Come and find out more about the council’s potential proposal on building a 3G sports pitch at Maiden Erlegh School in Earley at one of its drop-in sessions taking place later this month and take part in the survey.
Consultation survey online
Earlier this year, Wokingham Borough Council’s decision-making executive approved its new Leisure Strategy (2021-2025), following an extensive public consultation in 2021. In July 2022, the decision-making executive approved proposals to deliver this strategy, which included the progression of a new 3G sports pitch, subject to planning, Football Foundation funding and public consultation.
The council’s executive member for environment, sport and leisure, Cllr Ian Shenton said: “I am encouraging all residents, particularly those living in the Maiden Erlegh ward, to come along to one of our drop-in sessions to find out more about our potential 3G sports pitch proposal. Your opinion matters to us, so make sure you submit your views on our Engage Wokingham websitebefore 3 October. Help us carry on enriching livesby providing access to good leisure facilities for generations to come.”
View proposals
The council is holding two consultation sessions for residents to drop-in and view plans and visuals. It is an opportunity to learn more, ask questions and voice any concerns. The drop-in sessions will take place on the below dates at Maiden Erlegh School, Silverdale Road, Earley, RG6 7HS:
- Tuesday 20 September, 6pm to 7.30pm
- Wednesday 21 September, 6pm to 7.30pm
Take part in the consultation survey
Residents are invited to give their views on the proposed 3G sports pitch site on the council’s Engage Wokingham Borough website .
The consultation survey starts today (5 September) and runs until 11.59pm on Monday 3 October 2022. Residents can respond by visiting the council’s engagement platform,Engage Wokingham Borough .
If you need help completing the survey, please call the council’s customer services team on (0118) 974 6000. This service is available to all residents including those who do not have access to digital devices.
Cllr Shenton continued: “There is a shortage of sports pitches in our borough and as part of the Leisure Strategy, we want to provide high quality pitches to meet this demand whilst helping our residents to keep fit and thrive. If the site is approved and we are successful in securing planning permission and funding approval from the Football Foundation, work could start during next year’s school summer holiday. This would be terrific news for local football teams and will help our climate change initiatives by encouraging local players to find alternative means of travel such as walking and cycling to get to training. It would also reduce the need for local football teams to travel outside the borough for weekly training.”
The proposed site at Maiden Erlegh School
Wokingham Borough has more than 524 football teams and there is a need for additional 3G sports pitches to be built to cater for this demand. Unfortunately, there are capacity issues locally which means that local football teams are having to travel outside of the borough for training and extra games cannot be played.
A technical appraisal has identified Maiden Erlegh School as the most suitable location for the new 3G sports pitch based on the existing facilities including pitch, changing rooms, toilets, sufficient parking and access to the site.
The school could also make use of the 3G sports pitch during the school day for multi-sport activities including touch rugby, cricket and other physical education (PE) sports to improve agility, balance, co-ordination and overall fitness. This is a tried and tested model the council has adopted at several schools in Wokingham Borough including Farley Hill Primary School and The Emmbrook School. The site is also approved by the Football Foundation and the council would seek funding from them for the new 3G sports pitch.
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