown Hockey Club reports future demand of at least one senior team. The Club also
has ambitions to develop the junior section.
Team generation rate forecasts indicate the likely creation of one junior boys team and two
junior girls’ teams across the two Boroughs.
Cleevillians HC exports demand for one match session to Gloucester amounting to two
senior teams.
Lansdown Hockey Club reports unmet demand for additional training hours on hockey
suitable AGPs. The Club considers itself a Cheltenham based club yet accesses the pitch at
Brockworth Sports Centre for training and senior matches as it cannot access capacity within
Cheltenham.
On the basis that a floodlit AGP can accommodate four matches/eight teams at peak time,
there is a need for an additional AGP to accommodate current, displaced and future demand
for both training and matches.
The main issue surrounding clubs in Tewkesbury is access to training time provision
midweek for both adults and juniors.
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PART 6: RUGBY LEAGUE
6.1: Introduction
The Rugby Football League (RFL) is the governing body for rugby league in Britain and
Ireland. It administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super
League and the Championships which form the professional and semi-professional
structure of the game structure in the UK.
The RFL also administers the amateur and junior game across the country in association
with the British Amateur Rugby League Association (BARLA).
Club consultation
There are currently two rugby league clubs, Cheltenham Phoenix RLC and All Golds RFLC.
Both clubs are based within Cheltenham and there are no clubs based in Tewkesbury. The
University of Gloucestershire also fields two men’s student teams which play within
Cheltenham. Face to face consultation was undertaken with both All Golds RLFC and the
University of Gloucestershire as part of the Gloucester PPS, whilst this information was
refreshed via telephone conversation as part of this study. Cheltenham Phoenix RLFC was
also consulted by telephone in order to register its feedback.
6.2: Supply
There are no dedicated rugby league pitches marked out in Cheltenham or Tewkesbury.
All play takes place on dual use pitches or pitches which are mainly used and marked for
rugby union but accommodate rugby league matches during the summer months. This
occurs at the following sites:
Prince of Wales Stadium (dual use - Cheltenham)
Old Patesians RFC (Cheltenham)
Cheltenham North RFC (Tewkesbury Area 3)
King George V Playing Fields (Cheltenham Saracens RFC - Cheltenham)
The Folly (dual use - Cheltenham)
As there are no dedicated rugby league pitches in either Cheltenham or Tewkesbury, rugby
union pitch assessment scores have been applied to accurately reflect pitch quality, though
it is acknowledged that because rugby league operates throughout the summer season
rather than winter, maintenance regimes may differ between the seasons. All pitches
located at Old Patesians RFC and The Folly are rated as poor quality with the remaining
pitches rated as standard quality.
The Prince of Wales Stadium is a multi use venue and the grass area within the athletics
track is used for rugby union throughout the winter, then during the summer season it is
marked as a rugby league pitch used by All Golds RLFC and is used for athletics field
events. During the summer areas of the pitch can be damaged as a result of discus and
javelin impact and repairs are required to ensure the surface is safe to play on.
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6.3: Demand
All Golds RLFC is the largest club within the Cheltenham area and operates semi-
professionally, with one senior team playing in RFL Championship League One at
weekends as well as an academy team which plays in the Conference League South (CLS).
All Golds RLFC is a club founded from the University of Gloucester and the two are strongly
linked. The University also has two student rugby league teams playing on Wednesday
afternoons in the BUCS League, with many of the players also making up part of the All
Golds team.
All Golds RLFC first team and University of Gloucestershire first team play at the Prince of
Wales Stadium whilst both their remaining teams play at The Folly. Both club and university
teams currently train at various sites, including the sand based AGP at University of
Gloucestershire Oxstalls Campus (Gloucester) and the Prince of Wales Stadium.
The University of Gloucestershire has proposals alongside ASPIRE Leisure Trust to
develop the site at Bishop’s College (Gloucester) to include the construction of two new
World Rugby certified 3G pitches which in turn meet RFL Community Standard criteria,
one of which would have an accompanying spectator stand. The University reports it is
likely that student teams will transfer training and match play to these pitches once they are
operational. All Golds RLFC will also likely relocate training to these pitches but for the
foreseeable future the first team will continue to play at the Prince of Wales Stadium.
At present All Golds RLFC first team is happy in the short term to remain playing at Prince
of Wales Stadium in order to meet RFL stadia requirements through an annual renewable
agreement with Cheltenham Leisure. However, the Club is exploring longer term, more
secure options for a home ground including a potential move in the medium term to play at
Bishops College (Gloucester). Another option would be to remain at the Prince of Wales
Stadium as Cheltenham Leisure has aspirations to develop the site as part of a wider hub
development including provision for a number of sports, potentially including a 3G pitch. All
Golds RLFC has engaged with the Trust as part of initial discussions and potential
involvement as part of any development.
Further to this, a representative of All Golds RLFC has aspirations for the creation of a
community rugby league site in either Cheltenham or Gloucester to include three or four
senior pitches and to act as a key community site for rugby league. The Club is open to
exploring this vision which could also serve to provide a permanent base for both
Cheltenham Phoenix RLFC and Gloucestershire Warriors RLFC (Gloucester) which are
currently nomadic.
Increased student numbers at the University are likely to increase demand for rugby
league, as are RFL participation initiatives such as Play Touch Rugby League, a mixed
sex, non-contact form of the game which is delivered on a franchise basis across the
following venues across Cheltenham and Tewkesbury:
The Folly (Cheltenham)
University of Gloucestershire Park Campus (Cheltenham)
Imjin Barracks (Tewkesbury Area 1)
Winchcombe School (3G pitch – Tewkesbury Area 4)
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Cheltenham Phoenix RLFC plays on Saturday afternoons in the South West Regional
League between March and September. The Club has one senior team playing league
fixtures and two junior teams which formed in June 2016. The junior section of the Club is
not expected to be playing competitive fixtures this season but teams will train.
The Club has no immediate plans to grow and its immediate priority is to sustain current
playing numbers. Its main aim is to establish and grow its junior teams to eventually feed
into the senior team and hopes to run a second senior men’s team in three to five years
time should it be successful in developing and retaining interest.
The Club is presently nomadic and plays senior fixtures on rugby union pitches across the
following venues:
Old Patesians RFC (Cheltenham)
Cheltenham North RFC (Tewkesbury Area 3)
King George V Playing Fields (Cheltenham Saracens RFC - Cheltenham)
Each venue is the home of a rugby union club which has priority over pitch usage. The
Club has subsequently found it difficult to find a consistent home site as it has to compete
for capacity and access with rugby union preseason training, pitch maintenance time
required and summer rugby union sevens festivals. Senior and junior teams train regularly
at Old Patesians RFC on the training pitch amounting to two match sessions per week,
however, Old Patesians RFC believes that the pitch is poor quality, so much so that it is
dangerous and unsafe to use. This pitch is considered able to accommodate 0.5 match
sessions per week and as such training demand exceeds recommended capacity by 1.5
match sessions.
The Club has ambitions to secure a permanent home through the security of a lease
agreement on a site where facilities are of a good standard. At present, the Club believes
its inability to find a site at which to base itself and its consequent nomadic nature is
detrimental to attracting players and is limiting its development.
Displaced demand
Displaced demand refers to Cheltenham or Tewkesbury based teams that are currently
accessing pitches outside of the local authority for their home fixtures, normally because
their pitch requirements cannot be met. This is usually because of pitch supply, in some
cases quality issues or stipulated league requirements for access to certain facilities. No
displaced demand was identified
Future demand
Population increases
Team generation rates are used below as the basis for calculating the number of teams
likely to be generated in the future based on population growth.
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Table 6.1 Team generation rates (Cheltenham)
Age group
Current
population
within age
group
Current
no. of
teams
Team
Generation
Rate
Future
population
within age
group
Predicted
future
number
of teams
Additional
teams that
may be
generated
from the
increased
population
Senior Men (19-45)
22,011
4
5503
23,494
4.3
0
Senior Women (19-45)
21,860
0
0
22,163
0
0
Junior Boys (12-18)
4,515
0
0
5,291
0
0
Junior Girls (12-18)
4,703
0
0
5,403
0
0
Primary rugby mixed (7-11)
6,143
0
0
6,771
0
0
Team generation rates (TGRs) based on future population in Cheltenham indicate that
participation is likely to increase at the senior men’s age group, though not by enough to
create an additional team. It is likely that these new players will join existing squads. Given
that there are no rugby league teams in Cheltenham, there are no TGR projections to
forecast future demand, however it is likely that some Tewkesbury residents already play
for Cheltenham based teams and that new players in the future will probably do so too.
It is important to note that TGRs are based on population figures and cannot account for
specific targeted development work within certain areas or focused towards certain groups,
such as NGB initiatives or coaching within schools. For example, the All Golds RLFC
community development team delivers coaching sessions in primary schools across
Gloucestershire as part of the Sky Try programme in order to develop primary rugby league
participation, culminating in a primary rugby league schools festival. The programme has
been successful in the area with several schools enrolling in subsequent years.
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6.4: Conclusions
Despite there being no specific rugby league pitches in Cheltenham or Tewkesbury, all
current match demand for rugby league is able to be accommodated on rugby union or
dual use pitches. Cross code pitch usage is not uncommon within rugby league, particularly
in areas where the sport is developing and there has not previously been much or any
demand. All Golds RLFC aside, both university teams and Cheltenham Phoenix RLFC play
only five or six home matches per year. Therefore, given the level of demand at present
and the likelihood of university demand to be transferred to 3G pitches in Gloucester, it is
considered acceptable for demand from Cheltenham Phoenix RLFC to continue to use
rugby union pitches. However, training demand exceeds capacity available at Old
Patesians RFC where the training pitch is rated as poor and potentially unsafe.
Consequently, there is a requirement for an additional 1.5 match sessions to cater for
training demand. Alternatively, transfer of training demand onto a suitable unmarked grass
training area or RFL Community Standard 3G pitch would resolve this requirement.
Rugby league growing in popularity across Gloucestershire and though TGR projections
do not indicate the likely creation of new teams, should demand continue to increase then
key priority should be to establish a permanent home pitch for Cheltenham Phoenix
RLFC. This should be through the creation of a specific rugby league pitch to act as a
club base from which to grow community rugby league participation in the area. Given
aforementioned aspirations linked to All Golds RLFC, the potential creation of a rugby
league focus site would help to address the need for specific rugby league pitches in the
future.
At present, All Golds RLFC stadia and match day requirements as stipulated by the RFL
are able to be met at the Prince of Wales Stadium. Strong links with the university which
has campuses across both Cheltenham and Gloucester means that the Club does not
define itself as being based in one particular local authority. It may in future decide that it
would like to align itself to Gloucester but until such decision might be made then
requirements are able to be met as part of the community multisport offer at the Prince of
Wales Stadium.
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Cheltenham rugby league summary
There are no pitches specifically marked for rugby league in Cheltenham. Play currently
takes place at The Prince of Wales Stadium, King George V Playing Fields (Cheltenham),
Old Patesians RFC and The Folly, all of which are also used for rugby union.
The University of Gloucestershire is a key driver behind rugby league in the area. It has two
men’s student teams and links to All Golds RLFC, its semi-professional club arm with one
team playing in RFL Championship One.
The only other club in Cheltenham is Cheltenham Phoenix RLC which is nomadic.
University of Gloucester has proposals with ASPIRE to develop the site at Bishop’s College
to create two new RFL compliant 3G AGPs. Should this go ahead, intentions are for student
teams to play matches and train on the 3G pitches which consequently leave only All Golds
RLFC and Cheltenham Phoenix RLC as the only teams playing in the area.
Rugby league interest and participation is likely to increase in the future through the
introduction of Play Touch Rugby League (PTRL) in the area.
There is great potential for crossover of players between both codes of rugby given the
popularity of rugby union in Cheltenham.
Despite the lack of a specific rugby league pitch, the current level of rugby league match play
taking place on rugby union pitches in considered to be sustainable. Given the cross code
transfer of players and the number of fixtures each season, continued play on rugby union
pitches with vigilant management of usage is suitable.
However, training demand exceeds capacity available at Old Patesians RFC where the
training pitch is rated as poor and potentially unsafe. Consequently, there is a requirement for
an additional 1.5 match sessions to cater for training demand. Alternatively, transfer of
training demand onto a suitable unmarked grass training area or RFL Community Standard
3G pitch would resolve this requirement.
Key priority should be to establish a home base for Cheltenham Phoenix RLFC either
through the creation of a specific rugby league pitch or a strengthened partnership with a
rugby union club.
Team generation rates do not anticipate the creation of any new teams based on population;
however, any future increases in demand at Cheltenham Phoenix RLFC would prompt the
need for the creation of a specific rugby league pitch to accommodate community matches
and training.
Tewkesbury rugby league summary
There are no pitches specifically marked for rugby league in Tewkesbury. Some takes place
at Cheltenham North RFC where the floodlit rugby union pitch is also used for rugby league
on an adhoc basis.
The University of Gloucestershire is a key driver behind rugby league in the area. It has two
men’s student teams and links to All Golds RLFC, its semi-professional club arm with one
team playing in RFL Championship One.
There are no clubs based in Tewkesbury and no reported demand for rugby league, though it
is likely that Tewkesbury residents play within Cheltenham based teams.
There are a number of rugby league initiatives taking place in Tewkesbury which are likely to
develop interest in the sport, including Play Touch Rugby League (PTRL) sessions at
Winchcombe School and the Sky Try coaching programme delivered in local primary
schools.
To summarise, there is no rugby league demand in Tewkesbury and no subsequent
requirement for rugby league pitches. Use of rugby union pitches at Cheltenham North RFC
is minimal and on an infrequent basis when required.
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PART 7: CRICKET
7.1: Introduction
Gloucestershire County Cricket Board (GCCB) is the main governing and representative body
for cricket within the County, including Cheltenham and Tewkesbury. Its aim is to promote the
game at all levels through partnerships with professional and recreational cricketing clubs, and
other appropriate agencies.
Consultation
There are 20 cricket clubs based within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury. Ullenwood Bharat CC
is currently based in Cotswold District, however, has ambitions to permanently relocate to
Tewkesbury and therefore has been included in the audit. The following clubs were met with
face to face:
Charlton Kings CC
Cheltenham CC
Down Hatherley CC
Shurdington CC
Tewkesbury CC
Ullenwood Bharat CC
In addition to face to face consultation with key clubs, an electronic survey was sent to all
remaining cricket clubs playing in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury. Contact details were provided
by GCCB which also distributed the invitation to complete the survey via email. A total
response rate of 70% was achieved.
7.2: Supply
In total, there are 34 grass cricket squares in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury located across 26
sites, of which, 24 grass squares are available for community use. All squares unavailable for
community use are located at either Cheltenham College or Dean Close School.
Table 7.1: Summary of grass cricket squares available for community use
Analysis area
Number available for community use
Tewkesbury Area 1
4
Tewkesbury Area 2
4
Tewkesbury Area 3
2
Tewkesbury Area 4
4
Tewkesbury Area 5
4
Tewkesbury
18
Cheltenham
6
Non-turf pitches
Non-turf wickets accompany natural turf cricket squares at Cheltenham Civil Service Ground,
Pates Grammar School, St Edwards Preparatory School and Tewkesbury CC. These artificial
wickets are not only used for training (with the help of mobile nets) but also junior matches
which can help reduce and manage use of grass wickets.
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In addition, there are standalone non-turf pitches (NTPs) at the following sites:
Millbrook Academy
Churchdown School
Balcarras School
Pittville School
Tewkesbury School Sports Centre
The Richard Pate School
Of the standalone NTPs, Churchdown School, Tewkesbury School Sports Centre and
Balcarras School are considered to be available for community use. Both Millbrook Academy
and Pittville School are unavailable due to a perceived lack of demand.
Many senior cricket leagues operating at weekends do not sanction NTPs as suitable for match
play although the ECB highlights that pitches which follow its TS6 guidance on performance
standards are suitable for high level play.
Lapsed/disused sites
There was previously a natural turf cricket square located at Toby Carvery Brockworth,
previously known as the Cross Hands Inn. The site is privately owned by a brewery company
which took over the old public house and was previously used by Bharat CC which
amalgamated in 2012 with Ullenwood CC to form Ullenwood Bharat CC. Cricket provision is
now considered to be lapsed as the area of land and accompanying pavilion are no longer
maintained and the area has become overgrown.
Future provision
A housing developer is set to create a new cricket square and pavilion to meet latest ECB
specifications, known presently as Invista Cricket Ground and located off Green Street in
Brockworth (Tewkesbury Area 5) on land to the rear of the Invista Textile Factory. The ground
is expected to be complete by 2018 and plans are for it to be used by Ullenwood Bharat CC
which would purchase it for a nominal value. The Club is currently based on the local authority
border within the Cotswold District but considers itself to be a Tewkesbury based club and will
permanently relocate to Brockworth. The Club believes it will require at least nine wickets on
site to be able to meet its requirements.
Winchcombe School has recently purchased additional land surrounding the existing school
site. There are plans to create a new cricket square in partnership with Winchcombe CC to
cater for any future growth by the Club and to act as a site for junior matches. Additionally,
Dumbleton CC have applied for planning permission to develop a new ground behind its
current site to accommodate its senior growth ambitions.
A new senior cricket square has been provided at Cold Pool Lane (Tewkesbury Area 5). The
square is completed and resides next to two adult football pitches and a junior football pitch.
The site is now opened and is awaiting an asset transfer to a suitable club for use from the
2017 season onwards.
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Figure 7.1: Location of natural turf cricket pitches in Cheltenham
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Figure 7.2: Location of natural turf cricket pitches in Tewkesbury
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Table 7.2: Key to map of cricket pitches
Site ID
Site name
Analysis area
Available for
community use
No. of grass pitches
No. of grass pitches
with non-turf wickets
No. of standalone non-
turf pitches
3
Apperley Cricket Club
Tewkesbury Area 2
Yes
1
-
-
8
Brockworth Sport Centre
Tewkesbury Area 5
No
-
-
1
14
Churchdown Academy
Tewkesbury Area 5
Yes
-
-
1
15
Cheltenham Civil Service Ground
Tewkesbury Area 2
Yes
-
1
-
20
Gotherington Playing Field
Tewkesbury Area 3
Yes
1
-
-
22
Highnam Court Cricket Club
Tewkesbury Area 1
Yes
1
-
-
24
John Daniels Playing Field
Tewkesbury Area 5
Yes
1
-
-
26
King George V Playing Field (Tewkesbury)
Tewkesbury Area 4
Yes
1
-
-
36
Tewkesbury Cricket Ground
Tewkesbury Area 2
Yes
-
1
-
38
Tewkesbury School Sports Centre
Tewkesbury Area 2
Yes
-
-
1
40
Woodpeckers Sport & Social Club
Tewkesbury Area 1
Yes
1
-
-
43
Woodmancote Playing Field
Tewkesbury Area 3
Yes
1
-
-
45
Twyning Cricket Club
Tewkesbury Area 2
Yes
1
-
-
49
MOD Aschurch
Tewkesbury Area 2
No
-
-
1
55
Witcombe Cricket Club
Tewkesbury Area 5
Yes
1
-
-
59
Dumbleton Cricket Club
Tewkesbury Area 4
Yes
1
-
-
60
Stanway Cricket Club
Tewkesbury Area 4
Yes
1
-
-
66
Balcarras Sports Centre
Cheltenham
Yes
-
-
1
70
Burrows
Cheltenham
Yes
1
-
-
72
Cheltenham College
Cheltenham
No
1
-
-
74
Cheltenham Cricket Club
Cheltenham
Yes
1
-
-
83
Dean Close School
Cheltenham
No
3
-
-
99
Pates Grammar School
Cheltenham
No
-
-
1
101
Pittville School
Cheltenham
No
-
-
1
108
St Edwards Preparatory School
Cheltenham
Yes
1
-
1
111
Swindon Village
Cheltenham
Yes
1
-
-
115
The Richard Pate School
Cheltenham
No
-
-
1
120
Charlton Kings Cricket Club
Cheltenham
Yes
1
-
-
122
Down Hatherley Cricket Club
Tewkesbury Area 1
Yes
1
-
-
126
Hatherley & Redding Cricket Club – North Park
Tewkesbury Area 5
Yes
1
-
-
127
Hatherley & Redding Cricket Club – South Park
Tewkesbury Area 5
Yes
1
-
-
145
Winchcombe Cricket Club
Tewkesbury Area 4
Yes
1
-
-
146
Kingsholm Cricket Club
Tewkesbury Area 1
Yes
1
-
-
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Ownership and management
Cricket clubs in both Cheltenham and Tewkesbury are generally considered to have security
of tenure at their home sites with continued use confirmed for at least the next three years. Of
the four clubs recorded as playing in Cheltenham, both Cheltenham CC and Charlton Kings
CC own their home sites. St. Stephens CC rents Swindon Village from CBC whilst Cheltenham
Civil Service CC rents The Burrows to cater for its Saturday third team, both of which do so
annually.
In Tewkesbury, all clubs are generally considered to have security of tenure through either
site ownership or long term lease agreement. Tewkesbury has a large number of parish
councils making it is easier for clubs in individual parish areas to negotiate tenure agreements
locally. As a result, the majority of clubs have either freehold or an established lease
agreement.
Cheltenham Civil Service CC, part of the Cheltenham Civil Service Association has recently
agreed a 14-year lease agreement with Tewkesbury Borough Council for use of the site.
Ullenwood Bharat CC currently leases its home site in Ullenwood from the Gloucestershire
Wildlife Trust as an annual rolling agreement. The site itself is not within either of the two study
areas but its location in the Cotswold district is in close proximity to the Tewkesbury authority
border and the Club considers itself to be Tewkesbury based. As such, the Club is part of
plans to be the resident club at the new Invista Cricket Ground which is to be built in
Tewkesbury.
Kingsholm CC is based in Tewkesbury but considers itself a Gloucester based club given it
originates from the Kingsholm area in the City. Most members travel from Gloucester and
Cheltenham to play at the Club. It relocated from Gloucester when one of its patrons offered
to purchase farming land in Sandhurst, on which the Club would be able to build its own ground
and therefore have full ownership and management. The decision to leave Gloucester was
therefore solely based on the appeal and advantages of having ownership of its home ground
and access to better quality facilities, rather than a lack of access to pitches in the City.
Pitch quality
Maintaining high pitch quality is the most important aspect of cricket. If the wicket is poor, it
can affect the quality of the game and can, in some instances, become dangerous. As part of
the PPS guidance there are three levels to assess quality; good, standard and poor.
The audit of grass wicket pitches in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury found seven pitches to be
good quality and 17 pitches to be of a standard quality. No pitches were rated as poor. Details
of individual pitches can be found in table: 4.7. Good quality pitches are located at the following
sites:
Cheltenham CC (Cheltenham)
Apperley CC (Tewkesbury)
Cheltenham Cival Service Ground (Tewkesbury)
Gotherington Playing Field (Tewkesbury)
Hatherley & Reddings CC – North Park (Tewkesbury)
Kingsholm CC (Tewkesbury)
Dumbleton CC (Tewkesbury)
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All of the above pitches are maintained entirely by club volunteers or paid groundsmen to a
high standard. Both Cheltenham CC and Dumleton CC have both hosted country matches
such is the high standard of the pitch at each ground.
All remaining pitches in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury are rated as standard quality.
Tewkesbury CC is prone to flooding and has been flooded severely in both 2007 and 2012;
the effects of which the Club attributes as being a key factor in being unable to produce a good
quality square.
The square at Ullenwood Bharat CC is assessed as standard quality but the Club itself
perceives it to be poor. All maintenance is done by the Club which is unable to afford new
maintenance equipment to improve the quality of the wickets on site.
Ancillary facilities
All clubs in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury have access to changing room facilities at their home
ground and the majority of clubs access suitable provision with the exceptions of Shurdington
CC, Ullenwood Bharat CC and Charlton Kings CC.
Shurdington CC in partnership with Shurdington Rovers FC recently raised funds to refurbish
its facility including grant funding from Sport England, Tewkesbury Borough Council, charitable
donations and other smaller contributions made by various local organisations. The Club now
has a new good quality pavilion which opened in September 2016.
Ullenwood Bharat CC currently has use of one large shed, subdivided into two sections which
it uses as changing room provision. Two showers are attached to the inside and are used by
both home and away teams. The Club is unable to insure either the clubhouse or changing
provision because they are wooden structures. Due to the location of the Club and its close
proximity to the A417 the highway agency is looking to develop a potential link road through
the Club car park to ease congestion in the area. Subsequently, this potential development
would significantly limit car parking which would cause issues on match days.
Charlton Kings CC recently won a land ownership dispute regarding a section of its home site
known as Ryeworth Playing Fields, which consequently led the Club to incur debts as a result
of the legal process. Both the clubhouse and changing provision are in poor condition and
require large scale investment to comply with current ECB specifications. Facilities are
outdated and in areas are severely inadequate for Club use, especially considering the high
number of teams the Club has. Furthermore, the Club has car parking capacity to
accommodate just two cars which causes problems on match and training days, leading cars
to park on the narrow roadside causing congestion. The Club have recently started to make
initial plans to construct a new pavilion in partnership with the ECB.
Training facilities
Access to cricket nets is important, particularly to provide structured training sessions
throughout the cricket season. In Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, the majority of clubs have
good quality net training provision. However, some clubs highlighted a need for additional
training nets as current facilities on site are of a poor standard.
Woodmancote CC indicated that training nets have been a target for vandalism and as a
consequence has moved all senior training to Cleeve School at an additional cost to the Club.
Winchombe CC also indicated that its nets are of a very poor quality and that it is fundraising
to purchase new nets.
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Ullenwood Bharat CC currently has no access to outdoor training facilities. The Club is unable
to afford to purchase training nets and is reluctant to train on the grass square in order to
protect quality for match play. Consequently the Club chooses not to train at a detriment to
skill and player development. The Club plans to train should it successfully move to the newly
created Invista Cricket Ground where it hopes to have suitable training facilities.
7.3: Demand
There are 20 clubs based in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury. Five clubs are recorded as playing
in Cheltenham and 17 are recorded as playing in Tewkesbury. Both Cheltenham Civil Service
CC and Woodmancote CC access pitches in each study area.
As shown in Table 4.3, cricket is a popular sport in both Cheltenham and Tewkesbury with a
combined total of 80 senior teams and 66 junior teams playing competitive fixtures.
Table 7.3: Summary of teams by analysis area
Analysis area
No. of competitive teams
Senior
Junior
Cheltenham
16
23
Tewkesbury Area 1
15
6
Tewkesbury Area 2
16
9
Tewkesbury Area 3
8
5
Tewkesbury Area 4
15
12
Tewkesbury Area 5
10
11
Cheltenham Total
16
23
Tewkesbury Total
64
43
The National Player Survey (NPS) conducted over the past three years by the ECB reveals
that the nature of participation in traditional league cricket has declined. This is offset by a
rapid increase in non-traditional formats (such as Last Man Stands and T20 competitions)
which are shorter, quicker formats of the game.
St Stephens CC Cheltenham has suffered a decline in senior playing membership and fears
that the Club may be forced to fold if it is not able to merge with another club. Similarly,
Shurdington CC Tewkesbury regularly struggles to consistently field a second senior team.
In contrast, participation amongst Tewkesbury clubs is on the increase. Kingsholm CC,
Winchcombe CC and Woodpeckers CC all report an increase in the amount of junior teams
whilst both Kingsholm CC and Woodpeckers CC report an increase in the number of men’s
senior teams.
Ullenwood Bharat CC currently has seven senior men’s teams of which five will play in
Brockworth (Tewkesbury Area 5) should the Club move to the Invista Cricket Ground. Two
teams would continue to play outside of Tewkesbury at either their current pitch King George
V Playing Fields (Gloucester) or at the Club’s current home site in Ullenwood (Cotswold)
should it be retained. As such, relocation of Ullenwood Bharat CC to Tewkesbury is likely to
increase demand by five senior teams.
Women’s and girls’ cricket is a national priority for the ECB. There is a target to establish more
female teams in every local authority over the next five years and 8-10% of the Whole Sport
Plan funding is focused around women and girls and talent identification.
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Currently, only Bushley CC and Charlton Kings CC run senior ladies’ teams. Shurdington CC
currently has ambitions to establish a ladies team and has group of ladies currently training
but does not have enough players to field a team.
Last Man Stands (LMS)
Last Man Stands (LMS) was founded in 2005, in London. The social outdoor eight-a-side T20
cricket game is played midweek, lasts approximately two hours and is generally played on
NTPs. This shorter format of the game has encouraged more people to participate in the sport
and affiliates to the ECB, operating nationwide on a franchise basis.
At present there is no LMS league servicing either Cheltenham or Tewkesbury and it is not
considered as a target area by either the ECB or GCCB. This may in part be due to existing
midweek leagues which are already established and cater for short format cricket, including
the Gloucester Evening Cricket League and the Abbey Business Challenge Cup which are
both T20 competitions.
Displaced demand
Displaced demand refers to teams incorporates both imported and exported demand. Exported
demand refers to clubs or teams based in either of the two study areas which currently access
pitches outside of the local authority for their home fixtures. This is normally because pitch
requirements cannot be met, usually because of pitch supply or in some cases quality issues
or stipulated league requirements for access to certain facilities. Conversely, imported demand
refers to teams based in other local authorities which play at sites within either of the two study
areas for any of the same reasons.
Cheltenham Civil Service CC based in Tewkesbury plays at The Burrows in Cheltenham as a
secondary venue. Vice versa, Woodmancote CC based in Tewkesbury plays at Swindon
Village in Cheltenham as a secondary site.
Coopers Edge CC was formed in 2011 by residents of the residential development at Coopers
Edge in Brockworth. After playing a few friendly matches, 2012 was the club’s inaugural
season in which it entered into the Gloucester Evening League. The Club has just one team
which still plays midweek in the league, as well as occasional Sunday friendlies, but is
enthusiastic to develop. Coopers Edge CC is nomadic, currently playing home games at Upton
St Leonards Cricket Club (Stroud), it’s third home ground in three seasons. The Club is in
search of a more permanent home and was unsuccessful in applications to use the new Cold
Pool Lane site and the proposed new Invista Ground site.
Future demand
Future demand is based on a combination of population data and participation increases
reported by local clubs linked to club development plans. Team generation rates are used
below as the basis for calculating the number of teams likely to be generated in the future
(2037) based on population growth.
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
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September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 100
Table 7.4: Team generation rates (Cheltenham)
Age group
Current
population
within age
group
Current
no. of
teams
Team
Generation
Rate
18
Future
population
within age
group
Predicted
future
number
of teams
Additional
teams that
may be
generated
from the
increased
population
Senior Men (18-55)
30,791
19
1621
31,683
19.6
0
Senior Women (18-55)
30,660
1
30660
30,434
1
0
Junior Boys (7-17)
7,649
16
478
8,759
18.3
2
Junior Girls (7-17)
7,712
7
1102
8,705
7.9
0
Table 7.5: Team generation rates (Tewkesbury)
Age group
Current
population
within age
group
Current
no. of
teams
Team
Generation
Rate
19
Future
population
within age
group
Predicted
future
number
of teams
Additional
teams that
may be
generated
from the
increased
population
Senior Men (18-55)
19,351
79
245
20,812
85
6
Senior Women (18-55)
19,734
1
19734
20,638
1
0
Junior Boys (7-17)
5,719
42
136
7,128
52.3
10
Junior Girls (7-17)
5,365
2
2683
6,728
2.5
0
Team generation rates (TGRs) based on future population indicate that participation is
anticipated to increase in both study areas. In Cheltenham, team generation rates forecast the
likely creation of at least two junior boys’ teams. In Tewkesbury, it is anticipated that there will
be the likely creation of six new senior men’s teams and ten junior boys’ teams.
It is important to note that TGRs are based on population figures and cannot account for
specific targeted development work within certain areas or focused towards certain groups,
such as NGB initiatives or coaching within schools. For example, there is a focus on
developing girl’s football within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury and this is likely to lead to more
girls’ teams in the future and therefore demand for more pitches.
Additionally, club consultation highlights that nine clubs have plans to increase the number of
teams as seen below. It is considered that future demand expressed by clubs will include
future demand numbers expressed within the team generation rates.
18
Please note TGR figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.
19
Please note TGR figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.
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Table 7.6: Future demand expressed by clubs
Club
Analysis area
Senior
Junior
Men’s
Women’s
Cheltenham CC
Cheltenham
-
1
3
Down Hatherley CC
Tewkesbury Area 1
-
-
1
Woodpeckers CC
Tewkesbury Area 1
-
-
3
Kingsholm CC
Tewkesbury Area 1
1
-
1
Tewkesbury CC
Tewkesbury Area 2
1
-
-
Cheltenham Civil Service CC
Tewkesbury Area 2
1
-
2
Woodmancote CC
Tewkesbury Area 3
-
1
-
Shurdington CC
Tewkesbury Area 4
-
1
3
Winchcombe CC
Tewkesbury Area 4
-
-
1
Cheltenham
-
1
3
Tewkesbury
3
2
11
The potential growth in senior teams equates to the need for 1.5 pitches during peak time on
the basis that one team can be accommodated on 0.5 of a pitch (playing on a home and away
basis). There is less need for pitches to accommodate the potential increase in junior teams
as junior teams generally play on a variety of days during midweek. Though TGRs forecast
the likely creation of at least six adult men’s teams, it is considered more realistic that three of
these teams will play at peak time and any additional increase in senior men’s demand is likely
to be reflected at non-peak times such as Sundays or midweek, in line with the broadening
cricket offer and new formats of play such as T20 and short-format matches.
Peak time demand
An analysis of match play identifies the peak time for use of cricket squares as Saturday
afternoons, with 42 teams (53% of senior teams) playing at this time compared to 16 teams
(20% of senior teams) which play on Sundays. Those playing on Saturdays play in a variety
of leagues locally, with Cheltenham CC playing at the highest level in the West of England
Premier League.
The majority of junior teams compete in the Cheltenham & Gloucester Cricket Association.
Peak time demand of cricket squares for junior matches is considered to be midweek and 31
teams (47% of junior teams) play at this time. It should be noted that midweek cricket has the
potential to be spread across five days and as a result pitches have greater capacity to carry
junior demand providing the pitches are not overplayed, not withstanding time required to
access the square for training and maintenance or wicket preparation.
Informal demand
Although no informal use is recorded on cricket pitches in Cheltenham or Tewkesbury, it is
considered that informal or social cricket is likely being played elsewhere such as on parks,
recreation grounds and even on macadam surfaces such as car parks and multi-use games
areas. Informal modes of play such as tapeball or informal knocks are often favoured amongst
South Asian communities and the ECB considers the development of cricket within South
Asian communities and non-traditional forms of participation to be key focuses.
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7.4: Capacity analysis
Capacity analysis for cricket is measured on a seasonal rather than a weekly basis. This is
due to playability (as only one match is generally played per pitch per day at weekends or
weekday evening) and because wickets are rotated throughout the season to reduce wear
and tear and also to allow for repair.
The capacity of a pitch to accommodate matches is driven by the number and quality of
wickets. This section of the report presents the current pitch stock available for cricket and
illustrates the number of competitive matches per season per square. To help calculate spare
capacity, the ECB suggests that a good quality grass wicket should be able to take five (senior)
matches per season. This is used to allocate capacity ratings as follows:
Potential capacity
Play is below the level the site could sustain
At capacity
Play matches the level the site can sustain
Overused
Play exceeds the level the site can sustain
The ECB suggests that an NTP can accommodate 60 matches per season. No NTPs are
recorded as accommodating more than this in Cheltenham or Tewkesbury and as such are
considered able to accommodate additional training use or match play. Table 4.7 shows the
capacity of natural turf squares and NTPs have been discounted, though it should be
acknowledged that some NTPs are situated on the edge of natural turf squares and are not
always accessible if the square is being used for match play.
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Table 7.7: Cricket pitch capacity
Site ID
Site name
Club users
Analysis area
No. of
pitches
Pitch quality
No. of
grass
wickets
Capacity
(sessions per
season)
Actual play
(sessions per
season)
Capacity rating
(sessions per
season)
Actual Spare
Capacity
(Pitches
available in
peak period)
70
Burrows
Cheltenham Civil Service CC
Cheltenham
1
Standard
8
40
10
30
0.5
74
Cheltenham CC
Cheltenham CC
Cheltenham
1
Good
34
170
118
52
-
99
Pates Grammar School
School Teams
Cheltenham
1
Standard
8
40
20
20
1
108
St Edwards Preparatory School
Charlton Kings CC
Cheltenham
1
Standard
4
20
16
4
-
111
Swindon Village
St Stephens CC/
Woodmancote CC
Cheltenham
1
Standard
15
75
29
46
-
120
Charlton Kings CC
Charlton Kings CC
Cheltenham
1
Standard
12
60
96
36
-
22
Highnam Court CC
Cheltenham Civil Service CC
Tewkesbury Area 1
1
Standard
6
30
25
5
-
40
Woodpeckers Sport & Social
Club
Woodpeckers CC
Tewkesbury Area 1
1
Standard
8
40
39
1
-
122
Down Hatherley CC
Down Hatherley CC
Tewkesbury Area 1
1
Standard
11
55
51
4
-
146
Kingsholm CC
Kingsholm CC
Tewkesbury Area 1
1
Good
18
90
52
38
-
3
Apperley CC
Apperley CC
Tewkesbury Area 2
1
Good
14
70
60
10
-
15
Cheltenham Civil Service CC
Cheltenham Civil Service CC
Tewkesbury Area 2
1
Good
9
45
39
6
-
36
Tewkesbury Cricket Ground
Tewkesbury CC
Tewkesbury Area 2
1
Standard
13
65
59
6
-
45
Twyning CC
Twyning CC/ Tewkesbury CC
Tewkesbury Area 2
1
Good
12
60
21
39
-
20
Gotherington Playing Field
Gotherington CC/Dumbleton
CC
Tewkesbury Area 3
1
Good
8
40
39
1
-
43
Woodmancote Playing Field
Woodmancote CC
Tewkesbury Area 3
1
Standard
10
50
48
2
-
26
King George V Playing Field
(Tewkesbury)
Shurdington CC
Tewkesbury Area 4
1
Standard
10
50
43
7
-
59
Dumbleton CC
Dumbleton CC
Tewkesbury Area 4
1
Good
15
75
82
7
-
60
Stanway CC
Stanway CC
Tewkesbury Area 4
1
Standard
8
40
11
29
0.5
145
Winchcombe CC
Winchcombe CC
Tewkesbury Area 4
1
Standard
8
40
47
7
-
24
John Daniels Playing Field
Churchdown CC
Tewkesbury Area 5
1
Standard
8
40
35
5
-
55
Witcombe CC
Witcombe CC
Tewkesbury Area 5
1
Standard
12
60
32
28
-
126
Hatherley & Reddings CC (North
Park)
Hatherley & Reddings CC
Tewkesbury Area 5
1
Good
21
105
80
25
-
127
Hatherley & Reddings CC (South
Park)
Hatherley & Reddings
CC/Oakley Vipers CC
Tewkesbury Area 5
1
Standard
9
45
29
16
-
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7.5: Supply and demand analysis
Spare capacity
The next step is to ascertain whether or not any identified ‘potential capacity’ can be deemed
‘spare capacity’. There may be situations where, although a site is highlighted as potentially
able to accommodate some additional play, this should not be recorded as spare capacity
against the site. For example, a site may be managed to regularly operate slightly below full
capacity to ensure that it can cater for a number of regular training sessions, or to protect the
quality of the site.
Where there is a significant amount of potential capacity available, however, this may not
represent actual space capacity, i.e. whether a pitch capacity is available at the peak time.
The peak time for playing senior cricket is Saturday.
There are five natural turf squares in Cheltenham which show potential spare capacity,
however, realistically only The Burrows is capable of adequately being able to accommodate
additional usage. Pates Grammar School is highlighted as showing actual capacity however,
further investigation with the school is required to establish if the site can adequately host
regular club games and has therefore been discounted from further conclusion calculations.
Similarly, in Tewkesbury, there are 14 pitches which show potential spare capacity, despite
this, only the square located at Stanway CC is capable of hosting additional use.
Overplay
There are three natural turf squares in Cheltenham which show potential spare capacity
totalling 50 match equivalent sessions per season. Charlton Kings CC is the only site in
Cheltenham to exhibit overplay to the total of 36 matches per season. There are two sites in
Tewkesbury which are each overplayed by seven matches per season, both of which are
located in Analysis Area 4.
Table 7.8: Summary of overplay in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury
Site
ID
Site name
Analysis
area
Site
Capacity
Amount of
overplay
(sessions
per
season)
Comments
120
Charlton Kings
CC
Cheltenham
60
36
High level of overplay as a
result of the high number of
teams the Club operates.
59
Dumbleton CC
Tewkesbury
Area 4
75
7
Relatively low level of
overplay due to the large
amount of teams the club
operates.
145
Winchcombe
CC
Tewkesbury
Area 4
40
7
Relatively low level of
overplay due to relatively low
number of wickets on the
square
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7.6 Conclusions
Consideration must be given to the extent to which current provision can accommodate current
and future demand. The tables below take in available spare capacity at peak time for senior
cricket on a Saturday, considered against overplay, displaced demand to be accommodated
back within the study area and future demand.
Both displaced and future demand have been converted into match equivalent sessions based
on the average number of home matches senior teams play per season (12 matches for senior
men and eight matches for senior women). The capacity tables below are based on senior
peak time and therefore include only future demand at peak time. Additional future demand
for women’s and junior cricket is considered able to be accommodated.
Junior teams typically play midweek across different days and therefore have a greater
number of timeslots per week in which they can play. Each pitch with potential spare capacity
is considered able to accommodate potential increases in midweek demand, whilst all NTPs
have spare capacity to accommodate such play should teams choose to use them for match
play.
Table 7.9: Capacity of Cheltenham cricket pitches (senior peak time)
In conclusion, there is a shortfall of six match sessions per season on natural turf cricket
squares in Cheltenham at peak time. This is almost solely due to the significant level of
overplay at Charlton Kings CC which is overplayed by 36 matches per season. Actual spare
capacity exists at the Burrows at peak time to accommodate one additional senior team but
the capacity the pitch has overall to be able to accommodate additional play is offset by the
level of overplay in the Borough.
Table 7.10: Capacity of Tewkesbury cricket pitches (senior peak time)
There is overall current spare capacity of 15 match sessions per season across Tewkesbury
borough wide even when overplay at Dumbleton CC and Winchcombe CC is considered.
20
Future demand includes both TGRs and growth aspirations of clubs.
21
Future demand includes both TGRs and growth aspirations of clubs.
Analysis area
Actual spare
capacity (match
equivalent
sessions)
Demand (match equivalent sessions)
Overplay
Current total
Future peak
time demand
20
Total
Cheltenham
30
36
6
-
6
Analysis area
Actual spare
capacity (match
equivalent
sessions)
Demand (match equivalent sessions)
Overplay
Current total
Future peak
time demand
21
Total
Tewkesbury Area 1
-
-
-
12
12
Tewkesbury Area 2
-
-
-
24
24
Tewkesbury Area 3
-
-
-
-
-
Tewkesbury Area 4
29
14
15
-
15
Tewkesbury Area 5
-
-
-
-
-
Total
29
14
15
36
21
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September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 106
Spare capacity is located at Stanway CC where there is peak time availability for additional
play amounting to 0.5 match sessions.
All sites with actual spare capacity or recorded overplay lie within Tewkesbury Area 4,
however, clubs in Areas 1 and 2 are those which report plans to increase senior demand.
Consequently, these two areas evidence future shortfalls amounting to one team (12 matches
per season, 0.5 match sessions at peak time) in Area 1 and two teams (24 matches per
season, one match session at peak time). Existing spare capacity at Stanway CC (Area 4)
considered, there is a resulting Borough wide future shortfall of 21 match sessions per season,
with a requirement for access to one additional match session at peak time.
Cheltenham cricket summary
In total, there are six natural turf cricket squares identified in Cheltenham which are available
for community use. Two grass squares are unavailable for community use are located at
Cheltenham College and Dean Close School.
The audit of grass wicket cricket pitches found one pitch to be good quality and five pitches to
be standard quality.
Changing facilities at Charlton Kings CC are considered to be poor quality and are in need of
refurbishment.
In total, there are four clubs which have 16 men’s and 23 junior teams.
Cheltenham CC has ambitions to add one senior women’s team and three junior girls’ teams.
There are five pitches which have potential spare capacity on grass wickets, however, only
one pitch at Burrows has actual spare capacity at senior peak time.
Charlton Kings CC is overplayed to a total of 36 matches per season.
In conclusion, there is a current shortfall of six matches per season in Cheltenham at peak
time. There is no future demand anticipated at peak time, though additional demand for
women’s and junior cricket at non-peak times is considered able to be accommodated.
Tewkesbury cricket summary
In total, there are 18 grass cricket pitches identified in Tewkesbury and all are available for
community use.
There was a cricket square and pavilion at Toby Carvery Brockworth (formerly Cross Hands
Inn) previously used by Bharat CC. The pitch is now lapsed and overgrown since the Club
amalgamated with Ullenwood CC and is now based in Ullenwood (Cotswold).
The audit of grass wicket cricket pitches found six pitches to be good quality, and 12 pitches to
be standard quality.
Dumbleton CC has applied for planning permission to develop a new ground behind its current
site to accommodate its senior growth ambitions.
Woodmancote CC reports additional demand for training facilities after suffering vandalism to
the nets at its home venue. The Club currently pays to use the facilities located at Cleeve
School.
In total, there are 17 clubs which have 64 men’s and 43 junior teams.
Eight clubs have plans to increase the number of teams in the future, resulting in the likely
creation of three senior men’s teams, two senior ladies’ teams and eleven junior teams across
Tewkesbury.
There are 14 pitches which display potential spare capacity on natural turf wickets. However,
only one pitch at Stanway CC has actual spare capacity at senior peak time.
Two pitches are identified as being overplayed at Dumbleton CC and Winchcombe CC, each
by seven matches per season.
In conclusion, there is sufficient capacity across the Borough to accommodate current demand
despite existing overplay. However, future demand anticipated in Analysis Areas 1 and 2
would create shortfalls not only within but overall, resulting in a future Borough wide shortfall of
21 match sessions per season and a requirement for one match session at peak time.
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
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PART 8: BOWLS
8.1: Introduction
All bowling greens in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury are flat greens and Bowls England (BE)
is the governing body responsible for ensuring effective governance of the sport across the
Country. The bowling season for flat greens generally runs from April to September.
Consultation
There are eight clubs using bowling greens in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury. Four clubs
replied to the online survey representing a response rate of half. Several teams play on
multiple days of the week as part of different leagues. The main leagues servicing the area
are:
North Gloucester League (Mens & Womens Sections)
Gloucestershire Ladies League
Les Thomas Triples League
8.2: Supply
All nine bowling greens in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury are flat greens, provided across eight
sites. There are three bowling greens in Cheltenham and five in Tewkesbury. There is only
one double green site, located at Cheltenham Bowling Club.
Table 8.1: Summary of bowling green provision
Site
ID
Site name
Analysis area
No. of
greens
Quality
22
Management
6
Bishops Cleeve Sports Field
Tewkesbury
Area 3
1
Good
Sports Club
11
Churchdown Club
Tewkesbury
Area 5
1
Good
Sports Club
19
Dowty Sport & Social Club
Tewkesbury
Area 1
1
Good
Sports Club
35
Tewkesbury Bowling Club
Tewkesbury
Area 2
1
Good
Sports Club
53
Pineholt Bowls Club
Tewkesbury
Area 5
1
Good
Sports Club
71
Cheltenham Bowling Club
Cheltenham
2
Good
Sports Club
75
Cheltenham Spa Bowling Club
Cheltenham
1
Good
Sports Club
76
Cheltenham Whaddon Bowling
Club
Cheltenham
1
Good
Sports Club
22
Assessed via a non technical assessment
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Figure 8.1: Distribution of bowling greens across Cheltenham
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
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Figure 8.2: Distribution of bowling greens across Tewkesbury
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Quality
Non-technical site assessments and club feedback indicate that all greens in Cheltenham and
Tewkesbury are good quality and no greens were rated as either standard or poor quality. The
number of good quality greens may be influenced by the nature of management, with all operating
as club sites. Clubs are likely to be able to store maintenance equipment onsite and club members
or subcontractors able to take time to properly maintain the surface, whilst some greens have
security from public access.
Cheltenham BC reports that the green quality is much improved since last season, largely due to
better management of the green by the maintenance team at the Club. Similarly, Tewkesbury BC
highlighted that green quality has improved by green staff having received improved training in
the past year.
Ancillary facilities
Dowty BC (Tewkesbury) is of the opinion that improvements are required at Dowty Sport & Social
Club in order to foremost improve the quality of access pathways and areas surrounding the
green. It also identifies further need to improve changing facilities, green fencing and storage
facilities. The Club reports that it is restricted in what improvements it is able to make because it
is unable to apply for grant funding due to being a part of the overarching sports club.
Tewkesbury BC indicates that club changing facilities are particularly small and on match days
are overly crowded. The Club has future ambitions to develop an extension onto its existing
changing facilities however currently does not have adequate funds.
Cheltenham BC and Bishops Cleeve BC (Tewkesbury) highlight that the quality of its ancillary
provision has improved since last season as a consequence of internal works carried out by each
club.
Ownership and management
The majority of greens in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury operate as sports club sites on lease
agreements, including, for example, Tewkesbury BC and Bishops Cleeve BC.
Tewkesbury BC is leased from Tewkesbury Borough Council on a 30 year lease agreement which
is due to expire in March 2024. Bishops Cleeve BC leases its site from Bishops Cleeve Parish
Council on a 20 year arrangement.
Cheltenham BC has ownership of the green and all ancillary provision onsite. In contrast, Dowty
BC pays an annual rent to Dowty Sport & Social Club for use of the green each season and
therefore its tenure is considered unsecure.
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8.3: Demand
There are eight bowling clubs in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, each with multiple teams playing
various evenings and afternoons throughout the week. The analysis below summarises
information gathered from consultation with bowls clubs playing in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury:
The level of membership of clubs varies from 51 to 145 members.
Dowty BC has the smallest membership with 51 members.
The largest club is Cheltenham BC with 145 members.
Generally, clubs and leagues in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury report that membership levels have
remained static over the last three years and no clubs have a waiting list for new members. The
sport has experienced an overall decline in participation nationally which may be due to access
to facilities in some cases; however, most clubs acknowledge a lack of interest in the sport
amongst the local community, with few new bowlers taking up the sport. This adds to which is a
generally an aged player base and in most cases the fall in numbers has been attributed to aging
players, with a lack of younger or newer players coming into the sport to sustain demand.
Cheltenham BC reports that it has five junior members, whilst Dowty BC reports having just one
junior member. No other club identifies having junior members.
There are three main leagues based within the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury area. Many clubs,
teams and bowlers may play in a number of these leagues simultaneously throughout the week
and so although there may be a substantial number of teams; many are made up of the same
players, thus representing a smaller player base despite the number of teams overall.
Future demand
Using ONS projections (2012-2037) the number of persons aged 65 and over in Cheltenham
is likely to increase from 20,047 in 2012 to 33,098 in 2037. This represents an increase of
65% and accounts for 25% of Cheltenham’s total future population (compared to 17%
currently). Similarly, In Tewkesbury the number of persons aged 65 and over is likely to
increase from 17,484 to 29,930 in 2037. This represents an increase of 71% and accounts for
30% of Tewkesbury’s future population (compared to 21% currently). Due to this age band
being the most likely to play bowls, demand for bowling greens is likely to increase.
Of the consulted clubs, two have plans to increase their members, with an increase in
advertising cited as the key factor in attracting more people. When asked to quantify future
potential growth, Tewkesbury BC express future demand for 15 senior members and 10 junior
members, whilst Bishops Cleeve BC express demand for five senior members and six juniors.
Both clubs report that they will be hosting an open day in the near future to make these growth
aspirations a reality.
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8.4: Capacity analysis
Capacity is very much dependent on the leagues and the day that they operate. A green may
have no spare capacity on an afternoon or evening when a popular league operates but may be
empty for the rest of the week. However, in many cases greens are used during the afternoons
by club members who bowl socially.
The largest club identified in the Cheltenham is Cheltenham BC with 145 members. The two
greens cater for a large membership base playing consistently throughout the week, sometimes
twice daily. The largest identified club in Tewkesbury is Bishops Cleeve BC with 99 members.
Bowls England advises that a green accommodating less than 60 playing members is considered
to have spare capacity for further play. Consideration should also be given to the sustainability of
greens which operate with a playing membership of less than 20.
Table 8.2: Bowling green capacity
Site
ID
Site name
Analysis
area
Number
of
greens
Clubs
Number of club
members
6
Bishops Cleeve Sports Field
Tewkesbury
Area 3
1
Bishops Cleeve
BC
99
11
Churchdown Club
Tewkesbury
Area 5
1
Churchdown BC
Unknown
19
Dowty Sport & Social Club
Tewkesbury
Area 1
1
Dowty BC
51
35
Tewkesbury Bowling Club
Tewkesbury
Area 2
1
Tewkesbury BC
81
53
Pineholt Bowls Club
Tewkesbury
Area 5
1
Pineholt BC
Unknown
71
Cheltenham Bowling Club
Cheltenham
2
Cheltenham BC
145
75
Cheltenham Spa Bowling Club
Cheltenham
1
Cheltenham
Spa BC
Unknown
76
Cheltenham Whaddon Bowling
Club
Cheltenham
1
Cheltenham
Whaddon BC
Unknown
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8.5: Conclusions
Based on the aforementioned guidance and known membership figures from club feedback,
four greens are considered to be overplayed; Bishops Cleeve Sports Field (99 members),
Tewkesbury BC (81 members) and Cheltenham BC (145 members across two greens). The
green at Dowty Sport & Social Club is considered to be approaching capacity but can
accommodate some additional members.
It is difficult to clearly ascertain whether there is spare capacity on bowling greens across
either Cheltenham or Tewkesbury as capacity is driven by membership rather than
recorded play and membership at half of the available greens is unknown due to
outstanding club responses. This notwithstanding, four of the five greens where
membership is known to display overplay totalling 85 members.
Cheltenham bowls summary
There are four bowling greens in Cheltenham provided across three sites. All are flat greens
and there are no crown greens.
There are no artificial greens located in Cheltenham.
All greens in Cheltenham assessed as good quality. There are no standard or poor quality
greens in the area.
There are no Council operated bowling greens and the majority of sites are operated by
clubs with lease agreements securing tenure.
There are three clubs in Cheltenham accessing four greens.
Cheltenham Bowls Club is considered to be over capacity with 145 members.
Tewkesbury bowls summary
There are five bowling greens in Tewkesbury provided across five single green sites. All are
flat greens and there are no crown greens.
There are no artificial greens located in Tewkesbury.
All greens in Tewkesbury assessed as good quality. There are no standard or poor quality
greens in the area.
There are no Council operated bowling greens and the majority of sites are operated by
clubs with lease agreements securing tenure.
There are five clubs in Tewkesbury accessing five greens.
Both Bishops Cleeve Bowls Club and Tewkesbury Bowls Club are both considered to be
over capacity.
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PART 9: TENNIS
9.1: Introduction
The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) is the organisation responsible for the governance of
tennis in the UK. The South West Regional Team within the LTA is responsible for the
growth and development of the sport in all parts of the South West Region.
Gloucestershire LTA also work locally primarily with the function of co-ordinating local
competitions and organising county teams for representative competitions.
Consultation
A survey was distributed to all 19 tennis clubs in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, of which,
11 responded, equating to 58% response rate.
9.2: Supply
There is a total of 159 outdoor tennis courts identified in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury
located across 31 sites including private sports clubs, parks and schools. This is made up
of 108 courts in Cheltenham across 15 sites and 51 courts in Tewkesbury across 16 sites
which can be seen by analysis area in table 9.1.
Table 9.1: Tennis summary
Analysis Area
Number of Courts
Cheltenham
108
Tewkesbury Area 1
2
Tewkesbury Area 2
20
Tewkesbury Area 3
7
Tewkesbury Area 4
4
Tewkesbury Area 5
18
An additional 12 courts have previously been marked on the AGP at Balcarras Sports
Centre (Cheltenham) for curricular use and can be marked if required; however, these
courts have not been included within the audit as they are temporary. Similarly, six courts
are marked on the sand filled AGP at The Richard Pate School, however these are
permanently marked and so have been included within the audit.
There are 41 floodlit courts in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury (28 in Cheltenham and 13 in
Tewkesbury), equating to 26% of all courts. However, it should be noted that 21 of all
floodlit courts are located at East Glos Club (Cheltenham). Details of all courts can be
found in Table 9.3.
In Cheltenham, 86% of all courts are considered to be available for community use.
Similarly, 95% of all courts in Tewkesbury are considered to offer community use on some
level.
For the purposes of this report, availability for community use refers to courts in public,
voluntary, private or commercial ownership or management recorded as being available
for hire by individuals, teams or clubs.
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Courts located at private fitness or health clubs including Virgin Active in Brockworth
(Tewkesbury) and Jurys Inn Health & Leisure Club (Cheltenham) are only available
through private membership. As such they are considered to be unavailable for
community use and are not included within the audit. Though not broadly accessible,
Virgin Active Health Club and also Oxstalls Indoor Tennis Centre (both in neighbouring
Gloucester) are likely to attract a significant level of demand from residents in Cheltenham
and Tewkesbury given the extensive tennis facilities and professional coaching available.
There are two courts at Endsleigh Insurance in Tewkesbury which are not available for
community use. The site has sports provision for both football and tennis which is only
available for use by industry employees. Similarly, there are two courts without
floodlighting at MOD Ashchurch which are available only to staff.
Figure 9.1: Location of tennis courts in Cheltenham
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September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 116
Figure 9.2: Location of tennis courts in Tewkesbury
The majority (68%) of courts in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury are located on school sites.
Generally, these are multipurpose facilities used as playgrounds and are often over
marked for other sports most commonly netball. In most cases schools identify that
provision is not floodlit or used outside of school hours. A summary of school provision is
provided below.
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Table 9.2: School provision summary
Site
ID
School
Analysis
area
Number
of courts
Summary
8
Millbrook Academy
(Brockworth Sports
Centre)
Tewkesbury
Area 5
5
Five tarmac courts assessed as
standard quality.
10
Chosen Hill School
Tewkesbury
Area 5
5
Five tarmac courts assessed as
standard quality. Courts are over
marked with netball court markings.
Courts actively used by five netball
teams.
18
Cleeve School
Tewkesbury
Area 3
5
Five tarmac courts assessed as poor
quality. Courts are over marked with
netball court markings. Courts used
by NE14 Tennis Club.
38
Tewkesbury
Secondary School
Tewkesbury
Area 2
8
Eight tarmac courts assessed as poor
quality. Courts are spread about the
school site and rarely used.
42
Winchcombe
School
Tewkesbury
Area 4
3
All three tarmac courts assessed as
poor quality. School has plans to
create an additional four courts.
65
All Saints Academy
Cheltenham
4
All courts are tarmac surfaces with
floodlights and are assessed as good
quality.
66
Balcarras School
(Balcarras Sports
Centre)
Cheltenham
3
All courts are tarmac and assessed as
good quality. Courts won an LTA
award for good quality in 2015. Courts
over marked with two netball court
markings. An additional 12 courts can
be marked onto the onsite AGP and
are available if required but are
marked primarily for curriculum use.
68
Bourneside School
Cheltenham
8
All courts are tarmac and are
assessed as poor quality. All courts
are considered to have poor grip
underfoot and have loose gravel.
77
Christchurch Road
Tennis Club (CLC)
Cheltenham
17
All courts are a tarmac surface and
assessed as good quality.
80
CLC Sports Centre
Cheltenham
6
Six courts all assessed as standard
quality.
83
Dean Close School
Cheltenham
4
All courts are tarmac and assessed as
good quality.
99
Pates Grammar
School
Cheltenham
5
All tarmac courts assessed as poor
quality. Poor quality rating as a
consequence of poor grip underfoot
and poor line markings.
108
St Edwards
Preparatory School
Cheltenham
7
All courts assessed as good quality.
School offer no community use to
protect quality.
115
The Richard Pate
School
Cheltenham
8
Two tarmac tennis courts overmarked
with netball courts, whilst the sand
filled AGP is marked for six tennis
courts with floodlighting.
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Table 9.3: Summary of provision site by site
Site ID
Site name
Analysis Area
Management
Availability for
community use?
No. of courts
No. of floodlit
courts
Court type
Court quality
23
4
Apperley Playing Field
Tewkesbury Area 2
Community Organisation
Yes
1
-
Tarmac
Good
5
Bentham Country Club
Tewkesbury Area 5
Commercial
Yes
4
-
Tarmac
Poor
8
Brockworth Sports Centre
Tewkesbury Area 5
School
Yes
5
-
Tarmac
Standard
10
Chosen Hill School
Tewkesbury Area 5
School
Yes
5
-
Tarmac
Standard
11
Churchdown Club
Tewkesbury Area 5
Community Organisation
Yes
2
-
Tarmac
Good
15
Civil Service Sports Association Ground
Tewkesbury Area 2
Sports Club
Yes
4
4
Tarmac
Good
18
Cleeve School
Tewkesbury Area 3
School
Yes
5
-
Tarmac
Poor
19
Dowty Sport and Social Club
Tewkesbury Area 1
Commercial
Yes
2
2
Tarmac
Good
20
Gotherington Playing Field
Tewkesbury Area 3
Community Organisation
Yes
2
-
Tarmac
Good
37
Tewkesbury Park Hotel Leisure Club
Tewkesbury Area 2
Commercial
Yes
2
2
Tarmac
Good
38
Tewkesbury School
Tewkesbury Area 2
School
Yes
8
-
Tarmac
Poor
42
Winchombe School
Tewkesbury Area 4
School
Yes
3
3
Tarmac
Poor
44
Twyning
Tewkesbury Area 2
Sports Club
Yes
3
2
Tarmac
Good
49
MOD Ashchurch
Tewkesbury Area 2
MOD
No
2
-
Tarmac
Standard
58
Gretton Royal Oak Tennis
Tewkesbury Area 4
Commercial
Yes
1
-
Tarmac
Standard
65
All Saints Academy
Cheltenham
School
Yes
4
4
Tarmac
Good
66
Balcarras Sports Centre
Cheltenham
School
Yes
3
-
Tarmac
Good
68
Bourneside Sport Centre
Cheltenham
School
Yes
8
-
Tarmac
Poor
72
Cheltenham College
Cheltenham
School
Yes
4
-
Tarmac
Good
77
Christchurch Road Tennis Club (CLC)
Cheltenham
School
Yes
17
-
Tarmac
Good
80
Cheltenham Ladies College Sport Centre
Cheltenham
School
Yes
6
-
Tarmac
Standard
83
Dean Close School
Cheltenham
School
Yes
4
-
Tarmac
Good
84
East Glos Club
Cheltenham
Commercial
Yes
7
7
Clay
Good
4
4
Tarmac
Good
7
7
Artificial
Good
11
-
Grass
24
Standard
85
Endsleigh Insurance
Tewkesbury Area 5
Private
No
2
-
Tarmac
Standard
92
Leckhampton Tennis Club
Cheltenham
Sport Club
Yes
2
-
Grass
Standard
95
Montpellier Gardens
Cheltenham
Local Authority
Yes
6
-
Tarmac
Standard
99
Pates Grammar School
Cheltenham
School
Yes
5
-
Tarmac
Poor
100
Pittville Park
Cheltenham
Local Authority
Yes
3
-
Tarmac
Standard
102
Prestbury Tennis Club
Cheltenham
Sport Club
Yes
2
-
Tarmac
Good
108
St Edwards Preparatory School
Cheltenham
School
No
7
-
Tarmac
Good
115
The Richard Pate School
Cheltenham
School
No
2
-
Tarmac
Standard
6
6
Artificial
Standard
23
Assessed using a non-technical site assessment pro-forma and also takes account of user comments.
24
Grass courts only available from May – September.
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September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 119
Quality
In Cheltenham, a total of 59 courts (55%) are rated as good quality and 36 courts (33%) as
standard. Only 13 courts are rated as poor quality (12%).
Table 9.4: Summary of the quality of courts by surface type in Cheltenham
Surface type
Good
Standard
Poor
Clay
7
-
-
Artificial
7
6
-
Tarmac
45
17
13
Grass
-
13
-
Total
59
36
13
In Tewkesbury, a total of 16 courts (31%) are assessed as good quality, 15 courts (30%)
as standard and 25 courts as poor (49%).
Table 9.5: Summary of the quality of courts by surface type in Tewkesbury
Surface type
Good
Standard
Poor
Clay
-
-
-
Artificial
-
-
-
Tarmac
16
15
20
Grass
-
-
-
Total
16
15
20
All courts assessed as poor quality are located at school sites, with the exception of the
four courts located at Bentham County Club. Generally, courts located at school sites are
subject to regular wear and tear as a consequence of the courts being used as general
playground areas. Issues affecting court quality include evidence of moss, loose gravel,
poor grip underfoot, and/or poor line markings.
Ancillary provision
No community club highlights issues with ancillary or changing facilities or identified a need
for greater access to provision.
Where tennis courts are located at park sites such as Montpellier Park and Pittville Park,
there is generally no clubhouse facilities at these parks as Café cater for wider community
need. These courts mainly cater for social, family and summer based demand from
residents. Although there is generally no demand for changing provision that is not to say
that access to toilets, for example, isn’t required and is likely to help increase usage at key
sites.
As identified earlier, school sites receive little community use beyond social bookings such
as at All Saints Academy (Cheltenham) where changing is provided within the sports centre
if required.
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Future developments
East Glos Club reports future demand to increase the number of courts by investigating
opportunities to create additional outdoor courts, though the creation of new indoor courts
is considered to be of greater priority. The LTA supports the view that indoor courts is the
principal facility development potential but states that this should not be at the expense of
outdoor courts and should be in addition to. The Club commissioned a feasibility study
completed in 2014 (also produced by KKP); however, plans for the development have not
yet progressed further.
Court redevelopment projects will take place this autumn (2016) at Montpellier Park and
Pittville Park (Cheltenham) with partnership between the LTA and Cheltenham Borough
Council. The courts at both sites have been resurfaced within the past five years and
markings will be re-lined, with additional improvements to be made to the surrounding
fencing at Pittville Park. Plans include for management of the courts to be continued to be
leased from the Council to the cafes within the parks (In the Park Ltd) which will manage
use including bookings and pay and play. As per the current LTA focus on park sites, an
online booking system is also to be implemented at a user cost of £40 per year whereby
players can book courts online in advance. Coaching sessions will be exclusively delivered
by East Glos Club which was successful as part of a tender process, whilst the courts at
both sites will be continue to be available to hire for Cheltenham Parks Tennis League
matches.
9.3: Demand
Competitive tennis
There are various competitive tennis leagues within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury. The
majority of competitive senior age tennis occurs within the Gloucestershire Summer
League. The League encapsulates both high level single and doubles fixtures. Junior tennis
in the area is generally played within the Aegon Tennis League which caters for junior
tennis from U8s.
Table 9.6: Summary of demand within Cheltenham & Tewkesbury
Club
Analysis Area
Total
members
Seniors
Juniors
Montpellier Gardens
Cheltenham
-
-
-
Prestbury Tennis Club
Cheltenham
100
80
20
Leckhampton Lawn Tennis
Club
Cheltenham
24
-
-
East Gloucestershire Club
Cheltenham
1,121
687
434
Christchurch Road Tennis
Club
Cheltenham
-
-
-
Cheltenham Ladies College
Tennis Club
Cheltenham
-
-
-
Cheltenham Civil Service
Tennis Club
Tewkesbury 2
85
80
5
Cheltenham College Tennis
Club
Cheltenham
-
-
-
Charlton Kings Tennis
Place
Cheltenham
170
90
80
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Club
Analysis Area
Total
members
Seniors
Juniors
Tewkesbury Park Golf and
Country Club
Tewkesbury Area 2
30
25
5
Twyning Tennis Club
Tewkesbury Area 2
52
38
14
Apperley Tennis Club
Tewkesbury Area 2
50
40
10
NE14 Tennis Club
Tewkesbury Area 3
110
10
100
Endsleigh Tennis Club
Tewkesbury Area 5
-
-
-
East Gloucestershire Club is the largest Club in both Cheltenham and Tewkesbury with
1,121 members. The Club indicate that despite its 29 courts, LTA benchmarking on its
members to court capacity is over 90%. It is aiming to create a new long term strategy to
increase the number of courts so it can sustainably continue to grow in the future. The Club
has increased its playing membership in the past five years by a total of 88 senior members
and 233 juniors.
NE14 Tennis Club in Tewkesbury is an independent Club which is not currently affiliated to
the LTA. It accesses the outdoor courts located at Cleeve School and uses the indoor sport
hall for indoor training. The facilities at the school are poor, and that the courts in particular
suffer from neglect with little maintenance carried out to the surfaces. The Club highlights
that there is no indoor tennis provision locally and reports high demand to access such
provision. It also highlights that Cleeve School is actively trying to develop a 3G pitch and
is fearful this will result in the loss of tennis courts at the school.
Cheltenham Civil Service Tennis Club is a small members club and a section of the wider
Cheltenham Civil Service Association. It is predominately made up of senior members, with
just five juniors and highlights that it has struggled to recruit a new coach and therefore
junior membership has suffered as a consequence. The Club’s facilities are leased from
Tewkesbury Borough Council on a new 14-year agreement.
Apperley Tennis Club is a small private members club in Tewkesbury. The Club describes
itself as a small club, which does not have ambitions to grow. All members are
accommodated on one court and denote that this is sufficient to service current and future
demand.
Twyning Lawn Tennis Club in Tewkesbury is a section of a voluntary organisation known
locally as TRAC. The land the Club is built on was leased to a committee of local people
from Twyning Parish Council which created the TRAC committee. When members join the
Club, a high proportion of the membership fee is given to TRAC which has the responsibility
of maintaining the courts and other facilities upon which the lease gives responsibility to
such as the local play area. The Club highlights that the courts are 15 years old and
gradually worsening in quality.
Prestbury Tennis Club is a small private members Club located in Cheltenham. The Club
highlights it is currently at capacity and is unable to grow as a consequence of limited court
space. It currently has two courts located within Prestbury Playing Fields, however, does
have ambitions to develop an additional two floodlit courts. It indicates that negotiations
with Prestbury Parish Council over future court developments have been negative and as
such is unwilling to consider the possibility of expanding tennis provision locally.
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Education sites
No education sites which are available for community use report any regular demand from
the community, with the exception of Balcarras School and Cleeve School. It is believed
that the lack of demand is a result of a lack of understanding at schools on how to market
effectively to the community and ascertain what offers / price points are needed to improve
use. The LTA report that approximately 1/3 of participation in the South West 14+ is on
education sites and that the opportunity to improve the customer experience in playing
tennis at these sites exists. The LTA regional team have started a more detailed audit in
autumn 2016 to understand the detailed opportunity in this area and design appropriate
interventions in the strategic cycle to 2019.
LTA insight reports that the demand for recreational play increases markedly between April
and September and specifically following events such as Wimbledon. Although it is hard to
measure casual use as some courts, it is assumed that courts are generally busy
throughout the summer months when weather is favourable. Council managed courts at
park sites often serve a similar market and as a result of interventions are in very good
condition and with data on court usage and numbers of people using them.
Parks tennis
LTA Tennis Tuesday (Coaching Project) sessions were trialled at Montpellier Park in 2015
where participants attend and receive professional coaching to learn a new skill, followed
by an informal match at the end of the session to practice it. The LTA believes that
Montpellier Park is a well suited tennis site especially given its location where it is relatively
easy to access.
The Cheltenham Parks Tennis League generally operates across three sites at Montpellier
Park, Pittville Park and Chosen Hill School. The League is run by local tennis leagues which
affiliate to the LTA, though players themselves arrange matches against others in their
league at days, times and locations most convenient for both parties with results
administered and inputted online. The flexibility of play is conducive to use of park sites
which are typically more easily available.
The initial success of the improvements of operating models and customer experience at
Montpellier and Pittville Parks suggests that if opportunities arose in other parks and green
spaces to build tennis courts that demand would exist to sustain them.
9.4: Conclusions
It is concluded that in general courts accessed by clubs have the capacity to accommodate
both current and future demand. As such improving quality and sustainability at sites
assessed as poor quality (of which indicate tennis demand) and sustaining quality at the
remaining club sites. However, support should also be offered to East Gloucestershire Club
with its aspiration to develop its facilities to create additional outdoor and indoor courts to
meet growing future needs. The LTA insight notes that the club network maintains the
majority of regularly participation (weekly) and must be maintained but only serves 14% of
annual participation (once a year) in the UK. Therefore, growth in participation may come
outside of the club network, but the needs of this group of venues should be considered in
any strategy.
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As all remaining (non-club) courts are also deemed to have spare capacity, focus should
be on improving quality of facilities for informal play, particularly at publically available sites
that are assessed as poor or standard quality. This must be completed in conjunction with
clear advice to operators of courts on how to make a strong customer experience. This is
particularly referring to use of booking systems and the correct price points.
Cheltenham Tennis summary
There are a total of 108 tennis courts provided in Cheltenham across 15 sites. Provision can
be found on a range of sites including sports clubs parks, and schools.
There are 15 courts unavailable for community use, located at St Edwards School and The
Richard Pate School.
There are 28 floodlit courts in Cheltenham, spread across three sites; East Gloucestershire
Club, All Saints Academy and The Richard Pate School.
Floodlighting of existing courts could be seen as a priority to increase year round playing
hours, but only where need and sustainable future are displayed.
In Cheltenham, a total of 59 courts (55%) are rated as good quality and 36 courts (33%) as
standard. Only 13 courts are rated as poor quality (12%).
East Glos Club highlights that LTA benchmarking indicates it is operating over 90% capacity
on all of its courts and as such has aspirations to develop new outdoor and indoor courts.
Improvements at Montpellier Park and Pittville Park are close to conclusion in 2016
including introduction of new technology and access to help the Café manage the courts.
The success of schemes in parks suggests that if opportunity arose the increase of tennis
facilities in parks would increase participation.
It is concluded that in general courts accessed by clubs have the capacity to accommodate
both current and future demand in Cheltenham. However, potential for indoor court
development at East Glos Club exists.
Demand exists to improve community access to schools facilities in the area, this may be
seen as a priority by the LTA which is conducting an audit to understand opportunity.
Tewkesbury Tennis summary
There are a total of 51 tennis courts provided in Tewkesbury across 16 sites. Provision can
be found on a range of sites including sports clubs parks, and schools.
There are four courts unavailable for community use in Tewkesbury, located at MOD
Ashchurch and Endsleigh Insurance where use is exclusively for workers.
There are 13 floodlit courts in Tewkesbury, spread across five locations.
In Tewkesbury, a total of 16 courts (31%) are assessed as good quality, 15 courts (30%) as
standard and 25 courts as poor (49%).
NE14 Tennis Club indicates that the facilities at Cleeve School are of a poor standard and
are in need of refurbishment. The Club highlights concern over the future protection of the
courts.
It is concluded that in terms of quantity, there are enough tennis courts in Tewkesbury to
cater for demand and casual use.
Demand exists to improve community access to schools facilities in the area, this may be
seen as a priority by the LTA which is conducting a audit to understand opportunity.
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PART 10: OTHER SPORTS
10.1: Rounders
Rounders England governs rounders nationally and provides a structure for the sport, from
the county associations and clubs through to individual members and volunteers.
There are two known rounders league structures playing within Cheltenham and
Tewkesbury known as the Cheltenham & District League and ‘fun leagues’. The
Cheltenham & District League access pitches at the following five locations:
Cheltenham Civil Service Ground (Tewkesbury Area 2)
Balcarras School (Cheltenham)
Winchcombe School (Tewkesbury Area 4)
Cleeve School (Tewkesbury Area 3)
Gotherington Playing Fields (Tewkesbury Area 3)
The league indicates that there are five teams which play the sport between May and
August each season. Participations levels have reportedly decreased over the past five
years with the League previously having 28 teams. Reasons cited for the participation
drop is a perceived lack of awareness of the leagues existence within the local community.
The ‘fun leagues’ structure which is offered in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury runs individual
mini leagues at various venues. Similar to the Cheltenham & District League, the season
runs from May to August. Venues used are as follows:
Newlands Sports Club (Tewkesbury Area 3)
Cheltenham Civil Service Ground (Tewkesbury Area 2)
All Saints Academy (Cheltenham)
Chosen Hill Rugby Club (Tewkesbury Area 5)
Consultation did not highlight any particular issues in either Cheltenham or Tewkesbury;
however, the Cheltenham and District League did indicate that generally, ground staff
were not always aware on how to mark a suitable rounders pitch.
As detailed earlier, the League would also benefit from support to increase awareness
through local advertising in order to help increase participation.
10.2: Netball
England Netball governs rounders nationally and provides a structure for the sport, from
the county associations and clubs through to individual members and volunteers.
Predominantly, Netball is played indoors so it can be played continuously throughout the
year without the detrimental effect of adverse weather conditions. Indoor usage is
becoming increasingly common and is the basis of most league play. For example, BUCS
has over 400 teams competing in netball leagues across the university season all played
within indoor sports halls.
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Outdoor courts are located at the following education sites:
Brockworth Sports Centre (Tewkesbury Area 5)
Chosen Hill School (Tewkesbury Area 5)
Winchcombe School (Tewkesbury Area 4)
Balcarras School (Cheltenham)
Bourneside Sports Centre (Cheltenham)
Cleeve School (Tewkesbury Area 3)
Consultation with the Gloucestershire Netball did not highlight any particular issues in either
Cheltenham or Tewkesbury. However, it was noted that due to the insecure tenure at
Bentham County Club (known locally as Bentham Domes), all league netball will be
relocated to Sir Thomas Rich’s School (Gloucester) and Leisure @ Cheltenham.
A report was commissioned regarding the potential residential redevelopment of Bentham
Country Club, produced in October 2016 to support the off-site provision of a replacement
sports dome. The sites has two sports domes, one measuring approximately 37.5m by
37.5m with two netball courts and the second measuring approximately 70m by 38m with
two netball courts. The report findings indicate that Bentham Country Club plays an
important role in supporting netball across Gloucestershire, however uncertainty over the
future of the site has led many netball users to relocate alternative venues. The report
concludes that there is a high level of demand for indoor or covered netball facilities in
Gloucestershire and there is a need for replacement with a high quality netball facility to
meet such needs. It also indicates highlights that the relocation of netball teams has
impacted on both participation in the sport and the site offer as a central venue for netball
as well its operational viability.
10.3: Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a contact sport played using a small rubber ball and long-handled stick to catch
and hold the lacrosse ball. It is governed nationally by English Lacrosse. Play is permitted
to take place on grass pitches or AGPs, both sand based or 3G surfaces. Lacrosse is
played across Cheltenham and Tewkesbury by Cheltenham Cougars Lacrosse Club, the
University of Gloucestershire and Cheltenham Ladies College.
There are three lacrosse pitches in Cheltenham all located at Cheltenham Ladies College.
A lacrosse pitch has in the past been marked at the University of Gloucestershire Park
Campus over 12 years ago but this area is now used as a general grass space marked for
activities as and when required with no lacrosse taking there.
The University of Gloucestershire has one men’s and one women’s team. All matches
take place on the sand based AGP at the University’s Oxstalls Campus in Gloucester,
which is also the pitch used for training each week on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday,
each session lasting 90 minutes. The University has plans for development of the site
which includes the possible loss of this AGP. Should the pitch be lost it is possible that
lacrosse matches may be played at The Folly as most of the football and rugby union play
currently occupying the site on Wednesday afternoons is likely to relocate the Bishop’s
College in Gloucester where the University is developing new sports provision. However,
this is at present undecided and is dependent on the progress of development plans at
both Oxstalls Campus and Bishop’s College.
Cheltenham Cougars Lacrosse Club had a men’s and a women’s team until 2013 when it
experienced a decline in membership and both teams withdrew from their respective
leagues. The Club has since worked to increase membership and has links with the
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University of Gloucestershire to provide playing opportunities for students at weekends,
hoping to re-establish the women’s team. The Club has re-established a men’s team which
has again entered a league for the 2016/17 season, playing on Saturday afternoons and
training midweek at Oxstalls Campus in Gloucester. The aforementioned threat of losing
the pitch means that there may be a potential need for the Club to be reaccomodated in
future, either in Gloucester or Cheltenham dependant on where the Club wishes to be
based.
Lacrosse is a prominent sport for girls at Cheltenham Ladies College which has 11 teams,
with two at each year group from U12 to U18 and a main first team. Matches take place
on the grass pitches onsite, typically on Saturday afternoons though some fixtures are
held on Saturday morning or evenings throughout the week.
10.4: Croquet
The Croquet Association is the national governing body for the sport of Croquet in England.
The sport is continuing to grow in popularity with over 200 clubs now registered with the
Croquet Association. A full size croquet lawn measures 35 yards (32m) by 28 yards
(26.6m).
Cheltenham Croquet Club is the only club in either Cheltenham or Tewkesbury and
currently has 11 full sized croquet lawns with 200 active members. The Club regularly hosts
the British Open Championship and the World Championship, and is regarded as one of
the premier croquet sites within the country. It has continual ambitions to increase its
membership and annually hosts a taster session with the aim of growing the sport.
Consultation with the Club indicates it is in need of an indoor facility for use in the winter to
continue playing whilst weather conditions are adverse.
The governing body recommends an average of 25 participants per lawn as a capacity
guideline, therefore using membership data it is deemed that the site has spare capacity
and can accommodate any future growth.
10.5: American Football
The British American Football Association is responsible for the governance of American
football. The sport is continuing to grow in popularity and there are now hundreds of clubs
and thousands of players competing regularly across the country.
There is limited American Football being played in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury. The sport
is played only by the University of Gloucestershire which regularly fields one team playing
within the BUCS League. The Club plays on dedicated rugby union pitches located at the
Folly as a home venue. There are currently no dedicated American Football pitches located
in Cheltenham or Tewkesbury.
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PART 11: GOLF
11.1 Introduction
There are seven golf facilities within Cheltenham and Tewkesbury; one located in Cheltenham
and six located in Tewkesbury.
There are also three golf facilities located within the Cotswold District which cater for some
demand from Cheltenham and Tewkesbury residents due to proximity and have therefore been
included within the report. The nature in which golf is played means that these courses are often
accessed by residents within the study area as players tend to seek variation in course obstacles
and layout or play at other venues with friends.
Table 11.1: Summary of golf provision
Site
ID
Site
Local authority
7
Brickhampton Court Golf Complex
Tewkesbury
16
Cleeve Hill Golf Course
Tewkesbury
32
Puckrup Hall Golf Club
Tewkesbury
33
Rodway Hill Golf Course
Tewkesbury
34
Sherdons Golf Centre
Tewkesbury
37
Tewkesbury Park Hotel Leisure Club
Tewkesbury
93
Lilley Brook Golf Club
Cheltenham
96
National Star College
Cotswold (outside)
147
Cotswold Hills Golf Club
Cotswold (outside)
148
Shipton Golf Course
Cotswold (outside)
All clubs were asked to complete a survey regarding their facilities and key issues. Five clubs
responded equating to a 50% response rate.
Sport England recommends that the drive-time catchment for golf courses be set at 20 minutes.
In addition, consultation reports that this is considered by clubs to be an appropriate distance to
travel to access provision and, as such, has been used in the mapping to help determine if there
are any shortfalls.
The majority of clubs report that less than 10% of their members are from outside of Cheltenham
and Tewkesbury with most members travelling 2-5 miles to access the facility. Therefore, as
mapping of the courses shows, the current level of supply is deemed sufficient for residents. It
should also be noted that golf provision in the below maps services all populated areas within the
specified 20 minute catchments set for each study area and can, for example, service the demand
for residents in areas such as Malvern Hills and Stroud as can be seen below.
It should be noted that StarGolf (located in the Cotswold District) estimates that 26-50% of its
membership derive from Cheltenham and Tewkesbury. Rodway Hill Golf Club also indicated that
51-75% of its members are from outside of Cheltenham and Tewkesbury.
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Figure 11.1: Location and accessibility of golf clubs in Cheltenham
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Figure 11.2: Location and accessibility of golf clubs in Tewkesbury
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Table 11.2: Key to golf map
Site
ID
Site
Ownership
Holes
Comments
2
Brickhampton Court Golf
Complex
Private
18
18-hole private golf course
which also has a driving range.
3
Cleeve Hill Golf Course
Council
18
Municipal golf course, with
attached private members club.
4
Puckrup Hall Golf Club
Private
18
Private golf course belonging to
Puckrup Hall Hotel.
5
Rodway Hill Golf Course
Private
18
Private golf course attached to
a range of ECO pod hotels.
6
Sherdons Golf Centre
Private
9
Private golf course with 9 holes.
Course also operates a 26 bay
floodlit driving range.
7
Tewkesbury Park Hotel
Leisure Club
Private
18
Private golf course part of the
facilities at Tewkesbury Park
Hotel.
1
Lilley Brook Golf Club
Private
18
The privately owned club has
18 holes. Only golf course
located within Cheltenham.
-
National Star College
(Cotswold)
Private
18
Located in the Cotswold
District, the 18-hole golf course
caters for exported demand
from Cheltenham and
Tewkesbury.
-
Cotswold Hills Golf Club
(Cotswold)
Private
18
Located in the Cotswold
District, the 18-hole golf course
caters for exported demand
from Cheltenham and
Tewkesbury.
-
Shipton Golf Course
(Cotswold)
Private
9
Located in the Cotswold
District, the 9-hole golf course
caters for exported demand
from Cheltenham and
Tewkesbury.
11.2 Supply
Quality
Consultation indicates that each golf club has plans to either improve or retain the quality
of its facilities and to improve the overall playing experience for players. Each club has
designated green keepers whose main responsibility is to maintain the course, ensuring
that members’ concerns and issues are quickly dealt with.
Overall, the majority of clubs viewed vandalism, dog-fouling and misuse of footpaths as the
most detrimental factors affecting the quality of the courses.
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Table 11.3: Facility plans overview
Site
Analysis
Area
Ownership
Quality
of golf
course
Quality
of
ancillary
facilities
Development plans
Lilley Brook
Golf Club
Cheltenham
Private
Good
Good
The Club have recently
invested between
£60,000 – £70,000 on
maintenance equipment
in the past 9 months to
improve course quality.
Brickhampton
Court Golf
Complex
Tewkesbury
Area 5
Private
Good
Good
Cleeve Hill
Golf Course
Tewkesbury
Area 3
Private
Good
Good
Puckrup Hall
Golf Course
Tewkesbury
Area 2
Private
Good
Good
Rodway Hill
Golf Course
Tewkesbury
Area 1
Private
Good
Good
Plans to make
alterations to the course
to improve aesthetics
through planting new
trees and the addition of
more bunkers.
Sherdons
Golf Centre
Tewkesbury
Area 3
Private
Good
Good
Club are currently in the
process of identifying
ways to sustain/improve
good course quality.
Tewkesbury
Park Hotel
Leisure
Centre
Tewkesbury
Area 2
Private
Good
Good
The course does
currently not have any
development plans.
StarGolf
(National Star
College)
Outside
Private
Good
Adequate
Club has plans to create
a driving range and to
replace toilets on site.
Cotswold Hills
Golf Club
Outside
Private
Good
Good
None identified
Cost
Access to all courses is available via both membership and pay and play, although this may
be limited at specific times (during club competitions), and in some instances players would
have to be booked in by current members or book in advance.
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Many of the clubs have begun to alter their pricing structure to allow for discounted rates
following a nationwide decline in golf membership. For instance, Lilley Brook Golf Club now
offers a five-day membership (whereby members can access the course Monday-Friday
but not at weekends) as well as the standard seven-day membership. The majority of clubs
also offer discounted rates for younger members depending on their age bracket, e.g.
members 24-30 years old pay less than those over 30.
Table 11.4: Summary of cost
Club
Analysis
Area
Membership
Pay and play
Lilley Brook
Golf Club
Cheltenham
Full membership - £895
5-day membership - £745
Youth membership (19-
30) - £250-£845
Junior membership (up to
18) - £85-£195
Flexible membership
£510
Country £385
Social £135
Midweek 18 holes - £30
Weekend 18 holes - £40
Brickhampton
Court Golf
Complex
Tewkesbury
Area 5
Full membership £838.80
5-day membership
£664.80
Under 30s £344.40-
£838.80
Juniors £165
Visitor rate - £30
Driving range:
100 balls - £6.40
70 balls - £5.50
35 balls – £4.25
Cleeve Hill
Golf Course
Tewkesbury
Area 3
Full membership £550
Senior membership £500
Membership 26-30 £450
Membership 21-25 £425
Colt Membership £325
Junior membership £85
N/A
Puckrup Hall
Golf Club
Tewkesbury
Area 2
Full membership £760
5 Day membership £540
Intermediate 1 (18-21)
£180
Intermediate 2 (22-25)
£335
Country £380
Junior (U18) £95
Golf and Leisure
combined
Summer weekday visitor
- £30
Summer weekend visitor
- £35
Winter weekday visitor -
£20
Winter weekend visitor -
£25
Rodway Hill
Golf Course
Tewkesbury
Area 1
Full membership £540
5-day membership £420
Student/Colt membership
£200
Junior membership £50
Weekday 18 holes - £17
Weekend 18 holes - £20
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Club
Analysis
Area
Membership
Pay and play
Sherdons
Golf Centre
Tewkesbury
Area 3
Full membership (40+)
£460
Full membership (30-40)
£360
Full membership (22-29)
£250
Colt (18-21) £150
Junior (12-17) £100
Mini (5-11) £50
Weekend/Bank Holiday -
£19
Adult weekdays - £18
Seniors £17
Junior £15
Tewksbury
Park Hotel
Leisure Club
Tewkesbury
Area 2
Full membership £770
Full membership (22-29)
£399
Full membership (18-21)
£170
5-day membership £570
Junior (U18) £80
Summer Rates:
Weekday £28
Weekend £38
Student £16
Junior £12
Winter Rates:
Weekday £20
Weekend £24
Student £16
Junior £10
National Star
College
Outside
Full membership £230
Senior £180
5-day membership £170
Junior £40
Weekday/Weekend £10
Members guest £8
Junior £5
Cotswold
Hills Golf
Club
Outside
N/A
Summer Rates:
Weekday £38
Weekend £45
Junior weekday £15
Junior weekend £25
Winter Rates:
Weekday £30
Weekend £39
Junior weekday £15
Junior weekend £20
Shipton Golf
Course
Outside
N/A
Weekdays £14
Weekends £17
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Table 11.4 identifies the cost and membership criteria is very complex for golf within both
Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, it does, however, give new players wanting to join clubs a
variety of flexible options, from five day to seven day membership, concessions to specific
market segments and a flexible approach to golf societies and visitors. On the negative this
does further squeeze the market. Consultation suggests that the increase in nomadic
golfers is leading to a reduction in the actual number of club members and that this
phenomenon is being felt across many golf clubs. This is leading to:
A reduction in regular income levels for many golf clubs.
More clubs are open to market fluctuations
The impact of the weather is greater as more reliance is placed on nomadic golfers
rather than club members.
More clubs are offering greater flexibility in pricing and entering into the ‘municipal
market’.
11.3 Demand
Golf participation in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury for senior membership has stayed
relatively static over recent years through the retention of senior players through to
retirement age and also juniors moving to senior age. Generally, junior membership has
also remained static. Only StarGolf highlights a decrease in senior membership and
outlines that it was due to the rise in popularity of pay and play offerings locally. Of all the
clubs which replied to consultation, only Cotswold Hills Golf Club highlights that it had a
senior male waiting list for its full membership package.
Both StarGolf and Lilley Brook Golf Club have written sports development plans in place,
with the general aims of:
Increasing junior membership.
Retaining existing members.
Introducing flexible memberships to bring affordable golf to the wider community.
Increasing the usage of the clubhouse and facilities by the community.
Table 11.5: Membership within golf clubs
Club
Membership
Male
Female
Junior
Total
Lilley Brook Golf Course
500
125
25
650
Brickhampton Court Golf Complex
-
-
-
-
Cleeve Hill Golf Course
-
-
-
-
Puckrup Hall Golf Course
-
-
-
-
Rodway Hill Golf Course
260
45
15
320
Sherdons Golf Centre
-
-
-
280
Tewkesbury Park Hotel Leisure Club
285
65
10
360
StarGolf
93
18
2
113
Cotswold Hills Golf Club
-
-
-
-
Shipton Golf Course
-
-
-
-
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Future demand
All clubs report an intention to increase membership.
Latent demand
Only Cotswold Hill Golf Club expresses a waiting list, however, this was for a specific
seven-day full membership and other membership options remain available at the Club. It
is therefore assumed that although a waiting list is apparent, demand can be met through
alternative membership options or pay and play alternatives.
Sport England’s Segmentation Tool enables analysis of ‘the percentage of adults that
would like to participate in golf but are not currently doing so’. In Cheltenham the tool
identifies latent demand of 1,382 people. Of the population that would like to participate in
golf, 347 (25.1%) is the segment ‘Tim – settling down males’. In Tewkesbury, the tool
identifies latent demand of 1,048 people. Of the population that would like to participate in
golf, 347 (25.8%) is also the segment ‘Tim – settling down males’.
Cheltenham golf summary
There is one golf club in Cheltenham; Lilley Brook Golf Club.
The Club has a total of 650 members.
The Club has recently invested £60,000-£70,000 into maintenance equipment to ensure
green quality is kept to a high level.
Lilley Brook Golf Club reported no issues with either the quality of its course or ancillary
provision.
Sport England segmentation suggests there is a total of 1,382 people who want to play golf
in Cheltenham, who are not currently doing so.
There is an opportunity to work with the Golf club to drive participation for juniors and women
as the Club have intentions to grow.
Many residents export demand to nearby clubs located in either Tewkesbury or the
Cotswolds.
Tewkesbury golf summary
There are a total of six golf clubs located in Tewkesbury.
There are no reported issues relating to quality of the courses or ancillary facilities,
however, the majority of clubs have plans in place in relation to the course and associated
facilities. All clubs rate their courses as good.
The cost and membership criteria is very complex for golf within Tewkesbury, it does
however give new players wanting to join clubs a variety of flexible options.
Sport England segmentation suggests there is a total of 1,048 people who want to play golf
in Tewkesbury, who are not currently doing so.
There is an opportunity to work with the Golf club to drive participation for juniors and
women as the Club have intentions to grow.
There is an opportunity to work with the Golf club network to drive participation for juniors
and women as Clubs have intentions to grow.
The current level of supply is deemed sufficient for residents.
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APPENDIX 1: SPORTING CONTEXT
The following section outlines a series of national, regional and local policies pertaining to
the study and which will have an important influence on the Strategy.
National context
The provision of high quality and accessible community outdoor sports facilities at a local
level is a key requirement for achieving the targets set out by the Government and Sport
England. It is vital that this strategy is cognisant of and works towards these targets in
addition to local priorities and plans.
Department of Media Culture and Sport Sporting Future: A New Strategy for an
Active Nation (2015)
The Government published its strategy for sport in December 2015. This strategy confirms
the recognition and understanding that sport makes a positive difference through broader
means and that it will help the sector to deliver five simple but fundamental outcomes:
physical health, mental health, individual development, social and community development
and economic development. In order to measure its success in producing outputs which
accord with these aims it has also adopted a series of 23 performance indicators under
nine key headings, as follows:
More people taking part in sport and physical activity.
More people volunteering in sport.
More people experiencing live sport.
Maximising international sporting success.
Maximising domestic sporting success.
Maximising domestic sporting success.
A more productive sport sector.
A more financially and organisationally sustainable sport sector.
A more responsible sport sector.
Sport England: Towards an Active Nation (2016-2021)
Sport England has recently released its new five year strategy ‘Towards an Active Nation’.
The aim is to target the 28% of people who do less than 30 minutes of exercise each week
and will focus on the least active groups; typically women, the disabled and people from
lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Sport England will invest up to £30m on a plan to increase the number of volunteers in
grassroots sport. Emphasis will be on working with a larger range of partners with less
money being directed towards National Governing Bodies.
The Strategy will help deliver against the five health, social and economic outcomes set out
in the Government’s Sporting Future strategy.
Physical Wellbeing
Mental Wellbeing
Individual Development
Social & Community Development
Economic Development
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National Planning Policy Framework
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out planning policies for England. It
details how these changes are expected to be applied to the planning system. It also provides
a framework for local people and their councils to produce distinct local and neighbourhood
plans, reflecting the needs and priorities of local communities.
The NPPF states the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of
sustainable development. It identifies that the planning system needs to focus on three
themes of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental. A presumption in
favour of sustainable development is a key aspect for any plan-making and decision-taking
processes. In relation to plan-making the NPPF sets out that Local Plans should meet
objectively assessed needs.
The ‘promoting healthy communities’ theme identifies that planning policies should be based
on robust and up-to-date assessments of the needs for open space, sports and recreation
facilities and opportunities for new provision. Specific needs and quantitative or qualitative
deficiencies or surpluses in local areas should also be identified. This information should be
used to inform what provision is required in an area.
As a prerequisite the NPPF states existing open space, sports and recreation buildings and
land, including playing fields, should not be built on unless:
An assessment has been undertaken, which has clearly shown that the open space,
buildings or land is surplus to requirements.
The loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or
better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location.
The development is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the needs for
which clearly outweigh the loss.
In order for planning policies to be ‘sound’ local authorities are required to carry out a robust
assessment of need for open space, sport and recreation facilities.
The FA National Game Strategy (2015 – 2019)
The Football Association’s (FA) National Game Strategy provides a strategic framework
that sets out key priorities, expenditure proposals and targets for the national game (i.e.,
football) over a four year period. The main issues facing grassroots football are identified
as:
Sustain and Increase Participation.
Ensure access to education sites to accommodate the game.
Help players to be the best that they can be and provide opportunities for them to
progress from grassroots to elite.
Recruit, retain and develop a network of qualified referees
Support clubs, leagues and other competition providers to develop a safe, inclusive and
positive football experience for everyone.
Support Clubs and Leagues to become sustainable businesses, understanding and
serving the needs of players and customers.
Improve grass pitches through the pitch improvement programme to improve existing
facilities and changing rooms.
Deliver new and improved facilities including new Football Turf Pitches.
Work with priority Local Authorities enabling 50% of mini-soccer and youth matched to
be played on high quality artificial grass pitches.
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England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Cricket Unleashed 5 Year Plan
The England and Wales Cricket Board unveiled a new strategic five-year plan in 2016
(available at http://www.cricketunleashed.com). Its success will be measured by the
number of people who play, follow or support the whole game.
The plan sets out five important headline elements and each of their key focuses, these
are:
More Play – make the game more accessible and inspire the next generation of players,
coaches, officials and volunteers. Focus on:
o Clubs and leagues
o Kids
o Communities
o Casual
Great Teams – deliver winning teams who inspire and excite through on-field
performance and off-field behaviour. Focus on:
o Pathway
o Support
o Elite Teams
o England Teams
Inspired Fans – put the fan at the heart of our game to improve and personalise the
cricket experience for all. Focus on:
o Fan focus
o New audiences
o Global stage
o Broadcast and digital
Good Governance and Social Responsibility – make decisions in the best interests
of the game and use the power of cricket to make a positive difference. Focus on:
o Integrity
o Community programmes
o Our environments
o One plan
Strong Finance and Operations – increase the game’s revenues, invest our
resources wisely and administer responsibly to secure the growth of the game. Focus
on:
o People
o Revenue and reach
o Insight
o Operations
The Rugby Football Union National Facilities Strategy (2013-2017)
The RFU National Facility Strategy 2013-2017 provides a framework for development of
high-quality, well-managed facilities that will help to strengthen member clubs and grow the
game in communities around them. In conjunction with partners, this strategy will assist
and support clubs and other organisations, so that they can continue to provide quality
opportunities for all sections of the community to enjoy the game. It sets out the broad
facility needs of the sport and identifies investment priorities to the game and its key
partners. It identifies that with 470 grass root clubs and 1500 players there is a continuing
need to invest in community club facilities in order to:
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Create a platform for growth in club rugby participation and membership, especially
with a view to exploiting the opportunities afforded by RWC 2015.
Ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of rugby clubs, through supporting not only
their playing activity but also their capacity to generate revenue through a diverse
range of activities and partnerships.
In summary the priorities for investment which have met the needs of the game for the
Previous period remain valid:
Increase the provision of changing rooms and clubhouses that can sustain concurrent
adult and junior male and female activity at clubs
Improve the quality and quantity of natural turf pitches and floodlighting
Increase the provision of artificial grass pitches that deliver wider game development
It is also a high priority for the RFU to target investment in the following:
Upgrade and transform social, community and catering facilities, which can support
the generation of additional revenues
Facility upgrades, which result in an increase in energy-efficiency, in order to reduce
the running costs of clubs
Pitch furniture, including rugby posts and pads, pitch side spectator rails and grounds
maintenance equipment
The Rugby Football League Facility Strategy
The RFL’s Facilities Strategy was published in 2011. The following themes have been
prioritised:
Clean, Dry, Safe & Playable
Sustainable clubs
Environmental Sustainability
Geographical Spread
Non-club Facilities
The RFL Facilities Trust website www.rflfacilitiestrust.co.uk provides further information
on:
The RFL Community Facility Strategy
Clean, Dry, Safe and Playable Programme
Pitch Size Guidance
The RFL Performance Standard for Artificial Grass Pitches
Club guidance on the Annual Preparation and Maintenance of the Rugby League Pitch
Further to the 2011 Strategy detail on the following specific programmes of particular
relevance to pitches and facility planning are listed below and can be found via the trust
link (see above):
The RFL Pitch Improvement Programme 2013 – 2017
Clean, Dry and Safe programmes 2013 - 2017
England Hockey (EH) - A Nation Where Hockey Matters (2013-2017)
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 140
EH have a clear vision, a powerful philosophy and five core objectives that all those who
have a role in advancing Hockey can unite behind. With UK Sport and Sport England’s
investment, and growing commercial revenues, EH are ambitious about how they can take
the sport forward in Olympic cycles and beyond.
“The vision is for England to be a ‘Nation Where Hockey Matters’. A nation where hockey
is talked about at dinner tables, playgrounds and public houses, up and down the country.
A nation where the sport is on the back pages of our newspapers, where children dream of
scoring a goal for England’s senior hockey team, and where the performance stirs up
emotion amongst the many, not the few”
England Hockey aspires to deepen the passion of those who play, deliver and follow sport
by providing the best possible environments and the best possible experiences. Whilst
reaching out to new audiences by making the sport more visible, available and relevant and
through the many advocates of hockey.
Underpinning all this is the infrastructure which makes the sport function. EH understand
the importance of volunteers, coaches, officials, clubs and facilities. The more inspirational
people can be, the more progressive Hockey can be and the more befitting the facilities
can be, the more EH will achieve. The core objectives are as follows:
Grow our Participation
Deliver International Success
Increase our Visibility
Enhance our Infrastructure
Be a strong and respected Governing Body
England Hockey has a Capital Investment Programme (CIP) that is planned to lever £5.6
million investment into hockey facilities over the next four years, underpinned by £2m
million from the National Governing Body. With over 500 pitches due for refurbishment in
the next 4-8 years, there will be a large focus placed on these projects through this funding
stream. The current level of pitches available for hockey is believed to be sufficient for the
medium term needs, however in some areas, pitches may not be in the right places in order
to maximize playing opportunities
‘The right pitches in the right places
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’
In 2012, EH released its facility guidance which is intended to assist organisations wishing
to build or protect hockey pitches for hockey. It identifies that many existing hockey AGPs
are nearing the end of their useful life as a result of the installation boom of the 90’s.
Significant investment is needed to update the playing stock and protect the sport against
inappropriate surfaces for hockey as a result of the rising popularity of AGPs for a number
of sports. EH is seeking to invest in, and endorse clubs and hockey providers which have
a sound understanding of the following:
Single System – clubs and providers which have a good understanding of the Single
System and its principles and are appropriately places to support the delivery.
ClubsFirst accreditation – clubs with the accreditation are recognised as producing a
safe effective and child friendly hockey environment
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http://englandhockey.co.uk/page.asp?section=1143§ionTitle=The+Right+Pitches+in+the+Righ
t+Places
CHELTENHAM & TEWKESBURY
PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT
September 2016 Assessment Report: Knight Kavanagh & Page 141
Sustainability – hockey providers and clubs will have an approved development plan
in place showing their commitment to developing hockey, retaining members and
providing an insight into longer term goals. They will also need to have secured
appropriate tenure.
England Hockey Strategy
Vision: For every hockey club in England to have appropriate and sustainable facilities that
provide excellent experiences for players.
Mission: More, Better, Happier Players with access to appropriate and sustainable
facilities.
Our club market is well structured and clubs are required to affiliate to England Hockey to
play in community leagues. As a result only relatively few occasional teams lie outside our
affiliation structure. Schools and Universities are the other two areas where significant
hockey is played.
The 3 main objectives of the facilities strategy are:
1. PROTECT: To conserve the existing hockey provision
We currently have over 800 pitches that are used by hockey clubs (club, school,
universities.) We need to retain the current provision where appropriate to ensure that
hockey is maintained across the country.
2. IMPROVE: To improve the existing facilities stock (physically and
administratively).
The current facilities stock is ageing and there needs to be strategic investment into
refurbishing the pitches and ancillary facilities. There needs to more support for clubs to
obtain better agreements with facilities providers & education around owning an asset.
3. DEVELOP: To strategically build new hockey facilities where there is an identified
need and ability to deliver and maintain. This might include consolidating hockey
provision in a local area where appropriate.
The research has identified key areas across the country where there is a lack of suitable
Hockey provision and there is a need for additional pitches. There is an identified demand
for multi pitches in the right places to consolidate hockey and allow clubs to have all of their
provision catered for at one site.
