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PLAYING PITCH ASSESSMENT

BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN

OCTOBER 2013

Neil Allen Associates Registered Office:

20 Brook Road, Lymm, Cheshire, WA13 9AH

A limited company, registered in

nazia_ali_rizvi

Typewritten Text

5.18a

Blackburn with Darwen Playing Pitch Assessment 2

01

England and Wales no. 6165280

Contents

Page

Section 1 – Introduction 2

Section 2 – Methodology 3

Section 3 – Population and Sports Participation Profile 7

Section 4 – Football 12

Section 5 – Cricket 56

Section 6 – Rugby 73

Section 7 – Hockey 81

Section 8 – Bowls 93

Section 9 – Summary and Key Issues to Address 101

Appendices

Appendix A – Supply and Demand Assessment Spreadsheet

Appendix B - National Facilities Strategies

Appendix C - Population Projections

Appendix D – Pitch Quality

Appendix E – Active People and Market Segmentation

Appendix F – Quality of School Sites

Appendix G - AGPs


1. Introduction

Introduction and Scope

Neil Allen Associates was commissioned in May 2013 to produce a Playing Pitch Assessment and Strategy for

Blackburn with Darwen. The new strategy will update the existing document (2003), and sets out the strategic

direction and site specific priorities for the future delivery of facilities for football, cricket, rugby, hockey and

bowls.

The key drivers for the production of the assessment and strategy are;

The aspiration to understand and promote participation in pitch sports to inform and support the

work, strategies and priorities of the Council as well as sporting organisations that are active in the area

The need to ensure that pitches are effectively managed and maintained and that best uses are made

of reducing resources

The need to provide evidence to help secure external funding

The requirement to provide evidence to inform policy in the emerging local plan, and specifically to

support Site Allocations and Development Management Policies.

This document summarises the key issues arising from the assessment and informs the preparation of the

strategy document (under separate cover). It aims to;

summarise the current supply of playing pitches in Blackburn with Darwen;

outline current demand for facilities and evaluate projected demand up to 2021 and 2026;

evaluate the overall adequacy of provision to meet current and projected future demand;

identify the key issues for the Blackburn with Darwen Playing Pitch Strategy to address.

The strategy will build on the issues identified and set out strategic priorities and actions for delivery.

This assessment report is set out as follows;

Section 2 –Methodology

Section 3 - Context and Participation Profile

Section 4 – Football

Section 5 – Cricket

Section 6 – Rugby

Section 7 – Hockey

Section 8 – Bowls

Section 9 – Summary and Key Issues

02

2. Methodology

This section summarises the methodology that has been used. The methodology is based upon that set

out in ‘Playing Pitch Guidance, An approach to Developing and Delivering a Playing Pitch Strategy (Sport

England 2013).

Figure 2.1 summarises the stages of this methodology. This assessment report represents steps 1 – 6

while the strategy document will include recommendations and an action plan.

Figure 2.1: Developing and Delivering a Playing Pitch Strategy – The 10 Step Approach

The remainder of this section briefly summarises the approach that has been undertaken in the

preparation of this assessment and strategy.

10. Keep the

strategy robust

& up to date

6. Identify the

key findings

& issues

1. Prepare & tailor

the approach

2. Gather

supply

information

and views

3. Gather

demand

information

and views

4. Understand the

situation at

individual sites

5. Develop the

current & future

pictures of

provision

7. Develop the

recommendations

& action plan

8. Write &

adopt the

strategy

9. Apply &

deliver the

strategy

Developing and Delivering

a Playing Pitch Strategy

The 10 Step Approach


Geographical Analysis

Reflecting the compact nature of the Borough and the geographical proximity of Blackburn and Darwen,

the adequacy of facilities is analysed throughout this assessment at a Borough wide level. The steering

group determined that patterns of pitch usage mean that it is not appropriate to subdivide the area

further.

Steps 2 and 3 – Gather Supply and Demand Information and Views

Supply

The data collection process included a full audit of pitches across Blackburn with Darwen. For each site,

the following information was collected;

Site name, location, ownership and management type

Number and type of pitches

Accessibility of pitches to the community

Overall quality of pitches and ancillary facilities (including maintenance regimes)

Level of protection and security of tenure

Views of users and providers.

Demand

To evaluate the demand for playing pitches in Blackburn with Darwen, the following information was

collated;

Number of sports clubs and teams and their match and training requirements

Casual and other demand

Educational demand

Displaced demand (i.e. teams wishing to play within the borough but unable to)

Latent demand

Future demand (including club and team aspirations for development as well as National

Governing Body priorities and targets)

User views and experiences, including trends and changes in demand.

The following tasks were undertaken to compile the supply and demand information;

analysing the audit of playing fields and open space (2003 PPS and Open Space Assessment) and

the Sport England Active Places tool;

reviewing NGB data on pitches and local participation;

full review of local league websites, fixture lists and pitch booking records;

use of available technical quality assessment reports; and

undertaking non technical site visits

undertaking a detailed survey to all schools(final response 72%)and consultation with other playing

pitch providers;

a full programme of consultation with sports clubs and league secretaries;

engagement with providers of playing pitches;

face to face and telephone discussions with NGBs to discuss key issues and priorities.

A high proportion of teams within the Borough successfully engaged with the process (in part due to the

efforts of local league secretaries and other volunteers) specifically;


Football – 93%

Cricket – 100%

Rugby Union – 100%

Hockey – 100%.

Steps 4, 5 and 6 – Assessing the Supply and Demand Information and Views

The supply and demand information collated has been used to;

Understand the situation at individual sites

Develop the current and projected future pictures of provision

Identify the key findings and issues that need to be addressed.

Figure 2.2 overleaf, extracted directly from the guidance (Sport England 2013), provides further detail of

the issues explored during the analysis of the adequacy of provision.

Steps 6 - 10 Develop the Strategy and Deliver the Strategy and Keep it Up to Date and Robust

The strategy document for Blackburn with Darwen will use the issues identified to set out a strategic

framework for the provision of pitches across the borough. This will include a detailed action plan which

will be developed in collaboration with key providers and deliverers.

This Assessment

The remainder of this assessment therefore provides an overview of each sport in Blackburn with Darwen

and summarises the issues identified.

Section 3 summarises the demographic and participation profile in sport and physical activity of

residents, as well as their propensity to participate in sport and physical activity. Key population trends

that may influence demand for pitch provision in future years are also considered.


Figure 2.2 – Overview of the Assessment Process

Understand the situation at

individual sites

Develop the current

picture of provision

Develop the future

picture of provision

An overview for each site available to the community should

be developed consisting of:

1. A comparison between the amount of play a site can

accommodate with how much play takes place there;

2. Whether there is any spare capacity during the peak

period for relevant pitch types;

3. The key issues with, and views of, the provision at the

site.

Identify the key findings

and issues

Site overviews should be used to help understand:

1. The situation across all sites available to the community;

2. The situation across only those sites with secured

community use;

3. The nature and extent of play taking place at sites with

unsecured community use;

4. The nature and extent of any displaced, unmet and latent

demand;

5. Key issues raised with the adequacy of provision;

6. The situation at any priority sites.

The current picture of provision and the future demand

information from Stage B should be used to help understand:

1. How population change will affect the demand for

provision;

2. How participation targets and current/future trends may

affect the demand for provision;

3. Whether there are any particular sports clubs or sites

where demand is likely to increase;

4. How any forthcoming changes in supply may affect the

adequacy of provision to meet demand.

The current and future pictures of provision, along with the

site overviews, should be used to answer the following

questions:

1. What are the main characteristics of the current and future

supply of and demand for provision?

2. Is there enough accessible and secured community use

provision to meet current and future demand?

3. Is the provision that is accessible of sufficient quality and

appropriately managed?

03

3. Population and Sports Participation Profile

Introduction

This section briefly summarises the key policies that impact upon the preparation of this assessment and

strategy and provides an overview of the demographics of the Borough and the impact of this on

demand for pitch sports. It provides an overview only - sport specific issues and participation is discussed

in Sections 4 – 8.

Strategic Context

National Level

At a national level, there are several key policies that impact upon the preparation of this Playing Pitch

Strategy:

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) clearly establishes the requirement that local plans

ensure that there is proper provision of community and cultural facilities to meet local needs. The NPPF’s

expectations for the development of local planning policy for sport and physical activity/recreation, is set

out in paragraphs 73 and 74 which require there to be a sound (i.e. up-to-date and verifiable) evidence

base underpinning policy and its application. Paragraph 73 indicates that

‘Access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and recreation can make an important

contribution to the health and well-being of communities. 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. The assessments should identify specific needs and quantitative or

qualitative deficits or surpluses of open space, sports and recreational facilities in the local area.

Information gained from the assessments should be used to determine what open space, sports and

recreational provision is required.’

Paragraph 74 states that

‘Existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields, should not be

built on unless:

An assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown the open space, buildings or land to

be surplus to requirements; or

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; or

The development is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the needs for which clearly

outweigh the loss.’

Sport England has been a statutory consultee on planning applications affecting playing pitches since

1996 and has a long established policy of retention, which is the precursor to the National Planning Policy

Framework guidance above. Sport England also advises that informed decisions on playing pitch matters

require all local authorities to have an up to date assessment of need and a strategy emanating from this.


Sport England recommend that a strategy is monitored and updated annually and refreshed every three

years. This assessment will support the Council in implementing a robust strategic approach to the

delivery of pitches across the borough. Sport England’s National Strategy – (2011/12 – 2014/15) and

Youth and Community Strategy (2012 – 2017) both underpin this playing pitch assessment.

National Governing Body Facility Strategies: The Football Association (FA), England and Wales Cricket

Board (ECB), Rugby Football Union (RFU), Rugby Football League (RFL) and England Hockey all set out

strategies guiding the provision of facilities for their specific sport as follows;

The Football Association - National Game Strategy

Grounds to Play – England and Wales Cricket Board Strategic Plan (2010 – 2013)

The Rugby Football Union National Facilities Strategy

Community Rugby League Facilities Strategy

The National Hockey Facility Strategy – The Right Facilities in the Right Places (2012)

Appendix B summarises the key principles of each of these strategic documents.

Local Context

More local to Blackburn with Darwen, the preparation of this Playing Pitch Strategy impacts upon, or is

informed by, a number of key documents including:

Blackburn with Darwen Core Strategy (2011) –sets out the priorities for the future development of the

Borough for the next 15 to 20 years. This strategy sets out a targeted growth strategy, which includes

indicative figures of 9365 additional dwellings up to 2026. This playing pitch assessment and strategy will

inform the emerging local plan, including site allocations and development management policies which

will provide further detail on the principles set out in the core strategy.

Blackburn with Darwen Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy 2012-2015 – the strategy sets out the

overarching plan through which the public, private, community and voluntary sectors, as well as residents

themselves, will work together to improve health and wellbeing for and with localpeople over the next 3

years. Effective provision of playing pitches will support and promote participation and physical activity

and as a consequence, contribute towards overall objectives of this health and well being strategy.

Population and Sports Participation

An understanding of population trends and overall participation in sport underpins the evaluation of the

adequacy of facilities for football, cricket, rugby, hockey and bowls in later sections. It provides an

understanding of potential participation and latent demand as well as current levels of participation in

sport and physical activity. As such, it provides an important context for playing pitch provision.

This summary of key issues and trends draws on the findings from the Sport England Active People

surveys and Sport England Market Segmentation. The theoretical information summarised in this section

will then be used to inform the sport specific assessments set out in Sections 4 to 9.

Population Profile and Trends


Appendix C summarises the current population profile and projected changes over the 2013 – 2021

period. This is extracted from data provided by Blackburn with Darwen Council and is based upon the

most up to date population projections that are available.

The key issues arising from analysis of the population profile are that;

there is projected to be an overall increase in population between 2013 and 2021;

nearly a third of the Borough’s population is aged 0 – 20, a comparatively high proportion of the

population. This impacts upon the demand for playing pitches, as it is in these age groups where

the number of participants in pitch sports is highest and demand is therefore focused. The number

of residents aged between 0 and 20 will grow by 2021;

despite the increases in the number of younger people, overall, Blackburn with Darwen has an

ageing population. Almost half of the population growth will occur in residents aged 71 and above

– these residents have a much lower propensity to participate in pitch sports. The number of

residents in age groups that traditionally play pitch sports (6 – 45) will increase from 81903 to

82243, an increase of just 0.5%. Growth in the authority overall will however exceed 2.5%. This

suggests that the proportion of people playing pitch sports is likely to decrease overall, although

the actual number of participants will increase marginally.

Between 2021 and 2026, the total population will increase by an additional 2.16%, generating further

increases in the number of people in age groups that are likely to participate in pitch sports.

In addition, the findings of the 2011 census reveal that Blackburn with Darwen is much more ethnically

diverse than the national average, with 66.5% of the population describing themselves as white, 13% as of

Indian Heritage and 12% as of Pakistani Heritage. Added to this, the age structure of the South Asian

heritage population is considerably younger than the White British population. Ethnic origin is known to

impact upon sporting choice and varying participation rates in different sports means that this may have

particular impact upon future demand. This will be returned to at relevant points within this assessment

report.

Adult Participation in Sport

The Active People Survey (undertaken annually since 2006 by sport England) reveals that there has been

an overall increase in participation from 16.3% (Active People 1) to 20.3% (Active People 7) This increase

overall is statistically significant although it should be noted that there have been some slight fluctuations

in the interim years.

While this level of participation remains lower than neighbouring authorities (with the exception of

Hyndburn) the upward trend in participation suggests that there are strong foundations for building

participation in sport and active recreation.

Profile of Sports Participation in Blackburn with Darwen

Building upon the Active People survey findings (which record participation of adults 16+, and linking

with Mosaic Lifestyle data, Sport England analysed data on the English population (18+) to produce 19

market segments considered to have distinct sporting behaviours and attitudes.

Map 3.1 summarises the market segmentation profile for Blackburn with Darwen. This same information

is also set out in bar chart form (Chart 3.1). It is followed by a description of each of the dominant market

segments in the Borough and their sporting activity profile.


Map 3.1 - Dominant Market Segments by population and location

Chart 3.1 - Dominant Market Segments by Population Total

Chart 3.1 and Map 3.1 demonstrate that;

spatially, the dominant market segments are Tim, Kev and Philip. There are also small pockets of

residents in the Elsie and Arnold categorisation

when considering the dominant segments by population totals, those market segments with the

highest population totals are Kev, Brenda, Elsie and Arnold and Brenda.

The Active People Market Segmentation profile for the most dominant market segments are as follows;

1. Kev has average levels of sports participation. He is a social rather than competitive organised

participant and participates in keep fit and gym. Sports of interest are football (high participation

compared to national levels), cycling, and swimming. Kev may also take part in athletics or running,

golf, angling, badminton, archery or martial arts/combat sports.


2. Brenda is generally less active than the average adult population. Brenda enjoys keep fit,

swimming and cycling but in all cases Brenda’s participation levels are below the national average

for all adults.

3. Elsie & Arnold are much less active than the average adult population, but their activity levels are

consistent with other segments in this age range. They enjoy swimming, keep fit and bowls

4. Tim is a very active type enjoying high intensity activities including team games as well as personal

fitness activities. Tim is more likely than all adults to take part in football and also enjoys cycling,

keep fit, swimming and football.

The segments with the highest participation rates and are most likely to play pitch sports are aged

between 16 – 34 (the first seven market segments from Ben to Alison in chart 3.1). While these groups are

not the most dominant segments within Blackburn with Darwen, there is strong representation in several

of the groups, in particular Jamie and Leanne suggesting that a proportion of the population will be keen

to play sports.

Overall therefore, evidence suggests that pitch sports can and do play an important role in promoting

participation in Blackburn with Darwen. The dominance of some market segments that are not interested

in pitch sports does however serve to highlight the importance of balancing the provision of playing

pitches with the provision of other sporting opportunities.

Summary

Context - Summary and Key issues

The Active People survey suggests that there are therefore strong foundations for the continued

growth in participation in sport and physical activity across the borough

While the population is projected to increase overall (by circa 2.5%) between 2013 and 2021, the

number of people in age groups traditionally playing pitch sports will increase by a much smaller

percentage (0.5%). Total increase in demand for pitch sports therefore will not be in line with

projected increases in the total population;

The population of Blackburn is highly diverse and the age profile of the Asian population is much

younger than other groups which may influence the future picture of demand as well as choice of

sport

not all of the dominant population segments in Blackburn with Darwen are likely to have an

interest in pitch sports. This highlights the need to balance opportunities to play such sports with

other activities.

The remainder of this report draws on the contextual information in this section, and provides an

overview of issues for football, cricket, rugby, hockey and bowls in Blackburn with Darwen.

Section 9 summarises the key issues for the strategy to address

04

4. Football

Introduction

This section assesses the adequacy of pitches for football in Blackburn with Darwen. It includes;

a brief overview of the supply and demand for football

An understanding of activity at individual sites in the borough

A picture of the adequacy of current provision

The future picture of provision for football.

Football in Blackburn with Darwen – An Overview

Pitch Supply

There are 107 individual formal grass football pitches across Blackburn with Darwen. This excludes

facilities for Blackburn Rovers FC, a professional club whose main pitch (Ewood Park) is located within the

borough (although the formal training bases are located outside the borough in Ribble Valley and Pendle

local authorities).

Table 4.1 summarises the breakdown of pitch sizes and also outlines the level of community access that is

available. Site specific detail is provided in Appendix A.

Table 4.1 – Football Pitches across Blackburn with Darwen

Total Pitch

Provision

Pitch Provision

Available to the

Community (Used or

not used)

Pitch Provision

Secured for

Community Use

(used or not used)

Adult Football 35 28 28

Junior Football 34 24 16

9 v 9 10 7 7

7 v 7 26 12 9

5 v 5 2 2 2

Total 107 73 62

It reveals that;

33% of pitches are adult sized while the remainder cater for junior and mini soccer

68% of playing pitches are available for use by the community. Of these, 58% of pitches are

secured for long term community use. Notably, almost all secondary schools have secured

community use and many are managed through Blackburn with Darwen Council, meaning that supply

is coordinated with public facilities. Two of three independent schools / colleges also have secured

community use. All facilities that offer community use currently but without long term security that

this agreement will remain in place are either junior or mini pitches, suggesting that it would be to


the detriment of the development of junior football should access to these sites no longer be

available. This is a relatively low proportion of school sites but potentially significant

All facilities not available are on school sites – few schools that do not already open their facilities

indicated interest in doing so. The key barriers the poor quality of existing facilities and security

issues. This suggests that there is limited scope to increase the pitch stock further through

community use of school sites, unless these barriers can be addressed

Closed / Potential Sites

There are several pitches /sites that have previously been playing fields but are not currently operating as

such. These are as follows:

Pleasington Playing Fields – one adult football pitch closed (Pitch quality). The remainder of the site

operates as normal. Pitch totals for Pleasington Playing Fields later in this document exclude this

pitch

Crosshills Special School (School closed but field still exists)

Set End Playing Fields – former playing field with potential to reinstate two to three pitches

Crowthorne School – former senior adult football pitch

Fernhurst School (now Free School called the Heights) – small former pitch on adjacent site

Woolridge Playing Fields (former five pitch site)

Square Meadow (potential for two pitches)

Darwen Moorlands School Playing Fields (school closed, potential to provide 1 – 2 pitches)

Former Beardwood School.

These sites may provide opportunities to increase the stock of facilities should a lack of capacity be

identified in the current facility stock.

Ownership and Management

Figure 4.1 illustrates that Blackburn with Darwen Council is the primary owner and manager of football

pitches in the borough. This emphasises the important role that the Council has in enabling football

participation and the particular reliance that football has on public pitches. Notably, almost all of the large

multi pitch sites are managed by the Council and these facilities are used by both adult and junior teams.

While many of the smaller single pitch facilities are leased to clubs, several of whom play at various stages

of the football pyramid, there are comparatively few private facilities although there are several clubs that

have aspirations to manage and maintain their own facilities.

Figure 4.1 – Management of Playing Pitches (Pitches in secured community use only)


Distribution of Pitches

The compact nature of Blackburn with Darwen means that most pitches are accessible from all areas of

the borough. The facilities managed by the Council in particular are characterised by a small number of

large playing fields (up to 11 adult football pitches). The remaining pitches are primarily single / two pitch

sites in private ownership although there are also some larger club based facilities.

Quality

Pitch quality varies significantly and there are differences in pitch quality within specific sites as well as

across the borough. Overall, 27% of football pitches have been rated as poor and 30% of pitches as good.

Drainage and playing surface are the most frequently occurring issues identified both through on site

evaluation and local consultation.

The quality of pitches is noticeably lower at sites managed by Blackburn with Darwen Council than other

providers. This has a particular impact because as noted earlier, football is particularly reliant upon

Council pitches. There are several issues contributing to the quality concerns which will be discussed later.

The quality of changing accommodation is similarly varying although it is noticeable that on the whole it

is the smaller sites where the quality of changing accommodation is poor. There are very few sites do not

have changing accommodation at all.

Map 4.1 illustrates the scale and distribution of football pitches, while Map 4.2 provides an understanding

of their quality, providing an understanding of areas of highest concern. Specific quality ratings and issues

established for each pitch are summarised in Appendix D.


Map 4.1 – Scale of Pitch Provision


Map 4.2 – Football Pitch Quality


Views on Pitch Quality

Reflecting the varying quality ratings awarded, quality emerged as the key issue during consultations.

Figure 4.2 indicates that it is public pitches where the greatest issues are experienced. A higher proportion

of clubs renting pitches believe that quality is deteriorating, while the majority of clubs that believe

pitches are improving have their own facilities.

Figure 4.2 – Perceived Trends in Pitch Quality

Clubs are most concerned about maintenance regimes, grass length and the evenness of the pitches, as

well as issues with match cancellations arising from drainage. The views of providers generally accord with

this. Pitch drainage is perhaps the key concern. This issue is recognised throughout the football

community of Blackburn as having significant impact upon the quality of pitches and consequently on

their capacity to sustain play. Added to this, most pitches at school sites that have secured community

use but are currently unavailable are suffering from drainage problems.

Figure 4.3 illustrates the perception of clubs relating to quality of pitches and provides insight into the

reasons for views outlined in Figure 4.2. Interestingly, it indicates that maintenance is the only area that

more clubs consider to be poor than standard or good, suggesting that this is as big a concern as the

impact of poor drainage.

Figure 4.3 – Club Perceptions of Quality

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Much better Slightly better No difference Slightly poorer Much poorer

Num

ber o

f Cl

ubs

Perception

Perceived Trends in Qua lity


League secretaries and clubs are so concerned about the maintenance of pitches that they have formed a

football development group to address the issue. They (and users of pitches) attribute quality issues at

pitches to a limited maintenance regime and there is a perception that this is causing deterioration of

pitch quality, cancellations and closure of pitches. Concerns in particular relate to Pleasington Playing

Fields, Pleckgate Playing Fields and specific private sites.

The maintenance regimes afforded to playing pitches vary considerably from basic programmes of

cutting grass and line marking, to more in depth programmes including chain harrowing, vertidraining

and fertilising at a cost of £5000 per pitch. Pitches that are of higher quality are generally those where

there is a higher maintenance budget and often, a dedicated groundsman.

The maintenance programme at Council owned and managed pitches is much more reactive and limited

than that applied at private sites and is also constrained by the dual use of sites (Blacksnape Playing

Fields and Pleasington Playing Fields) for both football and cricket (which restricts out of season

reinstatement) as well as greater levels of unofficial use. Consultation clearly demonstrated that both

clubs and providers believe that overplay of many pitches intensifies the issues raised in relation to poor

maintenance and causes a deterioration in pitch quality over the season. Pitches are not maintained to a

level where they can sustain the number of games that some sites are required to do. Providers identify

concerns that if maintenance programmes are not improved, the benefits of any capital investment that is

injected to address issues at pitch sites will not be maximised. In some cases, poor maintenance is the

primary cause of the poor pitch conditions.

While changing facilities were identified as being in need of improvement on some sites (primarily small

sites and Pleasington Playing Fields) most users and providers felt this to be secondary to the quality

issues identified with pitches.

Demand

Active People and Market Segmentation (Sport England)

The Sport England Active People Survey and Market Segmentation data (explained in Section 3) reveals

that football is the most popular pitch sport in Blackburn with Darwen. Full details are summarised in

Appendix E, but the key messages arising are;

the key participants in football in Blackburn with Darwen are those that are nationally are most

likely to play (Jamie, Kev, Ben and Tim). Participation is geographically even, except in Feniscowles

where levels of play are slightly lower. There is limited participation by female groups

analysis of latent demand suggests that there is potential to increase participation by 17%. The

latent demand is from residents in the same market segments as those that currently play and is

geographically even. Despite low levels of participation, there is limited interest in playing football

from female residents.

The Active people survey analysis provides an indication of participation only. Data on competitive play

provides greater detail on those regularly engaging in match play.

Current Participation – Match Play

Football participation is strong across the borough and clubs are geographically evenly dispersed. Table

4.2 summarises the number of teams and indicates that while there are strong participation rates for

males, the junior and senior female game is less well established. Furthermore, 65% of teams are made

up of residents aged 16 and below meaning that demand for junior and mini pitches is higher than for


adult pitches. 67% of pitches are for teams aged 16 and below, suggesting that supply and demand are

well balanced.

Table 4.2 – Football Teams in Blackburn with Darwen*

Sport and Age Groups

Number of teams

in age group within

the area

Football Adult Men (16-45yrs) 73

Football Adult Women (16-45yrs) 4

Football Youth Boys (10-15yrs) 69

Football Youth Girls (10-15yrs) 11

Football Mini Soccer Mixed (6-9yrs) 60

*excludes small sided football, teams at Blackburn Rovers FC and teams playing in orphanage cup annually

Recent Trends in Participation

There has been significant decline in adult football in recent years and this is reflected in FA affiliation

data. By way of illustration, the Blackburn Combination used to have 5 divisions but now has only two. In

contrast, the East Lancashire Youth Alliance has seen a 30% increase – demand for junior football is

continuing to grow although participation has temporarily steadied. Football pitch provision has been

adjusted to reflect these trends, but their impact on future demand should also be considered

54% of responding football clubs have static membership numbers while 14% have experienced decline.

Much of this decline is attributable to movement between clubs rather than an overall loss of teams,

however it is noticeable that drop off is experienced at the point of transfer from junior to adult games,

suggesting that there is a need to improve this transition. Almost all large clubs with junior teams are now

however running adult teams, potentially promoting a reverse in this trend. This is also a target area for

the Lancashire FA and there are several initiatives underway across the county designed to promote

participation in U16, U18 and u21 age groups and to ensure that players are retained into adult football.

Almost all mini and junior teams are part of large clubs and most contain five or more teams. According

to FA data, 81.6% of youth and mini teams play in a club that had achieved charter standard status. This

compares favourably to national averages and suggests that there is a strong club infrastructure.

There are lower levels of participation in the Asian population than in other groups, indicating that there

is particular scope to grow the game further.

Training Needs

Over 90% of clubs that schedule formal training sessions use Artificial Grass Pitches (AGPs) of varying

sizes. While almost all junior clubs train at least once per week, a lower proportion of adult teams train

(although many play in 5 a side leagues midweek). Some teams train on grass during the summer months

but there are no floodlit grass training facilities for use during winter. Pitches cannot be booked for

training (although it is known that the occasional ad hoc training sessions take place against regulations).

Training therefore has limited impact on grass pitches, but large numbers of community teams wish to

use AGPs to accommodate their needs.

Educational Demand

The majority of schools have their own playing fields. Not all schools mark out their playing field area as

formal pitches, but most have the capacity to do. As a result, there is little use of community pitches by

schools.


There are just five schools that use external pitches and therefore impact upon the availability of facilities

for community use. Most notably, these include use of Feniscowles War Memorial Ground (Feniscowles

Primary School), Pleckgate Playing Fields (St Gabriels) and 2 pitches at Blacksnape Playing Fields (Darwen

Aldridge Academy) that are reserved solely for the use of the school.

Curricular use of school pitches reduces capacity to sustain community use. Pleckgate High School, St

Bedes RC High School, Blackburn Central High School, Darwen Vale High School, Witton Park High School

and Griffin Park Primary School are all community resources as well as school sites.

11 schools believe that their current pitch stock does not meet their curricular requirements. Almost all of

these believe that provision is inadequate because they either have limited facilities, or the quality is poor

on the facilities that they have. In particular, several of the secondary schools based on new sites highlight

the importance of upgrading their pitch provision to ensure that facilities are in a useable condition.

Darwen Vale High School, St Bedes RC High School and Witton Park High School are amongst the schools

indicating that pitch provision does not meet their needs (all new schools with facilities secured for

community use).

Appendix A and F summarise the views of schools in more detail and provides a list of those schools that

are not satisfied with their existing provision.

Casual Demand

Most of the playing fields also function as public recreational areas. This impacts upon the quality of

some pitches, particularly with regards dog fouling. During the football season, the use is not sufficiently

extensive to reduce pitch capacity of pitches.

Other Issues relating to pitch supply and demand

Other issues raised impacting upon pitch provision include;

Sustainability: almost all providers (both public and private) express concerns about the cost of

appropriate maintenance regimes and the sustainability of continuing to operate current (and / or

improved) maintenance regimes. If this is not addressed, the amount and quality of pitches in Blackburn

may deteriorate.

Cost: The majority of pitches that can be rented are hired from the Council and pitch charges are

consistent at all sites, including school facilities. Pitch charges vary according to the pitch size from £36.90

(adult pitch) to £10.57 (mini pitch). These prices are competitive and much lower than national average

prices. They are however higher than the neighbouring authority of Hyndburn. No issues were raised with

the price of pitch hire of grass pitches per se, although some comments were made that the quality of

pitches means that pitch hire charges do not represent value for money. Pitches at school sites not

managed by the Council (St Mary’s College for example) are slightly higher than those at Council sites,

although are better quality. While cost was not directly raised in relation to grass pitches, consultation did

demonstrate that clubs are relatively price sensitive. Cost was however viewed as a major barrier to the

use of AGPs - 7 clubs raised this directly and several more clubs hold the perception that there are not

enough training facilities available at acceptable prices.

Security of Tenure and Aspirations for Self Management: Reflecting the strong club structure across

Blackburn with Darwen, several clubs expressed an interest in securing new provision, managing their

own sites and growing a club base.

Many clubs already lease pitches from Blackburn with Darwen Council and no issues have been identified

with security of tenure currently, although Mill Hill FC only have 12 years remaining on their current lease.

The peppercorn rent for use of Gary Hamer Memorial Playing Fields is also currently being reviewed.


Adequacy of Pitch Provision – Assessing Supply and Demand information and Views

Both the adequacy of pitch provision to meet demand is measured both over the course of a week and at

peak time using match equivalents.

Weekly capacity: is based upon the quality of the pitch and the consequential number of matches that it

can sustain per week (using FA guidelines). Table 4.3 summarises the guidelines used with regards pitch

capacity.

Table 4.3 – Capacity based upon Pitch Quality

Peak Time Demand: The local leagues all have specific kick off times and while these are flexible to a

degree, it is important that there are enough pitches available when people wish to use them. Peak time

in Blackburn for football is as follows;

Senior Football – Saturday Afternoon (49%)

Junior Football – Sunday morning (52%)

9 v 9 Football – Sunday morning (100%)

Mini soccer – Sunday morning (66%)

Pitches can only be considered to have spare capacity at peak time when they are not already utilised to

their full capacity over the course of a week. An adult pitch that is not used on a Saturday afternoon

(Boroughwide peak time), but is used three times per week at other times (Sunday morning, Sunday

afternoon and midweek for example) would not be considered able to sustain additional play at peak

time, even though no one would be using the facility then, as this would be detrimental to the quality of

the pitch.

Situation at Individual Sites

Table 4.4 provides a summary of the activity that takes place at each site that has community use in

Blackburn with Darwen. It sets out the current supply and demand and outlines whether the pitch is being

overplayed, played to the appropriate level or is able to sustain additional fixtures. Any other issues

arising with the site are also briefly summarised.

Further detail, including full details of teams playing at each site can be found in Appendix A. It should be

noted that where teams do not have a set home ground, assumptions have been made based upon

consultation in order to provide as accurate a picture as possible of play at each site.

Issues will be explored by pitch type in later sections, however the key issues emerging from site

overviews are as follows;

Agreed pitch quality rating Adult Football Youth Football Mini Soccer

Number of match equivalent sessions a week

Good 3 4 6

Standard 2 2 4

Poor 1 1 2


There are few sites with significant amounts of spare capacity. Many sites that do have spare

capacity are either sites serving clubs in the pyramid or small sites. St Marys College (a site that is

relatively newly available and that is of high quality) is the clear exception to this, with scope to

accommodate further play. In contrast, much of the overplay is associated with large clubs with

multiple teams

The majority of play takes place on pitches that are the right size for the age group of the team

Reflecting the reliance upon Council pitch venues, there is relatively limited spare capacity,

particularly at peak times (reflecting the use of these pitches for grassroots football). Blacksnape

Playing Fields (less attractive due to location and becoming restricted by poor drainage),

Greenfields Community Centre and Witton Park are the only venues with any spare capacity

The strong demand at peak time is responsible for much spare capacity over the course of the

week, with heavy use of sites on one day and limited use outside the peak period

Quality of sites impacts overall capacity significantly, with many large venues having reduced

capacity to sustain matches. Pleasington Playing Fields is a particular example of this. It is felt on

the whole that in many cases, the maintenance regime is as responsible for the poor quality of

pitches as overall pitch condition

There is little reliance upon unsecured sites, with all sites available for community use without a

formal agreement receiving little or no community use.

Blackburn with Darwen Playing Pitch Assessment

24

Table 4.4 – Site Specific Usage at each site (community sites that are available regardless of whether they are used or not)

Site Name Access Pitch

Type

No of

Pitche

s

Carrying

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

Communit

y Use

Differenc

e Comparison

Total

Extent of

any Spare

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

Extent of

any Spare

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

During the

Peak

Period

Key Issues and Views

Anchor Ground

Secured

Community

Use

Adult

Footba

ll

1 3 1.5 1.5

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

play

1.5 0

High quality pitch site including stand,

dug outs and turnstiles suitable for use by

teams in the football pyramid. At capacity

on a Saturday afternoon, when the

majority of football at this level takes

place. Scope for additional play to take

place on a Sunday or during the week.

Also used for cup finals etc. Lower levels

of use help retention of quality.

Avondale

Primary School

Unsecured

Community

Use

Junior

Footba

ll

11v11

2 1 0 1

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

play

1 1

Pitch currently standard to poor and

although improvements have been made,

further investment would be required to

ensure that site can sustain extra

curricular activities. With two junior

pitches, site offers potential as a

community use venue.

Blackburn

Central High

School

Secured

Community

Use

Junior

Footba

ll

11v11

1 0 0 0

Being played

to the level

that the site

can sustain

0 0

Site opened for 2013 - 2014 season.

Current curricular need means that

community use would exceed capacity

levels. Opening of new pitches should

allow community use.

Blacksnape

Playing Fields

Secured

Community

Use

Adult

Footba

ll

1 2 1 1

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

1 1

Scope for increased usage of adult

pitches but junior pitches overplayed.

Changing accommodation good, but site

exposed and therefore less popular with

local teams. Quality of pitches varies



Type

No of

Pitche

s

Carrying

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

Communit

y Use

Differenc

e Comparison

Total

Extent of

any Spare

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

Extent of

any Spare

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

During the

Peak

Period


play across the site. Some pitches on site have

recently started holding water. Quality of

pitches perceived to be influenced by the

amount of maintenance that is

undertaken in comparison to the play that

is sustained. Secured

Community

Use

Junior

Footba

ll

11v11

2 4 8 -4 Being

overplayed 0 0

Secured

Community

Use

Junior

Footba

ll 9v9

2 4 2 2

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

play

2 0.5

Corporation

Park

Secured

Community

Use

Junior

Footba

ll

11v11

1 1 0 1

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

play

1 1

No use of site currently and as a

consequence, site has not been marked

out as formal playing fields. No changing

or toilet provision is available which

makes site less attractive to users.

Darwen Vale

High School

Secured

Community

Use

Junior

Footba

ll

11v11

1 0 0 1

Being played

to the level

the site can

sustain

0 0

Quality of pitches inhibits use of pitches

and capacity for community use. Drainage

problems require significant investment

and pitches not currently usable for

curricular or extra curricular use.

Significant potential for community use if

pitch condition was to be improved - full

community use agreement exists and

changing accommodation is available.

Everton Playing

Fields

Secured

Community

Use

Junior

Footba

ll

1 4 1.5 2.5

Potentially

able to

accommodat

2.5 0.5

Good quality pitch site with recent

investment into drainage and changing

accommodation - maintenance and



Type

No of

Pitche

s

Carrying

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

Communit

y Use

Differenc

e Comparison

Total

Extent of

any Spare

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

Extent of

any Spare

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

During the

Peak

Period


11v11 e some

additional

play

management of site recently taken over

by East Lancs Youth Alliance. All play at

the site is from teams in the East Lancs

Youth Alliance and there is high demand

at peak time, although kick offs are

staggered. Some capacity for additional

play based on number of times pitches

are used, although additional capacity

more limited than weekly capacity

suggests due to programming of fixtures.

Secured

Community

Use

Junior

Footba

ll 9v9

2 8 2.5 5.5

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

play

5.5 1 Good quality pitch site with recent

investment into drainage and changing

accommodation - maintenance and

management of site recently taken over

by East Lancs Youth Alliance. All play at

the site is from teams in the East Lancs

Youth Alliance and there is high demand

at peak time, although kick offs are

staggered. Some capacity for additional

play based on number of times pitches

are used, although additional capacity

more limited than weekly capacity

suggests due to programming of fixtures.

Secured

Community

Use

Mini

Footba

ll 5v5

2 12 4 8

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

play

8 1

Secured

Community

Use

Mini

Footba

ll 7v7

4 24 7 17

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

play

17 4

Gary Hamer

Memorial Fields

- Old

Blackburnians

Secured

Community

Use

Adult

Footba

ll

2 4 2 2

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

2 0

Adult pitches at capacity on Saturday

afternoon but not used outside this time.

Ability to accommodate further use

impacted upon by poor drainage and



Type

No of

Pitche

s

Carrying

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

Communit

y Use

Differenc

e Comparison

Total

Extent of

any Spare

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

Extent of

any Spare

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

During the

Peak

Period


additional

play

pitch condition, which limits the overall

capacity of the site . Pitch quality is

deteriorating and investment is required

in both in capital projects and to meet

ongoing maintenance requirements.

Changing accommodation poor and

impacting upon attractiveness of site. Secured

Community

Use

Mini

Footba

ll 7v7

2 4 3 1

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

play

1 0.5

Greenfield

Community

Centre

Secured

Community

Use

Adult

Footba

ll

1 2 0.5 1.5

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

play

1.5 1

Pitch condition now average. Changing

accommodation available in the

community centre. Overall site is

functional and has potential to

accommodate further use.

Mill Hill St

Peters Football

Club

Secured

Community

Use

Adult

Footba

ll

1 3 2 1

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

play

1 0

Well maintained and good quality facility

accommodating semi-professional

football club. Site well used and

approaching capacity -no availability at

peak times. Club lease expires in 2023 -

only 12 years remaining. Club includes

multiple junior teams that all play away

from this main home ground.

Old Boltonians

AFC

Secured

Community

Use

Adult

Footba

ll

2 4 2.5 1.5

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

play

1.5 0

Recent drainage improvements. There is

high demand at peak time and both

pitches are at capacity at this time. There

is a potential ability to accommodate

further play outside peak time but it

should also be noted that some training

does on occasion take place on the pitch.

There is therefore a small amount of



Type

No of

Pitche

s

Carrying

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

Communit

y Use

Differenc

e Comparison

Total

Extent of

any Spare

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

Extent of

any Spare

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

During the

Peak

Period


scope for club growth at this site.

Our Lady of

Perpetual

Succour RC

Primary School

Unsecured

Community

Use

Junior

Footba

ll

11v11

1 1 0 1

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

play

1 1 Recent investment into pitches mean that

facilities are able to sustain a small

amount of community use in addition to

curricular requirements. Limited interest

however shown from clubs and there is

no changing accommodation available on

site

Our Lady of

Perpetual

Succour RC

Primary School

N/A

Mini

Footba

ll 7v7

1 1 0 1

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

play

1 1

Pleasington

Playing Fields

Secured

Community

Use

Adult

Footba

ll

11 17 18 -1 Being

overplayed 0 0

Pitches overplayed. Poor quality has a

significant impact upon the capacity of

pitches. Several pitches out of use due to

emergency repair work and further work

is required to bring pitches to required

standard -this compromises ability to

fulfill fixtures, as well as the enjoyment

and safety of players. Issues include poor

drainage, uneven pitches and poor

maintenance and there are concerns that

heavy levels of use will see pitch condition

deteriorate further. Potential of site is not

currently being fulfilled and many pitches

are poor but are used twice a week as

well as recreationally. Also used for

festivals and cricket - limited opportunity

for repair and maintenance work. Poor



Type

No of

Pitche

s

Carrying

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

Communit

y Use

Differenc

e Comparison

Total

Extent of

any Spare

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

Extent of

any Spare

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

During the

Peak

Period


maintenance thought to be key

contributing factor to quality issues.

Pleckgate

Playing Fields

(Pleckgate High

School)

Secured

Community

Use

Adult

Footba

ll

2 2 2 0

Being played

to the level

the site can

sustain

0 0

Capacity of pitches limited by both quality

and requirement to sustain curricular use

as well as community need. Two pitches

identified as poor and in need of

significant maintenance upgrade. School

are concerned about the impact of

community use on the overall demand for

facilities. High peak time demand. Current

maintenance regimes are reactive only.

Pleckgate

Playing Fields

(Pleckgate High

School)

Secured

Community

Use

Junior

Footba

ll

11v11

3 3 4 -1 Being

overplayed 0 0

Queen

Elizabeth's

Grammar

School Playing

Fields (QEGS)

Secured

Community

Use

Adult

Footba

ll

1 2 3 -1 Being

overplayed 0 0

High quality with new changing

accommodation means that it is attractive

to users. Taking into account school use

of the facility, pitches are at capacity.

Accrington Stanley FC also use pitches for

training so although there is capacity at

peak time, additional usage could not be

sustained.

Queen

Elizabeth's

Grammar

School Playing

Fields (QEGS)

Secured

Community

Use

Junior

Footba

ll

3 6 6 0

Being played

to the level

the site can

sustain

0 0

Roe Lee Park

Primary School

Unsecured

Community

Use

Junior

Footba

ll

11v11

1 1 0.5 0.5

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

play

0.5 1

Pitch relatively good quality, but

additional use at peak time (over and

above one match equivalent) as well as

current community and curricular activity

may start to compromise pitch provision.

Roman Road

Community

Pitch

Secured

Community

Use

Adult

Footba

ll

1 2 2.5 -0.5 Being

overplayed 0 0

Pitch well used but of deteriorating

quality. Drainage / maintenance issues

may impact upon the capacity of the site



Type

No of

Pitche

s

Carrying

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

Communit

y Use

Differenc

e Comparison

Total

Extent of

any Spare

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

Extent of

any Spare

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

During the

Peak

Period


if quality issues are not resolved due to

the high levels of use. There is interest

from community teams in leasing this site.

Saint Francis C

of E Primary

School

Unsecured

Community

Use

Junior

Footba

ll

11v11

1 1 0 1

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

play

1 1 School pitch available for use but not

currently used. Offers limited potential

St Bedes RC

High School

Secured

Community

Use

Junior

Footba

ll

11v11

1 0 0 0

Being played

to the level

the site can

sustain

0 0

Pitch condition inhibits ability to sustain

community fixtures. Requires new

drainage (or maintenance tailored to the

pitch) to enable additional use on site.

St James

Church of

England

Primary School

Unsecured

Community

Use

Junior

Footba

ll

11v11

1 1 0 1

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

play

1 1

Site offers limited potential but is not

currently used by the community and is

available. No changing accommodation

St Luke & St

Philip’s CE

Primary School

N/A

Mini

Footba

ll 7v7

1 1 0 1

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

play

1 1

Site offers limited potential but is not

currently used by the community and is

available. No changing accommodation is

available.

St Mary's

College

Secured

Community

Use

Adult

Footba

ll

3 6 2.5 3.5

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

play

4.5 2.5

Facility good quality with dedicated

groundsman. Some issues with drainage

that may impact on capacity if

overplayed. Layout of changing

accommodation means that junior

fixtures cannot be played at same time as



Type

No of

Pitche

s

Carrying

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

Communit

y Use

Differenc

e Comparison

Total

Extent of

any Spare

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

Extent of

any Spare

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

During the

Peak

Period


senior matches. Junior teams also use

senior pitches at this site. Scope to

increase use

Turton Football

Club

Secured

Community

Use

Adult

Footba

ll

1 2 2 0

Being played

to the level

the site can

sustain

0 0

Team play in the league pyramid (Steps

11 - 13). Drainage systems have recently

collapsed and this is starting to impact on

capacity. Without intervention, pitch

quality may decline. Remaining teams

from club displaced into neighbouring

authority (pitches actually nearer than

using facilities in Blackburn). Longer term,

lack of facilities may impact upon club

growth.

Witton Country

Park

Secured

Community

Use

Junior

Footba

ll 9v9

1 2 2

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

play

2 2 Important site for mini football,

particularly for teams playing outside of

the East Lancs Youth Alliance League (and

therefore not using Everton Playing

Fields). Capacity to accommodate

additional play at peak time due to play in

the Accrington league being off peak.

Pitches adequate in terms of quality

Witton Country

Park

Secured

Community

Use

Mini

Footba

ll 7v7

2 8 5 3

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

play

3 0.5

Witton Park

High School

Business &

Enterprise

College

Secured

Community

Use

Junior

Footba

ll 11 v

11

1 0 0 0

Being played

to the level

the site can

sustain

0 0

New pitch. Drainage is already a problem

and no community use possible. New

pitches are currently being prepared and

are anticipated to open in 2014.



Type

No of

Pitche

s

Carrying

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

Communit

y Use

Differenc

e Comparison

Total

Extent of

any Spare

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

Extent of

any Spare

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

During the

Peak

Period


Branch Road

Secured

Community

Use

Junior

Footba

ll 11 v

11

1 2 3 -1 Being

overplayed 0 0

Pitch quality average but pitches heavily

used. Lack of changing accommodation

Sandy Lane

Secured

Community

Use

Junior

Footba

ll 9v9

1 2 1.5 0.5

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

play

0.5 0.5 Used interchangeably with Branch Road,

site has improved significantly in terms of

quality. Scope to increase use by 9 v 9

teams - additional teams likely to require

this pitch next year as 2 age groups will

play 9 v 9. Also used for cricket Sandy Lane

Secured

Community

Use

Mini

Footba

ll 7v7

1 4 1 3

Potentially

able to

accommodat

e some

additional

play

3 1

War Memorial

Recreation

Ground

(Feniscowles

Sports and

Social Club)

Secured

Community

Use

Adult

Footba

ll

1 2 2 0

Being played

to the level

the site can

sustain

0 0 Important multi sport venue

accommodating large and growing

football club. Pitches laid out in response

to fixtures played and pitch type capacity

is therefore challenging. Overall pitch site

is heavily used. Also has recreational

usage and cricket in summer. Limited

scope for club growth and heavy use may

impact upon quality. Club seeking

additional land

War Memorial

Recreation

Ground

(Feniscowles

Sports and

Social Club)

Secured

Community

Use

Junior

Footba

ll

(11v11)

1 2 4.5 -2.5 Being

overplayed 0 0

War Memorial

Recreation

Ground

(Feniscowles

Secured

Community

Use

Junior

Footba

ll 9v9

1 2 4.5 -2.5 Being

overplayed 0 0



Type

No of

Pitche

s

Carrying

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

Communit

y Use

Differenc

e Comparison

Total

Extent of

any Spare

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

Extent of

any Spare

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

During the

Peak

Period


Sports and

Social Club)

Griffin Park

Community

Primary School

Unsecured

Community

Use

Junior

Footba

ll

(11v11)

1 1 2.5 -1.5 Being

overplayed 0 0

When considering pitch usage by club, as

well as the school, the facility is at

capacity and is unable to sustain any

further use.


34

Current Picture

The site overviews set out in Table 4.4, as well as data collated in Appendix A, enable the development of

an overall picture of provision across the authority for each type of football pitch. Table 4.5 summarises

the use and spare capacity at adult football pitches.

Table 4.5 - Adult Football Pitches

Site Name

Current

Carrying

Capacity

Current

Community

Use

Difference Comparison

Spare capacity

for community

use (total)

Spare capacity for

community use

(in the peak

period)

Anchor Ground 3 1.5 1.5

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

1.5 0

Blacksnape Playing

Fields 2 1 1

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

1 1

Gary Hamer

Memorial Fields - Old

Blackburnians

4 2 2

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

2 0

Greenfield

Community Centre 2 0.5 1.5

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

1.5 1

Mill Hill St Peters

Football Club 3 2 1

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

1 0

Old Boltonians AFC 4 2.5 1.5

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

1.5 0

Pleasington Playing

Fields 17 18 -1 Being overplayed 0 0

Pleckgate Playing

Fields (Pleckgate

High School)

2 2 0 Being played to the level

the site can sustain 0 0

Queen Elizabeth's

Grammar School

Playing Fields (QEGS)

2 3 -1 Being overplayed 0 0

Roman Road

Community Pitch 2 2.5 -0.5 Being overplayed 0 0

St Mary's College 6 2.5 3.5

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

3.5 2.5

Turton Football Club 2 2 0 Being played to the level


War Memorial

Recreation Ground

(Feniscowles Sports

and Social Club)

2 2 0 Being played to the level


Table 4.5 reveals that overall, across Blackburn with Darwen, there is some spare capacity at adult football

pitches. This is equivalent to 9.5 match equivalent sessions per week (there is a total spare capacity of 12

match equivalents, but a total overplay of 2.5 match equivalents).

In more detail;


Eight sites have spare capacity totalling 12 match equivalents, specifically St Marys College,

Blacksnape Playing Fields, Anchor Ground, Mill Hill St Peters, Old Boltonians. Gary Hamer Memorial

Fields and Greenfield Community Centre. Of this spare capacity;

o a quarter of the match equivalents (3.5) are located at St Marys College, situated in north

Blackburn. This is a high quality site with a dedicated groundsman. Pitch hire is slightly more

expensive than that at Council sites and this may influence usage of the facility. Indeed most

of the usage that takes place at this site currently is junior fixtures (using adult pitches). The

pitches are also used by the College during the week and so capacity for community use is

reduced

o With the exception of Greenfield Community Centre, all other sites with spare capacity are

club based facilities operating in the football pyramid and use of the facilities is therefore

restricted

o Greenfield Community Centre is the only public pitch that has spare capacity. This site is

currently an acceptable quality facility with changing accommodation. There are no clear

reasons for the lack of use of the facility

Four sites are being played to the level that they can sustain. It should be noted however that;

o Pleckgate Playing Fields has more limited capacity due to poor quality pitches. Turton

Football Club have also recently begun to experience quality issues with their site

There is overplay equivalent to 2.5 match equivalents per week at three sites – Roman Road Playing

Fields, Pleasington Playing Fields and Queen Elizabeth Grammar School.

o Pleasington Playing Fields is the largest site and the focus for the majority of adult football

activity. The capacity of the site is however limited by the poor quality of pitches and more

activity is currently taking place than the pitches are able to sustain given the levels of

maintenance and quality issues experienced

o In contrast, Queen Elizabeth Grammar School is a high quality site with good football pitches.

The school partner with Blackburn Community Sports Club and the pitches are also used by

Accrington Stanley FC for training

o Roman Road is a popular single pitch public site on the edge of the urban area and there are

no clear reasons for the high level of demand for this site.

While there are 9.5 match equivalent slots available across the week, there is more limited

availability at peak time for adult football (Saturday afternoon) with just 4.5 match equivalent slots

available

o 2.5 of these slots are at St Marys College, which is used primarily on a Sunday morning.

Additional matches could be hosted on a Saturday

o The remaining slots are available at Blacksnape Playing Fields and Greenfield Community

Centre. Although one of the higher quality public playing fields, Blacksnape Playing Fields is

less attractive to users due to its exposed location. The pitches on this site have also recently

started to hold water

For adult football therefore, provision is relatively constrained, particularly at public sites and the majority

of spare capacity is focused on a small number of private sites (most notably St Marys College). Pitch

capacity of adult pitches is clearly impacted by poor quality pitches, with the capacity of several large sites

reduced to reflect quality issues experienced.


All of the above pitches are secured for community use and there are therefore no issues with regards

access to unsecured pitches relating to adult football.

Junior Football

Table 4.6 summarises the use and spare capacity at junior football pitches.

Table 4.6 – Capacity at Junior Football Pitches

Site Name

Commu

nity use

category

Communit

y Use

Category

Current

Carrying

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

Current

Communit

y Use

Differenc

e Comparison

Spare

capacity

for

communit

y use

(total)

Spare

capacity

for

communit

y use

(in the

peak

period)

Blackburn

Central High

School

Secured

Commun

ity Use

Available

for

community

use and

used

0 0 0

Being played

to the level the

site can sustain

0 0

Blacksnape

Playing Fields

Secured

Commun

ity Use

Available

for

community

use and

used

4 8 -4 Being

overplayed 0 0

Everton

Playing Fields

Secured

Commun

ity Use

Available

for

community

use and

used

4 1.5 2.5

Potentially able

to

accommodate

some

additional play

2.5 0.5

Pleckgate

Playing Fields

(Pleckgate

High School)

Secured

Commun

ity Use

Available

for

community

use and

used

3 4 -1 Being

overplayed 0 0

Queen

Elizabeth's

Grammar

School

Playing Fields

(QEGS)

Secured

Commun

ity Use

Available

for

community

use and

used

6 6 0

Being played

to the level the

site can sustain

0 0

St Bedes RC

High School

Secured

Commun

ity Use

Available

for

community

use and

used

0 0 0

Being played

to the level the

site can sustain

0 0

Branch Road

Secured

Commun

ity Use

Available

for

community

use and

used

2 3 -1 Being

overplayed 0 0

War Memorial

Recreation

Ground

(Feniscowles

Sports and

Social Club)

Secured

Commun

ity Use

Available

for

community

use and

used

2 4.5 -2.5 Being

overplayed 0 0


Site Name

Commu

nity use

category

Communit

y Use

Category

Current

Carrying

Capacity

for

Communit

y Use

Current

Communit

y Use

Differenc

e Comparison

Spare

capacity

for

communit

y use

(total)

Spare

capacity

for

communit

y use

(in the

peak

period)

Our Lady of

Perpetual

Succour RC

Primary

School

Unsecure

d

Commun

ity Use

Available

for

community

use but

unused

1 0 1

Potentially able

to

accommodate

some

additional play

1 1

Roe Lee Park

Primary

School

Unsecure

d

Commun

ity Use

Available

and used 1 0.5 0.5

Potentially able

to

accommodate

some

additional play

0.5 1

Saint Francis C

of E Primary

School

Unsecure

d

Commun

ity Use

Available

for

community

use but not

used

1 0 1

Potentially able

to

accommodate

some

additional play

1 1

St James

Church of

England

Primary

School

Unsecure

d

Commun

ity Use

Available

for

community

use but

unused

1 0 1

Potentially able

to

accommodate

some

additional play

1 1

Griffin Park

Community

Primary

School

Unsecure

d

Commun

ity Use

Available

for

Community

Use

1 2.5 -1.5 Being

overplayed 0 0

Avondale

Primary

School

Unsecure

d

Commun

ity Use

Available

for

community

use but

unused

1 0 1

Potentially able

to

accommodate

some

additional play

1 1

Corporation

Park

Secured

Commun

ity Use

Available

for

community

use but

unused

1 0 1

Potentially able

to

accommodate

some

additional play

1 1

Darwen Vale

High School

Secured

Commun

ity Use

Available

for

community

use but not

used

0 0 0

Being played

to the level the

site can sustain

0 0

Witton Park

High School

Business &

Enterprise

College

Secured

Commun

ity Use

Available

for

community

use but

unused

0 0 0

Being played

to the level the

site can sustain

0 0

Table 4.6 reveals that overall, there is no spare capacity at junior (11 v 11) football pitches. Although there

are 8 match equivalent sessions per week available, the total overplay is equivalent to 10 match

equivalent sessions.

In more detail;


Six sites have spare capacity totalling 6 match equivalents, specifically Corporation Park, Avondale

Primary School, Our Lady of Perpetual Succour RC Primary School, Roe Lee Park Primary School, Saint

Francis C of E Primary School, St James Church of England Primary School and Everton Playing Fields.

Of this spare capacity;

o two thirds is located at primary school sites where facilities are currently available but not

being used

o Corporation Park has not been requested by any clubs for this season

o the only other site with spare capacity is Everton Playing fields. This site is leased by the East

Lancashire Youth League from the Council and is a popular venue for junior and mini soccer.

Pitch quality is good and there is some capacity to increase play. The management of this site

by the league however means that activity is focused onto one day (in line with league rules)

and it is primarily for this reason that there is spare capacity across the week

Five sites are being played to the level that they can sustain. It should be noted however that while

in theory pitches at St Bedes RC High School, Darwen Vale High School, Blackburn Central School and

Witton Park High School are available for the community, there is currently no capacity for

community use due as the quality of pitches means that sites are only able to sustain curricular

requirements (most of these are the new BSF school sites). Queens Park Grammar School is the only

site used to optimum levels that is actually sustaining community use currently. Quality of provision is

therefore significantly impacting upon available capacity in this instance

Overplay equivalent to 10 match equivalents per week is focused at five sites;

o Pleckgate Playing Fields and Blacksnape Playing Fields are the most popular public venues for

junior football. Pleckgate Playing Fields in particular however suffers from poor quality, which

limits the capacity of the site and Blacksnape Playing Fields have also recently started to hold

water. Maintenance issues are thought to contribute to this poor quality.

o Branch Road and Feniscowles and Pleasington Recreation Ground are both home to large

clubs (Darwen Rangers and Feniscowles and Pleasington respectively) that focus all play onto

these sites

o Griffin Park Community Primary School hosts several teams from Blackburn Eagles. The site

has relatively limited facilities and high number of teams at the club, coupled with curricular

activity, means that the site is overplayed

There is limited spare capacity available at peak time, with just 6.5 match equivalent slots available.

o There is spare capacity equivalent to 0.5 match equivalents at Everton Playing Fields and 1

match equivalent at Corporation Park

o The remaining slots at peak time are all at primary schools that are not currently used at all.

Relocation of teams playing on sites currently at capacity would significantly reduce this.

Impact of unsecured community use arrangements

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour RC Primary School, Roe Lee Park Primary School, Saint Francis C of E

Primary School, St James Church of England Primary School, Avondale Primary School and Griffin Park

Community Primary School are not secured for community use and access could therefore be removed

from these sites at any time.


Excluding these facilities from analysis; spare capacity reduces overall to 2.5 match equivalents. Taking

into account there is overplay of 8.5, there are not enough pitches on balance and spare capacity at peak

time is reduced to just 1.5 matches.

Added to this, 3.5 match equivalent sessions per week take place on unsecured pitches and would need

to be accommodated if these pitches were no longer available. There would not be capacity within the

current secured pitch stock to do this.

In reality, only Griffin Park Community School and Roe Lee Park Primary School are actually used by clubs.

All overplay and other activity is focused on club bases and public pitches that are secured by community

use. The loss of unsecured pitches would however remove the opportunity to relocate teams.

9 v 9 Pitches

Table 4.7 summarises the use and spare capacity at 9 v 9 football pitches.

Table 4.7 – 9 v 9 Football Pitches

Site Name

Current

Carrying

Capacity for

Community

Use

Current

Community

Use


Spare capacity

for

community

use (total)

Spare capacity

for

community

use (in

the peak

period)

Blacksnape

Playing Fields 4 2 2

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

2 0.5

Everton Playing

Fields 8 2.5 5.5

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

5.5 1

Witton Country

Park 2 2

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

2 2

Sandy Lane 2 1.5 0.5

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

0.5 0.5

War Memorial

Recreation

Ground

(Feniscowles

Sports and

Social Club)

2 4.5 -2.5 Being overplayed 0 0

Overall, across Blackburn with Darwen, there is the equivalent of 10 match equivalent slots available at 9 v

9 football pitches. Overplay is however equivalent to 2.5, meaning that there is total spare capacity of 7.5

on balance.

In more detail;

All sites have spare capacity except War Memorial Recreation Ground (Feniscowles and Pleasington

FC) where overplay is equivalent to 2.5. This site is host to a large football club and junior pitches are

also overplayed.


The majority of spare capacity is located at Everton Playing Fields (5.5 match equivalents).

Blacksnape Playing Fields and Witton Country Park are also able to accommodate an additional two

matches per site. Use of Everton Playing Fields is influenced by the lease of the site to the league.

Demand for 9 v 9 pitches is also influenced by the recent nature of the implementation of the FA

Youth Review, with only one age group requiring 9 v 9 pitches. This will rise to two next year and is

therefore likely to increase demand for these pitches

Reflecting the balance of play, availability at peak time is much lower (4 match equivalents). The

greatest availability is at Witton Country Park (2). There is only scope to accommodate 1 additional

match equivalent at Everton Park Playing Fields at peak time, despite the spare capacity over the

week.

There are no 9 v 9 pitches available to the community that are not secured for community use and

therefore no reliance upon unsecured playing pitches.

7 v 7 Pitches

Table 4.8 summarises the use and spare capacity at 7 v 7 football pitches.

Use and Spare Capacity at 7 v 7 Football Pitches

Site Name

Current

Carrying

Capacity for

Community

Use

Current

Community

Use


Spare

capacity

(total)

Spare

Capacity

(Peak

Period)

Everton Playing

Fields 24 7 17

Potentially able to

accommodate

additional play

17 4

Gary Hamer

Memorial Fields -

Old Blackburnians

4 3 1

Potentially able to

accommodate

additional play

1 0.5

Our Lady of

Perpetual Succour

RC Primary School

1 0 1

Potentially able to

accommodate

additional play

1 1

St Luke & St

Philip’s CE Primary

School

1 0 1

Potentially able to

accommodate

additional play

1 1

Witton Country

Park 8 5 3

Potentially able to

accommodate

additional play

3 0.5

Sandy Lane 4 1 3

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

3 1

Table 4.8 reveals that overall, across Blackburn with Darwen, there is spare capacity equivalent to 26

match equivalent slots available at 7v7 football pitches. There are no sites that are currently overplayed. It

should be noted however that;


65% of the spare capacity is located at Everton Playing Fields. This site is leased by the East Lancs

Youth league and is therefore only used when the league plays. While the quality of pitches means

that several matches can be sustained each week in theory, in practice, all of the demand occurs at

once and matches are staggered to accommodate this

The remaining spare capacity is minimal, with both Witton Country Park and Sandy Lane able to

sustain three further games per week, and capacity for just one match equivalent at other sites

reflecting the greater pressures at peak time on Everton Playing Fields, availability at peak time is

much lower (8 match equivalents). 4 of these matches are possible at Everton Playing Fields

(assuming that kick off times can be staggered).

Impact of Unsecured Community Use

Two 7 v 7 pitches are not secured for community use (Our Lady of Perpetual Succour RC Primary School

and St Luke & St Philip’s CE Primary School). Excluding these sites means that spare capacity is equivalent

to 24, just 6 matches at peak time.

Neither site is currently used by clubs and there would therefore be no displacement of teams to other

sites. Issues of unsecured community use do therefore not have significant impact upon the adequacy of

mini soccer pitches.

5 v 5 pitches

Everton Playing Fields is the only site containing 5 v 5 pitches. There is capacity for 8 additional match

equivalents, although only 1 of these is available at peak time.

Overall picture

Overall, therefore, although there is capacity to accommodate a small amount of additional demand for

adult, 9 v 9 and 7 v 7 pitches, the amount of spare capacity is limited and there is no spare capacity in the

junior pitch stock. Several pitches are overplayed and many more are operating at the level that they can

sustain. Despite this, consultation did not reveal significant concerns regarding the amount of pitches.

For junior football, where there are greater pressures, just three clubs highlighted problems accessing

match pitches. All of these are large clubs who wish to accommodate all of their teams at one site

(Feniscowles and Pleasington FC, Darwen Rangers FC and Turton FC). Of note, all three clubs are based at

sites that are currently overplayed or approaching capacity and indeed it is the pressures at these clubs

that generate almost all of the overplay. Secretaries of the junior football league also indicated that they

believe a lack of junior pitches may inhibit demand in future years if participation continues to increase.

For adult football, few concerns were raised with regards quantity of provision and the focus was on

quality of provision. As outlined in previous pages, it is clear that pitch quality is significantly impacting

upon the capacity of both the adult and junior pitch stock. This is apparent both in terms of the number

of pitches that have limited capacity due to their quality, as well as the amount of school sites that have

formal community use arrangements but no capacity for community use due to their condition. This issue

was the most frequently recurring concern raised during consultation and drainage was highlighted as

the key concern as set out earlier in this section. Drainage has a significant impact in reducing the overall

carrying capacity of pitch sites. In many instances, it is believed that in many instances, the limited

maintenance regime is the overriding factor impacting upon the quality of the pitch .

Displaced Demand

While there are clearly some issues with the existing pitch stock, there is limited displaced demand. The

notable exceptions to this are Turton FC and Old Boltonians FC, both of whom travel into Bolton for


matches and training. Geographically however, these teams are as aligned to Bolton as to Blackburn with

Darwen and their choices are influenced by this. While Old Boltonians FC do not raise any issues with

existing arrangements, Turton FC indicate that they are unable to provide junior pitches at their home

base currently and therefore have no option but to travel. Displaced demand at Turton FC is equivalent to

10 mini soccer teams and 2 junior teams – the needs of the mini soccer teams could just be

accommodated within the existing stock, however there is no spare capacity at junior sites. Relocation of

these teams could have significant impact on spare capacity.

Anecdotally, it was reported that teams travel outside of Blackburn with Darwen to find pitches of

appropriate quality. Consultation did not reveal this issue and all teams indicated that they are currently

playing at their preferred pitch.

Conversely, Mellor Juniors, who use Roe Lee Park Primary School, travel from Mellor (outside of the

borough) to participate. This site is unsecured for community use.

Latent Demand

The Active People survey indicated that there is an opportunity to increase participation by 17%. Despite

this, just three clubs believe that there is currently unmet and / or latent demand;

Feniscowles and Pleasington FC and Turton FC both believe that with additional facilities, they

could increase the amount of teams that they are run. Reflecting this, War Memorial Ground

(Feniscowles and Pleasington FC) is overplayed and there is therefore limited scope for growth. The

club are currently seeking to increase access to pitches through the provision of additional pitches on

the adjacent land.

Similarly, as outlined above, the junior teams at Turton FC are currently displaced (10 mini teams –

2 -3 pitches, 1 junior pitch)

Great Harwood FC also believe that with additional facilities, they would be able to increase the

number of teams in the club.

Added to this, Darwen Rangers, also indicate that they are at / approaching capacity and that they will be

unable to continue to grow without more pitches. This is also evidenced by analysis of site capacity, which

demonstrates that sites are close to being overplayed.

League secretaries strongly believe that there is latent demand and that an improvement in facility quality

would stimulate increased participation. There is also thought to be latent demand within the Asian

community, although this is not directly quantifiable.

Future Picture of Provision

The future requirement for playing pitches will be impacted by several factors, including;

Population growth or change to the demographic profile of the population;

changes in participation trends and in how pitch sports are played;

club specific development plans and aspirations; and

amendments to the current facility stock.

These issues are considered in turn in order to build an accurate picture of future demand for playing

pitches.


Population Change

Analysis in Section 3 indicated that while the population of Blackburn with Darwen is likely to increase (by

2.5% up to 2021 and a further 2.16% up to 2026) changes to the population profile mean that the

proportion of people within the age groups most likely to play pitch sports will increase at a much slower

rate (0.5% up to 2021). There will actually be a decline in the number of people aged 16 – 20 and 41 – 45,

which will impact particularly on demand for adult football.

Team Generation Rates (TGRs) indicate how many people in a specified age group are required to

generate one team. They are used to project the theoretical number of teams that would be generated

from population growth and gain an understanding of future demand.

Table 4.9 summarises the current TGRs for football and uses them to evaluate the potential impact of

projected population change on demand for football. It reveals that by 2021;

adult football participation is likely to remain in line with current levels. Between 2021 and 2026,

the increase in people in this age group will be sufficient to generate 1 additional team;

the number of people aged between 10 and15 will increase slightly, leading to growth in

participation equivalent to 4 teams (1 female and 3 male - 2 match equivalents per week). By 2026,

a further 2 teams will be generated (5 male and 1 female in total – 3 match equivalents per week);

and

the highest growth in participation will occur in mini soccer, with an additional 9 teams created (4.5

match equivalents per week) up to 2021. This will increase to 11 (5.5 match equivalents) by 2026.

Table 4.9 – TGRs for Football in Blackburn with Darwen

Sport and Age

Groups

Number

of teams

in age

group

within

the area

Current

Population

in Age

Group

Current

TGR

Population

in Age

Group

(2021)

Population

in Age

Group

(2026)

Potential

Change in

Team

Numbers in

Age Group

(Number of

Teams)

Current –

2021

Potential

Change

in Team

Numbers

in Age

Group

(Number

of

Teams)

Current -

2026

Football Adult Men

(16-45yrs)

73 31042 425

30811 31477 -0.54

1.02

Football Adult

Women (16-45yrs)

4 30198 7550

28768 29389 -0.19

-0.1

Football Youth Boys

(10-15yrs)

69 6278 91

6590 6732 3.43

4.99

Football Youth Girls

(10-15yrs)

11 5856 532

6234 6369 0.71

0.96

Football Mini

Soccer Mixed (6-

9yrs)

60 8530

142 9841 10054

9.22 10.7

Assuming that the capacity of the existing pitch stock remains constant, this would mean that;


there would remain sufficient adult football pitches to meet demand (spare capacity of 9 match

equivalents per week and 4 slots available at peak time). There would however be limited

opportunities for rest and recovery of pitches

there is already no spare capacity in the existing stock of junior pitches, although this is down to

the overplay at certain sites. The addition of a further 4 teams (up to 2021) and then 2 more

between 2021 and 2026 would place further pressures on existing pitches. While demand could be

accommodated on sites that are not overplayed, this would mean that there would be no scope to

address the overplay that is already occurring at other sites. Currently, additional teams playing 9 v

9 could be accommodated, however this balance will change when two age groups play 9 v 9 next

year

for mini soccer, an additional 9 teams (up to 2021) and further two teams (between 2021 and 2026)

can be accommodated within the existing pitch stock. There is currently capacity for 8 matches at

peak time (6 when excluding sites with unsecured community access) and further spare capacity

during the week.

Overall therefore, population growth will serve to increase demand for pitches in the borough and place

additional pressures on the already limited spare capacity.

Changes in Participation Trends and How Sport is Played

Although population growth will influence demand, changes in participation may perhaps have the most

significant impact on demand for playing pitches. As demonstrated earlier in this section, while the

borough has experienced significant decline in adult football, there has been extensive growth in junior

and mini soccer. If this continues;

The already insufficient stock of junior football pitches would become even more constrained, and

mini soccer pitches (7 v 7 and 5 v 5) would also become insufficient

The stock of adult football pitches would remain sufficient and spare capacity (which is currently

limited) may increase. If issues relating to the drop off in the transition between junior and senior

football were addressed however, adult football pitches may also be in short supply.

Successful interventions to address latent demand may increase the number of residents playing and

have a significant impact on the demand for pitches.

Key Sports Clubs

Across the borough, many clubs have aspirations to grow, and current growth plans are equivalent to 24

teams, specifically;

4 adult teams

5 teams requiring junior pitches

15 teams requiring mini soccer pitches.

This will impact both on demand across Blackburn with Darwen as a whole but also more locally at a site

specific level (full details provided in Appendix G). When adding this to additional teams arising from

projected population growth, by 2021, the total increased future demand will be;

4 adult teams (2 match equivalents per week)


11 junior teams (5.5 match equivalents per week)

26 mini soccer teams (13 match equivalents per week).

This would have the following impact upon the existing situation;

Spare capacity of adult pitches would reduce to 7.5 match equivalents per week and availability at

peak time would drop to just 2.5 matches per week – this represents a very limited amount of spare

capacity

The stock of junior pitches would be insufficient to accommodate the required level of demand –

there is already insufficient capacity over the week and excluding the role of unsecured sites, just 1.5

match equivalent slots available at peak time. There would be a requirement for at least 4 additional

junior pitches at peak time and more if unsecured pitches were not available as a further 3.5 teams

would be displaced

The capacity of mini pitches would become constrained – there would be insufficient pitches at

peak time (circa 5 required) although it is likely that there would remain spare capacity across the

week.

Many of the clubs with development aspirations are already playing across multiple sites and unless new

club bases are established, the impact of growth will be dispersed. It is however possible to predict

specific impact on some pitch sites as follows;

Feniscowles and Pleasington FC – site already overplayed and club seek further growth (at least 2

teams)

Darwen Rangers FC – both Branch Lane and Sandy Lane already operating at level site can sustain –

club seek further growth

Turton FC – club seek further growth in junior section – teams are already displaced into Bolton

Pleasington Playing Fields – most adult teams seeking expansion suggest that teams would be

based at Pleasington.

FA Aspirations for Growth

The FA Football Participation Report (2012 – 2013) indicates that when comparing participation against

similar authorities, Blackburn with Darwen Borough measures 7 out of 14. Based upon this, the FA

estimate that there is potential for the creation of an additional 3 adult female football teams, 4 junior

female football teams, 16 junior male teams and 7 mini soccer teams. This is broadly in line with club

aspirations outlined above.

Perhaps of greatest significance, changes to youth football have only been introduced in the last year

(including the creation of 5 v 5 and 9 v 9) and as such, the impact is not yet fully apparent. The FA indicate

that in pilot areas, the introductions of these new formats have seen an increase in the number of teams

playing and greater retention of players through the older age groups.

The FA therefore believe that there will be an increase in the overall number of teams (and participants) in

future years as a result of the youth review and that higher levels of demand will occur as a result. In this

event;

Adult pitch provision would become more constrained (assuming that the transition between

junior and adult football is addressed)


the junior pitch stock would become further inadequate

there would also be insufficient mini soccer pitches.

Forthcoming Changes to Supply

It is anticipated that more pitches will be opening during the 2014 season (many due to the opening of

playing fields at schools secured through the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme) and

available for community use as follows;

an additional adult and an additional junior pitch at Blackburn Central. There is also an existing

junior pitch that has been considered to have no capacity for community use due to school

requirements.

an additional junior football pitch at Darwen Vale High School. There is already one junior pitch at

the school which has no capacity for community use currently due to pitch quality, and;

an additional 2 senior pitches and 1 junior pitch at Witton Park High School. There is already one

junior pitch at the school which has no capacity for community use currently.

Assuming that pitch quality is of appropriate standard, this will increase capacity in the existing pitch

stock by;

3 adult pitches (circa 6 match equivalents if pitches are good quality but also taking into account

the requirement to sustain community use); and

6 junior pitches ((circa 9 match equivalents if pitches are good quality but also taking into account

the requirement to sustain community use). This includes the pitches that do not currently have

capacity, but will do so once schools are provided with additional pitches.

This would improve the supply and demand balance as follows (based upon current demand)

Capacity for adult football will remain sufficient and the capacity to increase the level of rest and

recovery for pitches would be raised

For junior football – spare capacity would equal 7 match equivalents (17 match equivalents overall

but overplay of 10). Excluding sites with unsecured community use, this would reduce to 2.5 (12.5

match equivalents but overplay of 10) and 7.5 match equivalents available at peak time. There

would however be a need to accommodate 3.5 additional match equivalents that would be

displaced from pitches that currently offer unsecure community access. While current demand

could therefore be accommodated, the levels of growth generated through the population

growth, as well as potential increases in participation would mean that there would be insufficient

capacity in the junior pitch stock longer term.

It is clear therefore that the new facilities will have a particularly important role to play in meeting

demand in the short term, however if participation is in line with, or exceeds estimates above (as

suggested by pilots for the FA youth review that it might) there may be a need to deliver further capacity

in the junior pitch stock across the borough.

Key Issues

The findings of this assessment for football and the key issues arising are summarised in Section 9.

AGPS for Football


Overview

Artificial pitches are frequently used for football training and are becoming more commonplace for

competitive play (and are now approved surfaces by FIFA). There are a variety of different surfaces of

AGPs and their suitability for football is as follows;

Long pile 3g with shock pad – suitable

Long pile 3g – preferred surface for football

Short pile 3g – acceptable surface for some competitive football and football training

Sand filled – acceptable surface for football training

Sand dressed – acceptable surface for football training

Water based – acceptable surface for football training if irrigated.

In Blackburn with Darwen, there is a comprehensive stock of AGPs, specifically;

there are seven sites containing 3g pitches – the preferred surface for football;

two of these – St Bedes RC High School and Darwen Aldridge Community Academy - are full sized

pitches; and

the remaining sites are small or ¾ size pitches. There are 11 pitches at the Lucozade Powerade

Soccerdome.

Analysis of quality reveals some issues relating to the quality of facilities;

while the quality of the 3g pitch at Darwen Aldridge Academy is excellent, the pitch at St Bedes RC

although full size is of lower quality as it regularly floods due to a blocked drain / culvert. This

restricts use of the site

All small sided pitches are rated as good or standard, with the exception of Greenfields Community

Centre, which offers open community access and is poor quality. There are also some quality

concerns at Audley Community School

12 of the AGPs were last resurfaced in 2008 or earlier, while 9 are more recently developed

facilities. Five pitches, including 3 small sized 3g pitches have been developed during or since

2012.

Notably, while 5 of the eight full size pitches are managed by Blackburn with Darwen Council, both 3g

pitches are managed and controlled by schools. Darwen Vale High School AGP is the only 3g AGP

controlled by the Council and this is not full size. This is particularly significant and represents a departure

from grass pitches, where the Council are the primary managers and therefore in control of access to

facilities. Appendix G summarises the AGPS that are available across Blackburn with Darwen.

Demand

Over 90% of clubs that run formal training sessions use AGPs. While almost all junior clubs train at least

once per week, a lower proportion of adult teams train (although many play in 5 a side leagues during

midweek). The training locations of teams are outlined in full in Appendix A, however the most popular

venues are currently as follows;

Witton Park High School Business & Enterprise College

Darwen Vale High School

Lucozade Power League Soccerdome

St Bedes RC High School

Darwen Aldridge Community Academy.


The FA, and as a consequence, local leagues have now also approved the use of AGPs for competitive

fixtures. There is little use currently of these pitches outside the small sided leagues with the exception of

the Lucozade Power Soccerdome, which is used for mini soccer matches by the East Lancs Youth Alliance.

There are several leagues in Blackburn with Darwen that exclusively take place on AGPs specifically;

The Blackburn Community Football League (Witton Park)

Blackburn Power League Leagues (Lucozade Soccer Dome)

Blackburn Community Sports Trust Leagues (Blackburn Community Sports Trust)

Samba Football Leagues (Pleckgate, Darwen Aldridge Academy and Darwen Vale High School)

Blackburn Rovers Community Sports Trust Football leagues.

The adequacy of AGPs to accommodate demand for football, taking into account both training and

competitive fixtures is discussed in the section that follows. Demand for hockey is also considered (and

will be discussed with specific reference to hockey in Section 7) as there can often be competing

demands from these two sports as both are reliant upon AGPs.

Adequacy of Provision

Supply and demand is measured on a site specific basis considering;

a. the amount of play that a site is able to sustain - based upon the number of hours that the pitch is

accessible to the community during peak periods (up to a maximum of 34 hours per week). :Peak

periods have been deemed to be Monday to Thursday 17:00 to 21:00; Friday 17:00 to 19:00 and

Saturday and Sunday 09:00 to 17:00.

b. the amount of play that takes place (measured in hours); and

c. whether there is any spare capacity at the site based upon a comparison between the capacity of

the site and the actual usage.

Table 4.10 summarises the capacity of the existing AGPs across the week, comparing the number of hours

that a pitch is available at peak times with the demand for pitches.

It should be noted that pitch bookings as well as club consultation has been used to compile usage for

AGPs. Whilst the analysis seeks to represent the regular weekly usage, it is clear that there is significant

variation across Blackburn from week to week. The peak time capacity for AGPs is midweek evenings.


49

Table 4.10 – Site Specific Activity at AGPs S

ite

Deta

ils

No

of

Pit

ch

es

Cu

rren

t

Carr

yin

g

Cap

acit

y f

or

Co

mm

un

ity

Use

Cu

rren

t

Co

mm

un

ity

Use

Dif

fere

nce

Exte

nt

of

Sp

are

Cap

acit

y

Sp

are

Cap

acit

y f

or

Co

mm

un

ity

(peak

)

Key I

ssu

es

Audley

Community

Junior School

Sand

(small

sized)

1 32 3 29

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

16

Requires refurbishment soon. Playing surface

poor, large quantities of sand on pitch. No

community use

Blackburn

Central High

School

Sand (Full

sized) 1 21 5 16

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

8

New site (2013) Floodlit and full changing. Access

via steep steps. Potential to increase use of facility

both midweek and weekends. Current opening

hours would restrict use of facility for weekend

match play particularly for hockey.

Blackburn

Northern

Sand (Full

sized) 1 33 25.5 7.5

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

2

Pitch quality good, but club would like closer

toilets and changing and a shelter. Equipment

(goals) poor and in need of updating. Pitch shared

with football and is also heavily used by the

school during the day. As hockey club grows

additional training sessions will be required.

Existing agreement is for hockey club use

Wednesday evenings and weekends. Football use

- some training and several hours casual use, as

well as small sided league. Limited scope for

additional play as it is booked on midweek nights

and required for weekends. Any expansion of

hockey requirements may see displacement of

football matches to other sites.


Sit

e

Deta

ils

No

of

Pit

ch

es

Cu

rren

t

Carr

yin

g

Cap

acit

y f

or

Co

mm

un

ity

Use

Cu

rren

t

Co

mm

un

ity

Use

Dif

fere

nce

Exte

nt

of

Sp

are

Cap

acit

y

Sp

are

Cap

acit

y f

or

Co

mm

un

ity

(peak

)

Key I

ssu

es

Blackburn

Rovers

Community

Trust

Sand

(small

sized)

2 68 49 19

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

Indoor pitches. Dark but otherwise good. Pitches

used as community and educational resource for

adhoc community work. Clubs can book ad hoc or

block booking. Community initiative rather than

formal sports training facility (although can be

used for this purpose). Fully booked with

oversubscribed community league 3 nights per

week, also important venue for educational

activities.

Blackburn

Youth Zone

3g (small

sized) 1 24.5

Ad hoc

access

for

informal

kickabo

ut

Formal

use may

comprom

ise

informal

nature of

facility

New facility located on roof of youth zone.

Informal use but centre has sports coordinator

who organises activities. Not a formal sporting

facility and designed for ad hoc access and

informal play. Formal bookings for competitive

sport would compromise nature of facility

Brookhouse

Primary School

Polymeric

Base 1 34

Informal

access

at all

times

Free access, poor condition and issues with litter.

No known use of facility for formal football

training

Darwen

Aldridge

Community

Academy

3g (full

sized) 1 21 16 5

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

0

New facility, excellent quality. No issues. Limited

availability midweek evenings, known to be

booked ad hoc at weekends too, this is when the

majority of availability exists. All existing usage is

for football.

Darwen Vale

High School

3g (small

sized) 1 30 20.5 9.5

Being played to the

level the site can

sustain

2

Good quality facility but some drainage issues. All

use is for football. Peak hours reduced as does

not open until 6pm, but some use does take place

between 9 and 10

Greenfield

Community

Centre

3g (small

sized) 1 34

Open

access

all day.

Litter and misuse, overall poor quality. No known

use for formal training, open access all day


Sit

e

Deta

ils

No

of

Pit

ch

es

Cu

rren

t

Carr

yin

g

Cap

acit

y f

or

Co

mm

un

ity

Use

Cu

rren

t

Co

mm

un

ity

Use

Dif

fere

nce

Exte

nt

of

Sp

are

Cap

acit

y

Sp

are

Cap

acit

y f

or

Co

mm

un

ity

(peak

)

Key I

ssu

es

Holy Trinity CE

Primary School

Sand

(small

sized)

1 Not

available 0 0

No issues, no access for community and school

would not be willing to consider allowing access

for cost and security reasons.

Lammack

Community

Primary School

Sand

(small

sized)

1 Not

available 0

Issues with sand on pitch raised by both school

and during site visits. School would not be willing

to consider community use due to poor facility

quality and security issues.

Lucozade

Power League

Soccerdome

3g (small

sized) 11 374 200

Heavily used facilities for both informal leagues

and some use by East Lancs Youth Alliance teams.

Perceived to be expensive as a training resource

but evidence of use by young teams and female

teams. Particular popular on midweek evenings.

St Bedes RC

High School

3g (full

sized) 1 22 16.5 5.5

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

2

Pitch floods due to blocked culvert outside school

grounds. Note site is also currently part of

building site. Pitch busy midweek evenings but

more limited use at weekends and limited

opening hours at weekends. All use of facility is

football

St Michael with

John School

Sand

(small

sized)

1 34 6 28

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

20

Pitch good and well maintained. Site has capacity

for additional use. Used by sports teams,

Blackburn Trust and also known casual use.

Known use is football

St Silas CE

Primary School

3g (small

sized) 1

No

community

use

0 0

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

School indicate that there is potential for

community use although pitch is located on 2nd

floor of school. New facility

St Stephens

AGP

Sand

(small

sized)

1 34 Free

access 0

Facility is open access and cannot be booked.

Predominantly used for casual sport and no

known formal use by clubs.


Sit

e

Deta

ils

No

of

Pit

ch

es

Cu

rren

t

Carr

yin

g

Cap

acit

y f

or

Co

mm

un

ity

Use

Cu

rren

t

Co

mm

un

ity

Use

Dif

fere

nce

Exte

nt

of

Sp

are

Cap

acit

y

Sp

are

Cap

acit

y f

or

Co

mm

un

ity

(peak

)

Key I

ssu

es

St Wilfrids

Community

Leisure Centre

Sand

(small

sized)

18 2 16

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

16

Poor quality facility with limited community use.

Existing known usage is football. Scope to

increase usage but may be hindered by poorer

quality pitch. Some casual use also.

Westholme

School

Sand (Full

sized) 1

No

community

use

0

No floodlights. School indicate that pitch is

occasionally used for hockey at the weekend and

suggest they may be willing to consider

additional community use for hockey.

Witton Country

Park

Sand (Full

sized) 2 68 49 19

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

3

Surface of one pitch poorer than other. Used

predominantly midweek evenings and mainly

football. Hockey usage amounts to circa 3 hours

per week, plus some use of the pitch for hockey

by St Wilfrids and Westholme Schools. Pitch

capacity analysis is slightly misleading, as the

Blackburn Community league plays from 8 -

10pm in each midweek evening (ie partially

outside peak time hours). There is an additional 8

hours available if this is taken into account.

Witton Park

High School

Business &

Enterprise

College

Sand (full

sized) 1 21 15 6

Potentially able to

accommodate some

additional play

-2

Good quality facility that is heavily used by clubs.

Limited availability on midweek evenings, but

availability at weekends. All use is football despite

facility being sand based. Some midweek play

takes place outside of peak times.


The key messages arising from Table 4.10 at a site specific level are as follows;

Westholme School is the only full sized pitch that is not open for community use. This is primarily

for hockey and has no football markings;

the busiest sites are Darwen Aldridge Community Academy, St Bedes RC High School, Witton Park

High School Business & Enterprise College, Blackburn Northern and Darwen Vale High School, all

of whom have less than two hours capacity available midweek and fewer than 10 hours taking into

account weekends. Witton Country Park is also extensively used, particularly by the Blackburn

Community Football League. Notably, the only two full size 3g pitches are both at / approaching

capacity;

Blackburn Central is the only site with a full pitch that has significant availability – this pitch has

only been open a few weeks and has limited use or bookings (in all likelihood because it has just

opened);

with the exception of Darwen Vale High School, Lucozade Soccer Dome and Blackburn Rovers

Community Trust, formal training use of the smaller sized pitches is much more limited than use of

the larger pitches. St Michael with John School and Audley Junior School are both important sites

for community teams, but they have scope to accommodate more use. Several sites offer free

access to their facilities and are also important venues for community activity but again, there is

less use of these facilities for training;

while AGPs are important facilities for club training, much capacity is used by block bookings for

small sided leagues. This is particularly apparent at the majority of full sized pitches, as well as

several smaller pitches. There is also a degree of informal use (ie. non-affiliated informal teams

playing casually for recreation / kickabout); and

although the majority of clubs using AGPs are based in Blackburn, there are several clubs from

outside the borough travelling to use facilities to train. This is apparent at Witton Country Park,

Pleckgate and Darwen Vale High School.

Looking more widely at the adequacy of provision across Blackburn with Darwen it can be seen that;

90% of activity on AGPs at peak times is football. The remaining 10% is hockey, but this is isolated

to two pitches – Blackburn Northern / Pleckgate High School and Witton Country Park. In contrast,

just seven sites are 3g pitches, the surface dedicated to football and only two of these are full sized

taking into account just full sized pitches that are available to the community, peak time capacity is

186 hours, while demand equates to 127 hours. This means that pitches are operating overall at

68% capacity;

all spare capacity exists at weekends however. Across all full sized pitches, there are just 15 hours

available midweek, half of which are located at the new Blackburn Central pitch. It should however

be noted that while it has been assumed that peak hours are up until 9pm, some activity does take

place on sites until 10pm, but is included within calculations. There is therefore likely to be a small

amount of additional availability before 9pm;

Darwen Vale High School (a ¾ sized 3g pitch) also has no further availability midweek; and


while capacity is limited, restricted opening hours perhaps do have a part to play in this. Many

schools do not open until 6pm, meaning that community activity cannot take place before this, and

there are also relatively restricted opening hours on weekends. Use of Pleckgate AGP is restricted

to hockey at weekends as well as Wednesday evenings.

Analysis of the current use of AGPs therefore indicates that;

there is limited spare capacity for additional activity on full size AGPs during the week, with the

majority of full size pitches booked or almost booked out. The only exception to this is Blackburn

Central. This means that there is limited capacity for further football training activity on full size

pitches;

there is however significant scope to increase the amount of activity on pitches at weekends. Only

two pitches however (St Bedes RC High School and Darwen Aldridge Academy) have a surface

appropriate for use in competitive football leagues and;

there is also scope to increase the amount of use of small sized pitches for football.

If participation was to increase significantly therefore, the capacity of existing AGPs may become

constrained (if assumed that new teams would want to train) if all clubs sought to train on full sized

pitches. Significant additional demand could however be accommodated on small pitches. It is important

to emphasise however, that while sand based surfaces are acceptable for football training, 3g surfaces are

more desirable for football.

Sport England Facility Planning Model

Activity on a site by site basis can be compared with theoretical modelling produced by Sport England

through the Facility Planning Model (FPM) 2013. This assessment considers the adequacy of full sized

AGPs based upon nationally agreed parameters and for Blackburn with Darwen shows that;

there is high satisfied demand (97.1% of demand is met);

the used capacity of AGPs across the borough is high (100%) – this suggests that there are limited

opportunities to accommodate additional play at the existing AGPs;

the relative share of pitches is above average (116 compared to the average of 100 across England

and also including adjoining LAs in Scotland and Wales). The relative share of pitches in the south

is slightly lower due to demand being pulled into this area; and

analysis of the geographical distribution of demand indicates that overall, unmet demand is

highest in the south but some demand in these areas is imported from the nearby local authorities

of Bolton and Bury.

Sport England FPM modelling therefore reveals that overall there is a good supply of combined AGPs to

meet current and latent demand (it excludes small sized facilities). It does however support findings

outlined in Table 4.10 which reveal that the used capacity of AGPs is high and that there is limited unused

capacity midweek. More specifically with regards pitches for football (includes 3g pitches only) the model

reveals that;

the supply and demand balance is high;


linked to the high supply and demand balance, satisfied demand is high (99.1%). 24.2% of demand

is however exported, meaning that users are travelling outside of the borough;

while there is low unmet demand overall, the used capacity is high, meaning that sites are full and

with limited scope to increase activity. This may be reflective of high levels of participation in the

area, as the relative share of AGPs is above average (121); and

analysis of the spatial distribution of unmet demand indicates that this is highest in the south,

demand is however being pulled from Bolton and Bury. The relative share of AGPs in the south is

lower than in the rest of the borough.

This modelling therefore suggests that overall, there is a good supply of AGPs. Reflecting the current

situation, it does however indicate that facilities are operating close to capacity.

Club Feedback

There is limited evidence of demand for additional AGPs from clubs, or from local providers. No clubs

indicated that they struggle to access AGPs for training and added to this, no issues were raised with

regards the quality of AGPs.

The main concern highlighted by clubs is the perceived costs associated with using AGPs for training, with

some clubs suggesting that they would prefer to play on floodlit grass for a lower fee. Pitch pricing is

relatively consistent across the district however and is not significantly different from national averages.

Key Issues

The findings of this assessment for AGPs for football and the key issues arising are summarised in Section

9.

.


05

5. Cricket

Introduction

This section evaluates the adequacy of pitches for cricket and provides:

An overview of the supply of cricket pitches across Blackburn with Darwen

An outline of demand for cricket pitches across Blackburn with Darwen


A picture of the adequacy of current provision across Blackburn with Darwen

The future picture of provision for cricket across Blackburn with Darwen.

Cricket in Blackburn with Darwen – An Overview

Pitch Supply

There are 9 sites containing facilities for cricket. This figure includes all known public, private, school and

other pitches whether or not they are in secured community use. Pitches available are summarised in

Table 5.1. Further detail is provided in Appendix A.

Table 5.1 – Cricket Pitches across Blackburn with Darwen

Site Provision Community Use

Status Management

Blacksnape Playing

Fields

3 pitches with non

turf wickets. Site also

used for football

Available for the

Community and Used

Secured community

use

Blackburn with Darwen

Council. Pitches smaller

than ECB guidelines

Cherry Tree Cricket Club one grass square and

no artificial wickets

Available for the

Community and Used

Secured community

use Club

Darwen Cricket Club 1 grass square and 1

non turf wicket

Available for the

Community and Used

Secured community

use Club

East Lancashire Cricket

Club

1 grass square and 2

non turf wickets

Available for the

Community and Used

Secured community

use Club

Edgworth Cricket Club 1 grass square and 2

non turf wickets

Available for the

Community and Used

Secured community

use Club

Pleasington Playing

Fields.

9 non turf wickets.

Site also used for

football

Available for

community use and

used

Secured community

use

Blackburn with Darwen

Council. Pitches smaller

than ECB guidelines

Queen Elizabeth

Grammar School

3 grass squares. Site

also used for football

Not available for

community use N/A Independent School

Sandy Lane 1 grass square. Site


Available for the

Community and Used

Secured community

use Club

War Memorial

Recreation Ground

(Feniscowles and

Pleasington CC)

1 grass square and 1

non turf wicket. Site


Available for the

Community and Used

Secured community

use Club

Westholme School 1 non turf wicket Not available for

community use N/A School

Table 5.1 reveals that;


there are 19 non turf wickets, of which just one is not available for community use. There is

therefore long term security that these facilities will remain available

there are 9 grass squares, 3 of which (33%) are not available for community use – this is a relatively

high proportion

all facilities that are not available for community use are located at school sites – the artificial

wicket is at Westholme School, (who do not offer community use of any facilities), while the three

grass wickets are at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School. Although there is public use of other

facilities at this site, these pitches contain only six strips each and are only prepared during term

time– there is therefore limited scope to increase the stock of facilities available to the community

through use of these sites, at least in the short term

Blackburn with Darwen Council is the main provider of non turf wickets, while all grass pitches open

to the community are located at club bases. With the exception of Cherry Tree CC, all clubs also

have at least one non turf wicket. Although the site at Sandy Lane does not have a non turf wicket,

this site is managed by Darwen CC, who have a non turf wicket at their main site.

In addition to the above pitches, there is one disused artificial wicket at Pleasington Playing Fields. There

is also a former cricket pitch at Pleckgate High School / Blackburn Northern.

While pitches at Darwen CC, East Lancs CC and Edgworth CC are used exclusively for cricket, the

remainder of sites all include football pitches on the outfield. This can add to the wear and tear of pitches

and impact upon the ability to undertake maintenance relating to both football and cricket pitches.

Pitch Quality

The quality of cricket pitches is average overall, with no poor quality facilities. There are however several

site specific quality issues identified and it should be noted that the non-turf wickets based at public pitch

sites do not meet with ECB regulations. The quality issues identified at each site are summarised in

Appendix D and are also referred to later in this section when examining site specific activity.

Cosultation revealed that;

the quality of facilities for training is believed to be the key concern. Training facilities at most sites

were in relatively poor condition and /or limited in function and several sites have uneven carpets and

poor quality training nets – this generates additional wear and tear on grass wickets

The quality of pitch outfields, as well as poor quality changing accommodation is also believed to

be inhibiting demand- Cherry Tree CC, Feniscowles CC and Edgworth CC all believe that

refurbishment to existing changing / pavilion is required within the next five years if clubs are to

continue to attract players

Reflecting the views of clubs, concerns were also raised about a lack of appropriate cricket pitches

for the weekend and midweek cricket leagues. There is felt to be considerable potential to increase

the amount of play in these leagues and it is suggested that to some extent, facilities are inhibiting

growth in the sport.

There are also concerns about the cross over in season between cricket and football and the limitations

that this places upon the maintenance programme. There are several sites that accommodate both cricket

and football, but issues are primarily apparent in relation to pitches managed by the Borough Council.

Demand



The Sport England Active People Survey and Market Segmentation data provides an understanding of

participation in cricket and latent demand for cricket. Full details are provided in Appendix E, but the key

messages arising are;

the participants in cricket in Blackburn with Darwen are those that are nationally most likely to play

(Jamie, Tim, Kev and Ben) and participation is geographically even. There is limited participation by

female groups; and

analysis of latent demand suggests that only 60% of the total population that would like to play

cricket currently play, indicating that there is potential to increase participation. The latent demand

is from residents in the same market segments as those that currently play and is geographically

even. Despite low levels of current participation, there is limited interest in playing cricket from

female residents. This suggests that efforts to increase participation should target those of similar

characteristics that do play.

Current Participation

Table 5.2 summarises the cricket teams that are playing within Blackburn with Darwen. There are a total

of 76 cricket teams playing in the area and that cricket is dominated by senior participation, with 66% of

teams being open aged male teams. Despite lower levels of junior play, recent seasons have seen a small

increase in the number of junior teams. This contrasts with a slight decline in adult participation.

Table 5.2 – Cricket Teams in Blackburn with Darwen


Number of teams

in age group within

the area

Cricket Open Age Mens (18-55yrs) 50

Cricket Open Age Womens (18-55yrs) 1

Cricket Junior Boys (7-18yrs) 25

Cricket Junior Girls (7-18yrs) 0

Cricket Open Age Mens (18-55yrs) 50

Appendix A provides further details of teams and the leagues in which they play. It is clear however that

cricket in Blackburn with Darwen is divided into two forms of the game:

Club Based Cricket: 51% of teams are based within five cricket clubs, all of whom own and manage their

own facilities and play in leagues affiliated to the England and Wales Cricket Board, specifically;

Cherry Tree CC (3 senior and 5 junior teams)

Darwen CC (5 senior teams including 1 ladies, and 4 junior teams)

East Lancs CC (3 senior and 5 junior teams)

Edgworth CC (3 senior and 3 junior teams)

Feniscowles and Pleasington CC (3 senior and 5 junior teams)

Non Turf Wicket Leagues: The remaining teams play in leagues that are unaffiliated to the England and

Wales Cricket Board as follows;

Blackburn Midweek Cricket League (plays Monday to Thursday)

Blackburn and District Amateur Weekend Cricket League (play Saturday and Sunday – divisions

alternate days each weekend).

These leagues are reliant on venues provided by Blackburn with Darwen Council (primarily at Pleasington

Playing Fields with use of Blacksnape Playing Fields for overspill).


Representative Teams

All clubs are members of the Blackburn with Darwen Cricket Development Group and work together to

grow cricket in the borough. Representative teams are run for juniors selected from each of the clubs.

These teams rotate home fixtures across the different pitches and place additional wear and tear on the

wickets. It is not however possible to accurately attribute their play to a specific site for analysis purposes.

Training Needs

The majority of teams playing in the midweek and weekend cricket leagues either play in both leagues,

do not train, or train indoors on occasion.

Clubs primarily use indoor training nets during the winter months. Training outdoors takes place on

artificial wickets and in training nets at the club base during the summer. Cherry Tree Cricket Club is the

only exception to this – they use a small tarmac area at the edge of the outfield for training due to a lack

of facilities. Outside of indoor facilities (which are considered difficult to access), the need for training

facilities is therefore confined to the club base.

Educational Demand

Demand for formal cricket pitches is much less evident from the education sector than other sports. While

many primary schools play cricket and have cricket teams, this is primarily kwik cricket played indoors or

on the playground. The Chance to Shine Programme, which brings cricket back into primary schools and

seeks to create strong links between schools and clubs has however been particularly successful and may

have contributed to the small increase in junior cricket participation.

There is greater evidence of ad hoc use of cricket grounds by schools including Westholme School, St

Wilfrids, Darwen Aldridge Academy and St Bedes RC Catholic High School. All cricket clubs indicate that

they occasionally allow schools to use their facilities, usually free of charge. Links between schools and

clubs include;

East Lancashire Cricket Club – links with Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, St Silas Primary School,

Sacred Heart Primary School and Westholme School

Darwen CC – links with Darwen Aldridge Academy, St Edwards Church of England School and St

Pauls Church of England School

Cherry Tree CC – links with St Wilfrids School and St Bedes

Feniscowles and Pleasington CC – facilities used ad hoc by schools.

The strong links with clubs mean that schools see only limited requirement for cricket pitches on site and

only Pleckgate High School expressed an interest in developing a cricket pitch. School use of club bases

does however restrict overall capacity for community use.

Casual Demand

There is limited informal use of cricket pitches and many of the grounds are private property. Some sites

do however receive informal use, which can impact upon the quality of the wicket and cause damage to

the surface. The timing of the cricket season means that informal use is higher than for other sports. Sites

receiving informal use are facilities owned and managed by the Council (Pleasington Playing Fields and

Blacksnape Playing Fields) and Sandy Lane (Darwen Cricket Club) and Feniscowles and Pleasington War

Memorial Ground. Pleasington Playing Fields in particular, frequently suffers from problems caused by

recreational use of the wickets.

Assessing the Supply and Demand Information and Views


The adequacy of facilities for cricket is measured by comparing the amount of wickets available against

the level of use of these wickets. This is considered firstly at a site specific level and then information and

issues are compiled in order to present a Boroughwide picture.

For cricket, unlike other pitch sports, the capacity of a pitch is measured on a season rather than weekly

basis and is primarily determined by the number and quality of wickets on a pitch. Play is rotated

throughout the season across the number of wickets on a pitch to reduce wear and allow for repair and

each wicket can accommodate a certain amount of play per season.

As a guide, the ECB suggests that a good quality wicket should be able to take:

5 matches per season per grass wicket (adults);

7 matches per season per grass wicket (juniors);

60 matches per season per non turf wicket (adults); and

80 matches per season per non turf wicket (juniors).

Demand is therefore measured in terms of the number of home games that each team will play per

season.


Based upon the above parameters, Table 5.3 provides an overview of site specific activity for each of the

pitches that are offer community use in Blackburn with Darwen. Full details of teams playing at each site

can be found in Appendix A. It should be noted that where teams fluctuate between one or more sites,

assumptions have been made based upon consultation in order to provide as accurate a picture as

possible of play at each site.

Table 5.3 clearly indicates that all facilities offering community use are well used and the majority of

pitches are able to accommodate more play. The key pressure points in terms of the amount of facilities

are focused upon club based cricket, while the quality of facilities has a greater impact upon the

unaffiliated cricket teams.

Reflecting analysis relating to quality earlier in this section, site specific analysis demonstrates that there

are quality concerns at almost all sites, primarily in relation to training facilities and that longer term,

quality issues may start to inhibit pitch capacity.


61

Table 5.3 – Site Specific Usage

Site Pitch

Type

No of

Wickets Quality

Home

Game

s Per

Seaso

n

Cricket

(Use per

Grass

Wicket)

Comparison Key Issues and Views

Blacksnape Playing

Fields

Non Turf

Cricket

Wicket

3 Standard 0 0

Potentially able to

accommodate

some additional

play

Site used as an overspill site for the midweek and weekend cricket leagues.

Facilities are of higher quality than pitches at Pleasington, but the benefits of using

just one venue for the league, as well as the location of pitches at Blacksnape

(exposed to the elements) mean that pitches at Pleasington are preferred. Pitches

are therefore able to accommodate higher levels of play than they currently take.

Outfields are small (and do not meet with ECB guidelines) and the pitches would

benefit from levelling. Pitches are however good and functional for the purpose

that they currently serve.

Cherry Tree Cricket

Club

Grass

Cricket 16 Standard 63

3.9375

(league

matches

). 7.66

taking

into

account

other

matches

Potentially able to

accommodate

some additional

play

Important site for local club. Site of average quality and potentially able to

accommodate more play. The club report 122 matches actually took place last

season , including cup matches and school matches. This would mean wicket use

was over level recommended. The lack of appropriate training facilities (no artificial

wicket and poor quality grass training facility) restricts training and sometimes

means that on pitch training is balanced with match play. Aspirations to increase

the number of teams at the club (to redress recent declines in membership

numbers) would place extra pressures on the square. While the quality of the wicket

is sufficient to meet current demand, the club believe that they do not have

appropriate equipment for maintenance and there are therefore concerns about the

long term sustainability of the facility. The poor quality changing accommodation

and pavilion also impact upon the clubs ability to attract players.

Darwen Cricket Club

Grass

Cricket 15 Good 33 2.2

Potentially able to

accommodate

some additional

play

Primary site of Darwen Cricket Club. Usage lower than other club sites as play

distributed between first and second ground. Current levels of play, as well as

aspirations to increase the number of junior teams, mean that both pitches are

required to sustain existing and current participation, but that goals can be

achieved within the clubs existing infrastructure. While the overall quality of the

facility is good (and the highest in Blackburn with Darwen), surveys have revealed

that there are some immediate quality issues that need to be addressed (thatching).

In addition, while the current maintenance programme is perceived to be good, the

club indicate that they are struggling to fund the required programme of

maintenance. Training facilities are also in poor condition and require replacement.

Non Turf

Cricket

Wicket

1 Good 0 0

Potentially able to

accommodate

some additional


Site Pitch

Type

No of

Wickets Quality

Home

Game

s Per

Seaso

n

Cricket

(Use per

Grass

Wicket)


play

Sandy Lane (Darwen

Cricket Club Second

Site)

Grass

Cricket 8 Standard 42 5.25

Being played to

the level the site

can sustain

Second ground of Darwen CC. Of lower quality than other site but accommodates

lots of junior fixtures as well as overspill adult fixtures from the main site. Important

site for the club. Location in public playing field / recreation area means that site

experiences unofficial use, however good maintenance programmes are still applied

to this site. As with the first team ground, the ongoing sustainability of the

maintenance programme remains a key challenge.

East Lancashire

Cricket Club

Grass

Cricket 16 Standard 64 4

Potentially able to

accommodate

some additional

play

While site is theoretically able to accommodate some additional play, significant

drainage problems caused by an old drainage system are currently impacting upon

the ability to sustain current matches. Adding to this, training facilities are limited

and in poor condition and the artificial wicket is uneven and requires improvement

to bring it up to the necessary standard

Non Turf

Cricket

Wicket

1 Poor 0 0

Potentially able to

accommodate

some additional

play

Edgworth Cricket

and Recreation Club

Grass

Cricket

7 and

2

junior

tracks

Standard 51 5.66 Being overplayed

Facility being overplayed. Wicket quality is standard and there is evidence of high

levels of use on some wickets, perhaps reflecting the high levels of play at the site

for the size of the square. Pitch condition has improved this year, as a result of

significant investment in out of season maintenance by the club. The Club have

further aspirations to increase number of junior teams by 1 - 2 teams over next 3

years, meaning that there will be greater pressures on the wickets. Further club

growth may be inhibited by the facilities available. The artificial wickets are standard

to poor and require replacing and the training nets also require replacing. Adding

to this, the club believe that their changing accommodation requires refurbishment

within the next five years.

Non Turf

Cricket

Wicket

2 Standard

Pleasington Playing

Fields

Non Turf

Cricket

Wicket

9 Standard 252 28

Potentially able to

accommodate

some additional

play

Site is main venue for both midweek and weekend cricket leagues as well as being

the primary venue for football in Blackburn with Darwen. This means that there is

little opportunity for rest and recovery in between sporting seasons. Artificial

wickets mean that site is able to sustain high levels of play and the main pressures

on the site arise from the need to accommodate several matches at one time, rather

than the capacity of the wickets across the season. Outfields are small (below

guideline sizes although they are acceptable to the leagues using the facilities).

Although there are 10 pitches on site, quality issues mean that use of these wickets

is uneven, and some pitches are hardly used during the season. This impacts upon

the number of matches that can be played and the quality issues experienced also

hinders the enjoyment of those playing. Specific pitches suffer from different issues,

but in general, the carpets are fit for purpose (and replaced on a rolling


Site Pitch

Type

No of

Wickets Quality

Home

Game

s Per

Seaso

n

Cricket

(Use per

Grass

Wicket)


programme) but the outfields are dangerously uneven and suffering from poor

drainage in parts. In addition, some pitches are located adjacent to the river and /

or undergrowth and there are no nets preventing balls from getting lost. The poor

quality of several pitches (and the subsequent lack of use of these facilities) means

that there is a need to consider the potential improvement and / or reconfiguration

of the site in order to ensure that participation in cricket is not negatively impacted.

Many of the issues identified for cricket are similar to those impacting upon the site

for football.

War Memorial

Recreation Ground

(Feniscowles Sports

and Social Club)

Grass

Cricket 11 Good 59

5.36363

6364 Being played to

the level the site

can sustain

The amount of play on the site is currently appropriate for the quality of the wicket,

however further increases in participation at the club may see pressures increase

and the growth of the club may be inhibited in years to come. The site is also

heavily used for football during the winter months, meaning that there are few

opportunities for rest and recovery. There are no immediate quality concerns, with

the main areas for improvement being an uneven outfield. The site also suffers from

ad hoc unofficial use as a result of its status as a public recreation area. Non turf

cricket wicket is of good quality and used largely for training.

Non Turf

Cricket

Wicket

1 Good 0 0


Current Picture of Provision

The site overviews set out in Table 5.3 can be used to develop an overall picture of provision. All sites that

are available for community use have secured access and community cricket is therefore not reliant upon

any unsecured facilities.

To evaluate cricket in the way that most reflects how it is played, the adequacy of provision for club based

cricket and then unaffiliated cricket is considered separately as there is currently no interaction between

the two forms of the game in the borough.

Club Based Cricket

With the exception of Cherry Tree CC, most training takes place on non-turf wickets and the grass wickets

are therefore only required to sustain competitive fixtures.

Table 5.4 builds upon the site specific overviews and outlines the amount of play that can be sustained at

each club base, and based upon the existing usage, provides an indication of the spare capacity. Unlike

Table 5.3, Table 5.4 also takes into account the proportion of demand from junior and senior teams to

accurately identify the degree of spare capacity / overplay. Capacity at Darwen Cricket Club and Sandy

Lane are considered together, as these sites are used interchangeably. All play is assumed to take place

on grass wickets.

Table 5.4 – Remaining Capacity at Cricket Sites that are available for community use

Site

Curren

t

Wicket

s

Current

Capacity

Comm

unity

Use

Wickets

Needed

to

Sustain

Adult

Matches

(5 games

per

wicket)

Wickets

needed

to

sustain

junior

play (7

games

per

wicket)

Wickets

not

used if

all

wickets

sustain

maximu

m

capacity

Total Spare

Capacity

Cherry

Tree

Cricket

Club

16 80 - 112

matches 63

Potential to

sustain more

play

7 4 5

25 senior

fixtures or 35

junior matches.

(Note club

report

additional use

of pitch by

schools took

total to 122

matches). If this

remains

consistent there

is no spare

capacity at this

site

Darwen

Cricket

Club

23 115 - 161

matches 90

Potential to

sustain more

play

9.6 6 7.4

37 senior

fixtures or 49

junior matches

East

Lancashire

Cricket

Club

16 80 - 112

matches 64

Potential to

sustain more

play

6.4 4.571429 5.028571

25 senior

fixtures or 35

junior matches


Edgworth

Cricket

Club

7 senior

and 2

junior

49 matches 51 Overplayed 7.8 1.714286 -0.51429

Overplayed

(although

artificial used as

overspill)

War

Memorial

Recreation

Ground

11 55 - 77

matches 59

Operating at

the level that

can be

sustained

6 4.142857 0.857143

Less than 5

adult fixtures or

7 junior fixtures

Table 5.4 therefore reinforces the message portrayed by Table 5.3 and indicates that in total across

Blackburn with Darwen, at club bases, there is capacity for an additional 92 adult matches, or 126 junior

matches on grass wickets (although there is a small amount of overuse at Edgworth CC equating to 1.5

wickets, meaning that overall spare capacity would be reduced to 85 adult fixtures if this overuse was to

be relocated). In more detail;

Cherry Tree Cricket Club, Darwen Cricket Club and East Lancashire Cricket Club all have capacity to

accommodate additional fixtures. All three sites would be able to accommodate approximately two

further adult teams, although it should be reiterated that this excludes ad hoc use of facilities. Cherry

Tree CC report that 122 matches were hosted last year. If this level of play is consistent each year,

there is no further capacity at this site. Both East Lancs CC and Darwen CC however have immediate

quality issues which if not addressed, may impact upon short and longer term capacity. These are;

East Lancs CC - drainage may begin to impact upon site capacity and to cause cancellations of

matches unless these are rectified, practice facilities are also of poor quality

Darwen CC - thatching

The highest levels of spare capacity are at Darwen Cricket Club who have two sites – both sites are

required to accommodate the number of teams that play at the same time, as well as play across the

season.

Capacity at Edgworth CC is restricted and one junior team are already using the artificial wicket due

to a lack of availability of grass strips. Added to this, wickets require repair and artificial wicket

quality and training facilities are also poor;

Feniscowles and Pleasington CC are also operating the number of games that the site can sustain.

This site suffers from an uneven outfield and pressures are exacerbated by the fact that the site is also

used for football (and is overplayed during the football season).

Reflecting the findings of site specific analysis to a degree, no comments were raised during consultation

with regards the amount of grass pitches that are available for competitive club based play and only East

Lancashire Cricket Club indicated that the amount of wickets available to them may constrain club growth

in the longer term.

As reflected in site specific analysis, there were however concerns raised with regards the lack of facilities

of appropriate quality for training – this was raised by all of the clubs as well as by the local cricket

development officer and other representatives of cricket in the borough. Concerns relating to the amount

of non-turf wickets for competitive fixtures also focus primarily upon the quality of these facilities rather

than the amount of wickets that are available

Map 5.1 illustrates the spare capacity available. It illustrates that while two sites are at or approaching

capacity, the three sites able to sustain more play are evenly distributed across the borough.


Map 5.1 – Spare Capacity at Club Based Cricket Pitches


It should be noted however that while the amount of grass wickets at club bases is sufficient overall, the

poor quality of training facilities impacts upon the quality and levels of use of many of the club based

cricket facilities and is perhaps more limiting than the availability of grass wickets currently. Cherry Tree

CC do not have any training facilities, meaning that the club must either improvise or use match facilities.

There are also quality issues relating to the clubhouses at existing sites, which might impact upon the

attractiveness of the club.

While there are non-turf wickets at public sites, these facilities do not meet with ECB guidelines, meaning

that they are not suitable for use by the affiliated clubs.

Unaffiliated Cricket

The Blackburn Midweek League and Weekend League use non turf wickets at Pleasington Playing Fields

and Blacksnape Playing Fields. There is no relationship between these leagues and the clubs and

therefore no use of their facilities.

Table 5.5 outlines the capacity of pitches at Pleasington Playing Fields and Blacksnape Playing Fields. The

sites have been combined as they are used interchangeably by the league.

Table 5.5 – Pitch availability – Artificial Wickets at Public Sites

Site Current

Wickets

Current

Capacity

Community

Use Comparison

Total Spare

Capacity

Pleasington and

Blacksnape 12 720 486

Potential to

sustain more

play

234 adult

fixtures

The pitches at Pleasington Playing Fields and Blacksnape Playing Fields are theoretically able to

accommodate an additional 234 fixtures. There are however several factors that influence the use of these

facilities and mean that not all pitches can be used at the same time;

Pleasington Playing Fields - Small outfields (below guideline sizes although they are acceptable to

the leagues using the facilities). Specific pitches suffer from different issues, but in general, the

carpets are fit for purpose (and replaced on a rolling programme) but the outfields are dangerously

uneven and suffering from poor drainage in parts. In addition, some pitches are located adjacent to

the river and / or undergrowth and there are no nets preventing balls from getting lost. Many of

the issues identified for cricket at this site also impact upon football use of the site

Blacksnape - outfields are small (do not meet guidelines but are acceptable to the leagues using

the facilities) and pitches are exposed. Would benefit from levelling;

While most of the above issues do not impact upon the ability of the grounds to sustain competitive

fixtures, the varying quality of pitches at Pleasington Playing Fields mean that in practice, not all pitches

are fully utilised and there are greater pressures on the pitches that are deemed to be better quality.

Indeed, some pitches are rarely used (for a variety of reasons but primarily drainage, surface of the

outfield, size of boundaries and location adjacent to rivers) meaning that use of the wickets exceeds

recommended levels on the busier pitches and the overall capacity of the site is impacted. At least 2

pitches are actively avoided by the leagues and the poor condition of some facilities therefore

compromises the facilities that are provided. The location of Blacksnape Playing Fields and the preference

of the leagues to focus all activity on one site however means that the majority of play takes place at

Pleasington and there are much lower levels of use at Blacksnape. The lack of appropriate pitches may

start to inhibit demand if not addressed, as there is little capacity to increase play at Pleasington Playing


Fields without the use of the poor quality facilities. There is however scope for the reconfiguration of

pitches at the site and an opportunity to make better use of the space.

Displaced Demand

There is no evidence of displaced demand for competitive cricket (either affiliated or unaffiliated) – all

teams are currently accommodated at their preferred grounds.

Latent and Unmet Demand

Active People analysis outlined earlier in this section highlights the potential to increase the amount of

cricket players by up to 40% and some unmet / latent demand was also identified through consultation

with current participants;

the midweek and weekend cricket leagues believe that the current stock of pitches (which is

impacted by quality issues that mean that not all pitches can be used at the same time) restricts

league capacity. Although numbers have reduced this year due to the timing of Ramadan, the

league turned down four teams due to a lack of appropriate pitches during 2012 – 2013. There is a

perception that improved pitches would stimulate and facilitate a further increase in participation;

Cherry Tree Cricket Club also believe that dated changing and practice facilities are impacting upon

the clubs ability to attract players and again suggest that improvements would stimulate additional

demand for pitches; and

East Lancashire Cricket Club believe that the growth potential of the club is now limited, due to the

number of fixtures played at the site and the lack of space to accommodate further teams, as well

as a shortage of coaches and volunteers.

Quality of facilities is therefore considered to be the primary cause of unmet demand.


Population growth will impact upon demand for pitch provision, as well as changes in participation trends

and amendments to the existing facility stock.

These issues are considered in turn in order to build an accurate picture of future demand.

Population Change


generate one team. By applying TGRs to population projections, we can project the theoretical number of

teams that would be generated from population growth and gain an understanding of future demand.

Table 5.7 summarises the current TGRs for cricket and uses them to evaluate the potential impact of

projected changes to the population profile on demand. It reveals that population growth and changes to

the population profile will result in;

a small decrease in the number of people aged between 18-55, the age groups that typically play

senior cricket up to 2021. As such, participation is likely to remain in line with current levels. By

2026, there may be an increase of up to 1 team; and

an increase in the number of people aged between 7 and 18, leading to growth in participation

equivalent to just over 1 team by 2021 and almost 2 teams by 2026.

Table 5.7 – Impact of Changes to the Population Profile


Sport and Age

Groups

Current

population

in age

group

within the

area

Current

TGR

Future

population

in age group

within the

area (2021)

Future

population

in age

group

within the

area

(2026)

Current

TGR

Potential

Change in

Team

Numbers

in Age

Group

(Number

of Teams)

Current -

2021

Potential

Change

in Team

Numbers

in Age

Group

(Number

of

Teams)

Current -

2026

Cricket Open Age

Mens (18-55yrs)

50 38266 765 37980 38800 765 -0.37 0.70

Cricket Open Age

Womens (18-55yrs)

1 37474 37474 36326 37111 37474 -0.031 -0.01

Cricket Junior Boys

(7-18yrs)

25 12928 517 13547 13840 517 1.2 1.76

Cricket Junior Girls

(7-18yrs)

0 12047 0 12663 12937 0 0 0!

In terms of pitch requirements, this would result in;

demand for senior cricket pitches remaining relatively stable; and

a requirement to accommodate 8 – 10 additional matches per season (junior matches) by 2021 and

potentially up to 20 matches by 2026.

Based upon calculations set out in Tables 5.3 – 5.6, this level of requirement could be accommodated

within the existing pitch stock.

It should be noted however that this assumes that the overall make up of the population remains static

and in line with current figures. Figures reveal that much population growth in the younger age groups is

occurring in those that are of Asian origin. These groups are currently very active in cricket and this may

have an impact upon the accuracy of the use of TGRs as a means of projecting future demand – there is

potential that in reality, demand may increase at a rate faster than TGRs suggest if pitch provision does

not inhibit capacity.

Participation Trends– Impact on Pitches

Changes in participation may perhaps have the most significant impact upon future demand for cricket

pitches. Analysis of recent trends in participation reveals the following;

Club Based Participation: four out of five clubs indicate that they have experienced recent growth in

junior cricket and increasing demand for pitches. In contrast, adult participation has been much more

mixed, with Feniscowles CC increasing membership, Darwen CC creating a new ladies team while other

clubs declined or remained static.

The stabilising of cricket, and the increasing challenge of attracting participants means that the Lancashire

Cricket Board are focusing upon a strategy of retaining existing players and supporting increased

participation where opportunities arise. They are seeking to address many of the issues currently facing

cricket, including the ageing volunteer base and to support clubs to become more sustainable. In

recognition of changing lifestyle patterns and the challenges of 50 over cricket, the England Cricket Board

are now seeking to introduce alternative forms of the game, including Last Man Standing and T20. These


are similar in format to the midweek and weekend leagues and offer people who are unable to participate

in full matches shorter forms of the game.

The cricket board therefore currently has an overall focus on player retention and is not anticipating

significant growth in club based cricket, instead highlighting potential to grow more informal forms of the

game.

Reflecting this, sustainability was highlighted as a key concern by several cricket clubs across the

borough. Rising costs associated with maintenance and management of their sites, coupled with

challenges attracting players mean that the long term future of cricket is under threat.

Unaffiliated leagues: Although the number of teams competing in the midweek and weekend leagues

has decreased this year (this is attributed to the timing of Ramadan and the difficulties that this presents

with competing in physical activity) prior to this season, there has been an increase in participation and

both leagues are at or reaching capacity, with further teams having approached the leagues to join.

This suggests that if quality / capacity issues are addressed, there may be particular scope for growth of

these leagues and a consequential impact upon demand for facilities.

Despite initial policies of retention, most clubs, as well as the informal leagues have expressed aspirations

to grow and many have development plans in place. These aspirations will impact both on the need for

facilities across Blackburn with Darwen as a whole but also more locally at a site specific level. The

localised nature of the clubs and the fact that they all play at home bases means that it is possible to

attribute demand to sites.

Table 5.8 summarises specific aspirations for growth and outlines the potential overall and site specific

impact of this growth. It also considers the ability of each site to accommodate the potential growth,

based upon the capacity calculations set out earlier in this section. It assumes that a junior team will play

on average 8 home games per season, while a senior team will play 12 home matches (based on current

averages).

Table 5.8 –Club Specific Growth Aspirations

Club Aspirations

Potential

Impact

Capacity to accommodate

Club

based Cherry Tree

Cricket Club

Aspirations to

increase number

of junior teams by

3

24 matches Yes, but limited remaining capacity (less than 10

junior matches)

Feniscowles

Cricket Club

No stated

aspirations for

growth 0 No capacity for growth

Darwen

Cricket Club

Additional mens

team and junior

team 20 matches

Scope to accommodate these aspirations. Some

(limited) remaining capacity

East

Lancashire

Cricket Club

No stated

aspirations 0 Scope to accommodate additional play

Edgworth CC Additional 1 - 2

16 matches

No. Pitch already at capacity. Artificial wicket

could be used


junior teams

Public

Playing

Fields

Midweek

Cricket

League

Estimate 4 teams

24 matches

Yes but availability of pitches of appropriate

quality may however restrict growth if existing

issues are not addressed)

Weekend

Cricket

League

Estimate 4 teams

36 matches

Yes but greater pressures on peak time demand

as number of teams increases. Availability of

pitches of appropriate quality may however

restrict growth if existing issues are not

addressed.

Table 5.8 demonstrates that there is capacity to accommodate growth aspirations at all clubs that are not

already at capacity. Further increases (or levels greater than that suggested through the application of

TGRs) may however mean that capacity is restricted. Edgworth CC and Feniscowles CC are sustaining

levels of play appropriate to their capacity, meaning that there is little opportunity for growth at these

clubs.


Pleckgate High School have expressed an interest in the reinstatement of the former Blackburn Northern

cricket pitch (located on their school site). If this was to go ahead, it would provide an additional grass

facility which could be used by the school as well as by either an existing or new club or academy.

Summary and Key Issues

The key issues for cricket are therefore set out in Section 9.


06

6. Rugby

Introduction

This section evaluates the adequacy of pitches for rugby and provides:

An overview of the supply of rugby pitches across Blackburn with Darwen

An outline of demand for rugby pitches across Blackburn with Darwen



The future picture of provision for rugby across Blackburn with Darwen

Rugby in Blackburn with Darwen – An Overview

Pitch Supply

There are 8 grass rugby pitches at 3 sites across Blackburn with Darwen. Seven out of eight pitches are in

secured community use but there are no public pitches - the only facilities are owned and managed by

the rugby club and independent schools. All three sites are located in Blackburn – there is no provision

for rugby in Darwen.

Table 6.1 summarises the pitches and also outlines the quality ratings that these sites have been awarded.

Further detail is provided in Appendix A.

Table 6.1 – Rugby Pitches across Blackburn with Darwen

Site Name

Total

Rugby

Pitches Accessibility

Security of

Access

Pitch

Quality

Rating Feedback

Blackburn

RUFC 5

Available to

the community

and used

Secured

Community

Use

Main pitch

good, pitches

2 – 4 standard

and poor

quality training

pitch

Detailed maintenance regime but

ageing equipment and poor

clubhouse / changing

accommodation. Pitch quality

influenced by heavy use (detailed later

in this section).

Queen

Elizabeth

Grammar

School

2

Available to

the community

but not used

Secured

Community Good

Good facilities although some

drainage issues during periods of

heavy rain

Westholme

School 1

Not available

to the

community

N/A Good New pitch with new equipment.

Maintained by dedicated groundsman

Demand



The Active People Survey measures participation and provides an indication of the types of people that

play the sport and the potential latent demand. This analysis reveals that;

the key participants in rugby are those that also play other pitch sports, specifically Jamie, Ben,

Tim and Kev. Leanne is the only female with a participation profile in rugby. Reflecting the

distribution of pitches (which are focused in Blackburn) analysis suggests that participation is

higher in Blackburn than in the south of the borough (Darwen); and

there is a degree of latent demand identified, with 21% of the total potential rugby playing

population not currently participating. Latent demand is focused in the same groups that currently

play. There is however evidence of a small amount of interest in participating from residents in

older age groups (Phil and Terry) and this may represent an opportunity to expand club

membership.

Further details are provided in Appendix E.

Actual Participation

There is only one rugby club in Blackburn with Darwen running a total of 16 teams across all age groups

and therefore providing the full spectrum of development opportunities. Table 6.2 outlines the teams run,

as well as the number of match equivalents that teams generate per week. This is based upon the

assumption that each team will play alternate home and away games, and also takes into account the

shorter games and use of only part of the full size pitch by midi rugby teams (in line with guidance

provided by the RFU).

Table 6.2– Rugby Teams in Blackburn with Darwen


Number of teams in

age group within the

area

Match Equivalents

Per Week

Rugby Union Senior Men (19-45yrs) 4 2

Rugby Union Senior Women (19-45yrs) 0 0

Rugby Union Youth Boys (13-18yrs) 4 2

Rugby Union Youth Girls (13-18yrs) 0 0

Rugby Union Mini/Midi Mixed (7-12yrs) 6 0.75

The Blackburn RUFC site is also home to the Lancashire Wolverines American Football Team during the

summer months. This club, who are part of the Lancashire Academy of American Football, run two senior

and two colts teams. The site is also used on an ad hoc basis for other purposes, including representative

matches, tournaments and coaching.

Training Needs

All training takes place at the club base, primarily on the 5th

pitch, the only pitch floodlit for this purpose.

The pitch is also used weekly for training by a representative Lancashire U18 team. Training is equivalent

to up to 5 matches per week (including the use of the pitch by the Lancashire U18 team) which has a

significant impact upon the overall capacity of the facility and more specifically the wear and tear on this

pitch.


Educational Demand

Reflecting the lack of rugby pitches at school sites, there is limited participation in rugby within secondary

schools currently and as a consequence, the club indicate that recruiting players can be challenging. This

may also explain the degree of latent demand. Rugby is currently played at Queen Elizabeth Grammar

School, St Wilfrids and Westholme Schools within Blackburn and it is hoped that the introduction of a

new rugby pitch at Darwen Vale School will increase the amount of rugby played there.

To maintain membership numbers, the club therefore have developed strong links with Blackburn

College, University of Central Lancashire and Myerscough College (both Preston) and seek to gain new

players through these links. Several primary schools within Blackburn are now playing Tag Rugby and it is

hoped that this may also increase future demand for rugby. There is no use of the club base for rugby by

schools and likewise, the club do not use any school facilities.

Casual Demand

Although it is a private site, the playing fields are used by some for casual recreational purposes and this

has led to issues with dog fouling. The impact is not sufficiently large to reduce the capacity of pitches,

but does affect pitch quality and the player experience.


For rugby, the supply of pitches and the demand for pitches is measured through the use of match

equivalents to ensure that a comparison is possible. To fully understand activity on a site, consideration is

given to both;

the adequacy of pitch provision over the course of a week; and

capacity of a site to meet additional demand at peak time.

For rugby, this analysis is based upon the following principles;

Capacity over the course of a week

The RFU sets a standard number of match equivalent sessions that natural grass pitches should be able to

sustain without adversely affecting their current quality (pitch carrying capacity). This is based upon the

drainage system installed at the site and the maintenance programme used to prepare the pitches. The

guideline theoretical capacity for rugby pitches is summarised in Table 6.3.

Table 6.3 – Theoretical Pitch Capacity Ratings (RFU)

Maintenance

Poor (M0) Standard (M1) Good (M2)

Dra

inag

e

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


Based upon the installed drainage and the maintenance regime applied, pitches at Blackburn RUFC are

classified as M1/D2 and can therefore sustain 2.5 games per pitch.

Peak Time Demand

To identify spare capacity at peak time, the number of match equivalent sessions at peak time is

measured against the number of match equivalent sessions available. In Blackburn, all activity except

senior participation is focused on Sundays as follows:

Senior mens rugby union - Saturday PM

Youth rugby union - Sunday AM

Mini/midi rugby union - Sunday AM

U18-U19 yrs ‘Colts’ rugby union –Sunday PM

Table 6.4 therefore provides a summary of activity at each site (excluding Westholme School, which is not

available for community use). At first glance, it indicates that

Pitches at Blackburn RUFC are relatively heavily used and may suffer deterioration in quality as a

result of this over the longer term. In general, pitches at the club base are sustaining the level of

activity that their quality suggests they should be

Match play is spread across the weekend and there is availability at peak time, with capacity to

accommodate an additional 2 matches per week

There is scope to accommodate additional use on pitches at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School.

Table 6.4 however reveals that while pitch provision at Blackburn RUFC is sufficient to meet demand

overall, this is not as clear cut, as there is an inbalance between training activity and match play. In reality,

all training activity is focused on pitch 5 and this pitch consequently experiences significant overuse, while

the remaining four pitches accommodate levels of play that they are more than able to sustain. This is

summarised in Table 6.5 and explains the poor quality of the training pitch in comparison to other

pitches.

There is therefore additional capacity to accommodate ad hoc use of the match pitches for tournaments

and representative games but concerns over the impact of the high amount of play on pitch 5. This issue

was also raised by the rugby club, who believe that training could be better accommodated by an on site

AGP which would not be impacted by high usage in the same way that the grass pitches are.

The club also indicate that while they believe the quality of other existing pitches is adequate, there

remains scope to improve them further. The changing accommodation is however poor and the ceiling

has recently collapsed and is need of significant investment. The clubhouse also requires a programme of

investment to bring it up to required standards.


76

Table 6.4 – Site Specific Usage at each site

Sit

e

Co

mm

un

ity U

se

Cate

go

ry

Qu

ali

ty

Cu

rren

t C

arr

yin

g

Cap

acit

y f

or

Co

mm

un

ity U

se

Cu

rren

t C

om

mu

nit

y

Use

Dif

fere

nce

Co

mp

ari

son

Exte

nt

of

an

y S

pare

Cap

acit

y f

or

Co

mm

un

ity U

se

Du

rin

g t

he P

eak

Peri

od

Key I

ssu

es

an

d

Vie

ws

Queen

Elizabeth's

Grammar School

Playing Fields

(QEGS)

Available

for

communit

y use but

not used

(Secured)

Good 2 0 2

Potentiall

y able to

accomm

odate

some

additiona

l play

Pitch not used at all at

weekend - can

accommodate peak

period play

Pitch used for curricular purposes only. Existing levels of

play by the school mean that there is limited scope to

provide community use, although the pitches are

available for rent. Up to two matches per week could be

accommodated and pitches are not used at all over the

weekend (peak periods). Pitch quality is good, although

some recent issues with a rising water table mean that

drainage is poorer than in recent seasons. A full changing

accommodation block supports the pitches.

Blackburn RUFC

Available

for

communit

y use and

used

(Secured)

1 pitch

good, 3

pitches

standar

d and 1

pitch

poor

12.5 9.75 2.75

Potentiall

y able to

accomm

odate

some

additiona

l play

At least 2 pitches

available at peak time

for the club, which is

currently Sunday

morning (assuming that

midi teams share

pitches).

The stock of 5 pitches means that there is availability for

further play at peak times (2 pitches available) and the

pitches as a whole are able to sustain further play across

the week. Quality assessments however reveal inbalances

of use – pitch 5 is heavily used while pitches 1 – 4 have

potential to accommodate further play. The club have

aspirations to improve clubhouse and playing pitches -

the changing accommodation at the clubhouse is poor

and the ceiling has recently collapsed, meaning that

significant investment is required.


Table 6.5 – Activity at Blackburn RUFC

Activity Match Equivalents Pitches Used

Adequacy of

Supply (Spare

Capacity)

Comment

Match Play

4.75 (each team plays

home every other week). It

should be noted that there

is also ad hoc use of the

pitches for other activities

– NW tournaments etc.

Pitches 1 – 4. Capacity

– 10 Match

equivalents per week

10 – 4.75 = 5.25

Match pitches used

below level that they

can sustain

Training

5 (all teams train once,

plus use of pitch by

Lancashire U18).

Pitch 5 - Capacity –

2.5 Match equivalents

per week

2.5 – 5= -2.5

Training pitch is

overused – high

demand


Table 6.6 builds upon Table 6.4 and summarises the total capacity in the borough. It indicates that overall,

spare capacity is equivalent to 4.75 match equivalents per week (split between Blackburn RUFC and

Queen Elizabeth Grammar School). There is no community use of the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School

pitches currently however they provide scope to increase the level of activity should this be required.

Table 6.6 – Rugby Provision across Blackburn with Darwen

Site

Current

Community

Use

Current Carrying

Capacity for

Community Use

Balance

Extent of any Spare

Capacity for Community

Use During the Peak

Period

Blackburn with

Darwen 9.75 14.5 4.75

4 (match pitches able to

accommodate additional play

at Blackburn RUFC)

Displaced and Latent Demand

There is no evidence of displaced demand for rugby in the borough and limited latent demand although

Active People surveys suggest that there is potential to increase the rugby playing population by up to

20%, which would have significant impact upon demand for facilities.

Blackburn RUFC are however still seeking to recruit new members but believe that their location on the

edge of the town is not beneficial in helping to promote rugby to new players.

Future Picture

The future requirement for rugby pitches will be impacted upon by changes to the population profile, as

well as club specific aspirations and changing participation trends.



Population Change

While the population of Blackburn with Darwen is likely to increase (by 2.5% up to 2021 and by a further

2.16% up to 2026) changes to the population profile mean that the proportion of people within the age

groups most likely to play pitch sports will increase at a much slower rate.


generate one team. The application of TGRs to population projections enables the projection of the

theoretical number of teams that would be generated from population growth and provides an

understanding of future demand.

Table 6.7 summarises the current TGRs for rugby and projects the impact of population growth. It

indicates that;

there will be an overall decrease in the number of people aged between 19 and 45, the age groups

that typically play senior rugby. This decrease will however occur primarily in female age groups

and as such, participation is likely to remain in line with current levels. While this will increase

slightly by 2026, there will be no significant impact on demand;

the number of people aged between 13 and 18 will also decrease slightly but will have limited

impact upon demand

the highest growth will occur in age groups playing midi rugby. This will lead to the creation of an

additional midi team (0.125 match equivalents per week) by 2026.


Sport and Age

Groups

Current

populatio

n in age

group

within

the area

Number

of teams

in age

group

within

the area

Current

TGR

Future

populatio

n in age

group

within

the area

(2021)

Future

popula

tion in

age

group

within

the

area

(2026)

Curren

t TGR

Potential

Change in

Team

Numbers in

Age Group

(Number of

Teams)

Current –

2021

Potential

Change

in Team

Numbers

in Age

Group

(Number

of

Teams)

Current -

2026

Rugby Union

Senior Men (19-

45yrs)

27598 4 4600 27638 28235 4600 0.0027 0.09

Rugby Union

Senior Women

(19-45yrs)

27108 0 0 25948 26508 0 0 0!

Rugby Union

Youth Boys (13-

18yrs)

6639 4 1660 6457 6596 1660 -0.119 -0.03

Rugby Union

Youth Girls (13-

18yrs)

6001 0 0 5928 6056 0 0 0

Rugby Union

Mini/Midi Mixed

(7-12yrs)

12335 6 2056 13825 14124 2056

0.72 0.87

In terms of pitch requirements, this means that changes to the population growth would result in;

demand for pitches from senior and youth teams remaining stable; and


a small requirement for an additional midi team (1/2 pitch on alternate weeks).

There will therefore remain more than sufficient pitches for competitive requirements, but pressures on

training facilities will remain unless the balance of pitch provision changes.

Changes in Participation Trends

While population growth will have little impact, the club has however experienced recent growth in

membership although they continue to experience difficulties recruiting players of school age (lack of

participation in schools) and retaining players when they reach 18. They believe that improved changing

and pitch facilities may help them to attract new players.

There is scope to increase competitive activity within the existing stock of facilities but ffurther growth in

participation would place additional pressures on the single training pitch, which is already heavily

overused. Club aspirations to create an AGP would provide a flexible way of accommodating training and

match play (assuming it was IRB accredited). In this instance, the increased capacity offered by the AGP

would mean that current and future training needs, as well as match play could be accommodated within

4 pitches.


A new rugby pitch is scheduled to open at Darwen Vale High School in 2014. While it is not predicted that

this will impact upon the activity of the club directly (as all club teams are based at the club site) this may

support promotion of rugby in Blackburn and consequently aid the recruitment of players and the growth

of club membership.

Key Issues

The key issues for rugby are summarised in Section 9.


07

7. Hockey

Introduction

This section evaluates the adequacy of pitches for hockey and provides:

An overview of the supply of AGPs that are suitable for hockey

An outline of demand for hockey pitches across Blackburn with Darwen



The future picture of provision for hockey across Blackburn with Darwen.

Hockey in Blackburn with Darwen – An Overview

Pitch Supply

Hockey is almost exclusively played on AGPs. Guidance on AGPs (Sport England 2010) indicates the

following surfaces to be suitable for hockey:

Water Based (suitable for high level hockey)

Sand Filled (acceptable surface for hockey)

Sand Dressed (preferred surface for hockey)

Short Pile 3g (acceptable surface for non-competitive hockey).

Based upon the above criteria, there are six full sized pitches with approved surfaces for hockey and a

further seven small sized sand based pitches that can also be used for hockey. Of these pitches:

five of the six full sized pitches are open to the community. There is no pay and play access to the

AGP at Westholme School (and this pitch is not floodlit) although it is used by the hockey club for

junior training on occasion. Community access to the facilities provided is therefore good

All of the five full sized pitches that are formally available to the community for hockey are

managed by Blackburn with Darwen Council (including the school facilities). This means that long

term access to these facilities is guaranteed and there is control over the pitch surfaces that are laid

Just two of the small sided facilities are not currently accessible to the community.

Appendix G summarises the suitability of all AGPs for hockey. It outlines the age of each facility as well as

the overall quality of the pitch and any quality issues experienced. It indicates that on the whole the

quality of sand based AGPs is good and few quality issues are identified. Pitches at Witton Country Park

will however soon require replacement and the pitch at St Wilfrids High School is poor quality. The full

size pitch at Westholme School does not have floodlights. Some site specific concerns are raised in

relation to AGPs used by hockey clubs, and these are explored in Table 7.2.

The location of all AGPs is illustrated in Map 7.1. Facilities suitable for hockey are coloured in yellow. It

indicates that with the exception of the facility at Blackburn Central High School, facilities are primarily

located in the north and west of Blackburn town. The two sand based AGPs at Witton Country Park, as

well as the new sand based pitch at Witton Park High School are located in very close proximity to each

other.


Map 7.1 –Distribution of AGPs suitable for hockey


Demand


The Active People Survey provides an indication of the types of people that play hockey and potential

latent demand. A summary is provided in Appendix E, but this analysis reveals that;

the profile of participants in hockey in Blackburn with Darwen is more varied than other sports,

with both female and male groups currently playing. Demand is primarily focused evenly across six

segments and is also geographically equitable; and

analysis suggests that there is relatively high latent demand in comparison to the amount of

people that currently play. Out of a total of 485 people who would be interested in playing hockey,

just 59% currently play. There is particular unmet demand from female segments, specifically

Leanne and Jackie. This suggests that there may be particular scope to increase participation in

hockey in the borough.


There are two hockey clubs running a total of 11 teams. Table 7.1 summarises the teams in each club and

outlines the number of hours that they use pitches. The usage is based upon the assumption that each

team plays alternate home and away games. It indicates that;

ten of the 11 teams are based at Pleckgate High School (Blackburn Northern Hockey Club) which is

owned and managed through a partnership between the school, the hockey club and Blackburn with

Darwen Council and maintained by Balfour Beattie. The partnership agreement provides the club with

access to the pitch (free of charge) on a Wednesday for training and for competitive fixtures at the

weekend.

Blackburn Northern HC offers the full spectrum of development opportunities from junior through to

senior teams. This club, which has yet to be formally named, has relatively recently evolved from the

merger of Blackburn Northern Hockey Club (which contained mens teams) with Clitheroe Ladies Hockey

Club. The club are also now beginning to develop youth teams

The only other club in the borough (Witton Warriors) runs just one ladies team in the Central Lancashire

Women’s Hockey League and was established in 2007. They play at Witton Park.

Table 7.2– Hockey Teams in Blackburn with Darwen

Club


Number of

teams in age

group within

the area

Match

Equivalents

(Competitive

Fixtures)

Venue

Blackburn

Northern /

Clitheroe

Ladies / East

Lancs Pumas

Hockey Senior Men (16-55yrs) 2

7.5 – 10 hours

per week

Pleckgate High School /

Blackburn Northern

Hockey Senior Women (16-55yrs) 5

Hockey Junior Boys (11-15yrs) 2

Hockey Junior Girls (11-15yrs) 1


Witton

Warriors

Hockey Senior Women 1 2 hours Witton Country Park

Training Needs

Blackburn Northern HC train at the club base on a Wednesday evening (as stipulated by the agreement).

Times are staggered, with junior training taking place and then senior training following. This usage is

currently equivalent to 3 hours per Wednesday evening. Witton Warriors have fitness training on a

Monday in Burnley, but also train at Witton Park on a Tuesday from 6.30pm – 8pm, meaning that training

usage is equivalent to 1.5 hours per week. Blackburn Northern also make ad hoc use of Westholme

School for junior training.

Educational Demand

Educational use of AGPs takes place outside of peak hours and there is therefore no impact upon the

availability of the facilities for community hockey (as the artificial surface means that AGPs are not

impacted upon by levels of use in the same way that grass pitches are).

School participation can however have a knock on impact on demand for hockey in the borough.

Pleckgate High School, St Wilfrids, St Bedes and Westholme School, all of whom have their own pitches,

play hockey currently and both Westholme School and St Wilfrids also book pitches at Witton Country

Park on occasion. There is also a small amount of QwickSticks hockey in primary schools, suggesting that

there are strong foundations for the sport and potential to increase club membership through school

club links.

The Premier League 4 Sport (PL4S) project started in September 2009 and is now active in Blackburn, in

partnership with Blackburn Northern Hockey Club. Delivered by the Premier League, Sport England and

the Youth Sport Trust, Premier League Clubs act as a hub linked to community sports facilities, which in

turn are linked to local secondary schools to create satellite sports centres. The presence of this scheme at

two secondary schools in Blackburn is already successful and is likely to generate increased participation

in hockey over the near future. The club are also working with 2 schools outside the Blackburn with

Darwen boundaries.


The adequacy of AGPs to accommodate demand for hockey, taking into account both training and

competitive fixtures is discussed below. Demand for football is also considered as while hockey teams

cannot use facilities designed for football (3g pitches), sand based surfaces are acceptable for football

training and hockey clubs can face extensive competition in accessing pitches.


As set out in Section 4, supply and demand of AGPs is measured by considering;

the amount of play that a site is able to sustain (based upon the number of hours that the pitch is

accessible to the community during peak periods up to a maximum of 34 hours per week). Peak

periods have been deemed to be Monday to Thursday 17:00 to 21:00; Friday 17:00 to 19:00 and

Saturday and Sunday 09:00 to 17:00.

the amount of play that takes place (measured in hours);

whether there is any spare capacity at the site based upon a comparison between the capacity of

the site and the actual usage; and


any other key issues relating to the site which have arisen through consultation.

To ensure that issues for hockey are fully taken into account however, as well as evaluating usage over

the week, capacity at peak time should also be considered. EH guidance suggests that no AGP should be

considered able to sustain more than 4 games on any one day.

Table 7.2 therefore provides a summary of activity at each site that is suitable for hockey.


85

Table 7.2 – Site Specific Usage

Site Quality

Current

Carrying

Capacity

for

Community

Use

Current

Community

Use

Difference *Comparison

Extent of

Availability

Midweek

Evenings

Availability

Saturday /

Sunday


Blackburn

Central

High School

Good 21 5 16

Potentially able

to accommodate

some additional

play

8

9.00 - 13.00

/ 10.00 -

14.00pm.

No current

use

New site (2013) opened for this season (end

of August). Floodlit and full changing. Access

via steep steps. Significant potential to

increase use of facility both midweek and

weekends. Spare capacity for both midweek

training. Current limited opening hours would

restrict match play for hockey at peak time

Blackburn

Northern Good 33 25.5 7.5

Potentially able

to accommodate

some additional

play

2

Up to 7

hours use

Saturday

Pitch was also used last year 10 x 2 hour

bookings for JDC and JAC (Friday evening).

Location of players means that this is not

required this year. Pitch quality good, but club

would like closer toilets and changing and a

shelter. Equipment (goals) in need of

updating. Pitch shared with football and is

also heavily used by the school during the

day. Existing agreement is for club use

Wednesday evenings and weekends. As well

as hockey use, pitch also used for football - a

small amount of football training and several

hours casual use, as well as small sided

league. There is limited scope for additional

play as it is booked on midweek nights and

required for weekends for hockey. Almost at

capacity on a Saturday (hockey) but scope for


Site Quality

Current

Carrying

Capacity

for

Community

Use

Current

Community

Use

Difference *Comparison

Extent of

Availability

Midweek

Evenings

Availability

Saturday /

Sunday


further competitive play on Sunday. Any

expansion of hockey requirements midweek

may see displacement of football matches to

other sites.

Westholme

School Good 0 0 0

No use

Saturday

Lack of floodlights would mean that facility

would be suitable for competitive fixtures

only. Not formally available for use although

some known access by the hockey club

Witton

Country

Park

Standard 68 49 19

Potentially able

to accommodate

some additional

play

3

2 hours

Saturday

use (when

hockey club

are at

home).

Other ad

hoc

bookings, 2

hours

Sunday use

Pitches used mainly for football, but home

venue of Witton Warriors Hockey Club.

Extensive availability for expansion of club

activities during the weekend (Competitive

fixtures). More limited availability in midweek

if further training slots were required. Pitch

also used for American Football

Witton Park

High School

Business &

Enterprise

College

Good 21 15 6

Potentially able

to accommodate

some additional

play

0

9.00 - 13.00

/ 10.00 -

14.00pm.

No current

use

Although pitch is sand based, it is only used

for football and there is no use at weekends.



Table 7.2 indicates that there is some spare capacity at all sand based hockey pitches across the borough.

The majority of this is at the weekend (and could therefore be used for competitive hockey fixtures) as

with the exception of the pitch at Pleckgate High School (Blackburn Northern) and use by the Witton

Warrior Hockey Club of Witton Park, there is little other use of AGPs at weekends.

Capacity during the week is however much more restricted, particularly at full sized pitches. Table 7.3

builds upon the site specific overviews and presents the total picture for the borough.

Table 7.3 – Hockey Usage of AGPs

Capacity of full

sized sand

based pitches

across the

borough

(Number of

Hours)

Total Community

Use of Sand Based

Pitches (Number

of Hours)

Unused

capacity

(Number of

hours)

Spare Capacity

Midweek

(Number of

Hours)

Weekend

Availability

Total Use by

Hockey

143 94.5 48 13 35 10%

Westholme School excluded due to ad hoc nature of community use

Tables 7.2 and 7.3 reveal that;

unused capacity is relatively limited during the week, but there is extensive capacity at weekends

(Witton Country Park – only hockey usage at weekends), Blackburn Central 8 hours), Witton Park

High (6 hours), Blackburn Northern (3 hours on a Sunday)

Just 10% of the total use of AGPs is by the two hockey clubs

Capacity midweek is available at Blackburn Central (8) and Witton Country Park.

This suggests that while there is scope to meet demand for matches (with only Pleckgate High School /

Blackburn Northern approaching capacity at weekends), there is less capacity to accommodate additional

midweek training should this be required. While there are many small sided AGPs that could fulfil a role

for training, the amount of football activity means that there are few free hours on full sized sand based

AGPs that could be used for hockey.

Reflecting the above findings, the existing club facility at Blackburn Northern is considered adequate for

club needs by both EH and the club itself. The club do not envisage a requirement for additional facilities

in the short term, although if successful in their recruitment strategy, may need to increase the hours that

they access the pitch for training (and extend beyond a Wednesday evening). As there are few free hours

available, requirement for training from hockey clubs may therefore lead to the displacement of football

clubs. Furthermore, it should also be noted that the opening hours of most AGPs at weekends would

restrict the potential to accommodate competitive hockey fixtures meaning that despite spare capacity,

opportunities may be more limited than theoretical figures may suggest.

The facilities available at Witton Country Park also meet the needs of Witton Warriors HC, who use the

facility for circa 3 hours per week.

FPM Modelling


As set out in Section 4, analysis of the actual usage of pitches against the hours that they are available can

be compared with findings of the Sport England Facility Planning Model, a theoretical model based upon

national parameters. This indicates that for AGPs overall (also outlined in Section 4);

there is high satisfied demand (97.1% of demand is met);

the used capacity of AGPs across the borough is high (100%) – this suggests that there are limited

opportunities to accommodate additional play at the existing AGPs;

the relative share of pitches is above average (116 compared to the average of 100 across England

and also including adjoining LAs in Scotland and Wales). The relative share of pitches in the south

is slightly lower due to demand being pulled from the south; and

analysis of the geographical distribution of demand indicates that overall, unmet demand is

highest in the south but some demand in these areas is imported from the nearby local authorities

of Bolton and Bury.

Modelling therefore reveals that overall there is a good supply of combined AGPs to meet current and

latent demand. It does however confirm calculations undertaken on a more local level that most pitches

are operating at or near capacity. More specifically for hockey; the FPM indicates that;

there is a very slight deficiency in terms of the current supply/demand balance but in general, the

supply of facilities is adequate to meet demand;

reflecting this, there is a high level of satisfied demand (89.9%) and low level of unmet demand

(10.1%). Furthermore, although a high level of demand is exported (430 visits = 57.2%) into

neighbouring authorities, there is also a high level of imported demand (466 visits = 59.2%). A

slightly higher proportion of demand is imported rather than exported therefore;

used capacity at the existing facilities is high (100%), suggesting that there is limited scope to

accommodate additional play at existing sites within Blackburn with Darwen;

the relative share of AGP provision for hockey is slightly above the national average (101). Some of

the central and southern areas of the borough are however very slightly below average; and

like the overall picture, analysis of the aggregated unmet demand indicates that pressures are

highest in the south, but this is where demand is imported (from Bolton and Bury).

While overall across Blackburn with Darwen pitches the FPM indicates reaching capacity, it is clear that

these facilities are primarily used for football, and that there are more than sufficient pitches to

accommodate hockey requirements providing clubs have access to the facilities available.

Displaced Demand

Despite the FPM indicating that there is a significant degree of imported and exported demand for

hockey, there is no evidence of displaced demand in the borough currently. It should be noted however

that while teams formerly playing for Clitheroe Ladies are now formally part of the Blackburn Northern

Hockey Club, it is known that some of these players travel from outside of the borough, although the club

believe that the majority are within 2 -5 miles of the club base.

Latent Demand

The hockey club are actively seeking new members and have seen a recent increase in the number of

members due to the coaching strategy as well as the merger and it is hoped that membership will

continue to grow.


Active People and Market Segmentation (earlier in this section) however indicated that there is a relatively

significant amount of latent demand in the borough (potential to increase participation by 41%).

Alongside club development aspirations, there may therefore be opportunities to increase participation in

the borough through sports development initiatives targeting those in the market segments that have

expressed an interest in participating but do not currently do so.


The future requirement for AGPs for hockey will be impacted upon by several things, including population

growth, changes to the demographic profile, club development and evolving participation trends.


Population Change

Analysis in Section 3 indicated that while the population of Blackburn with Darwen is likely to increase (by

2.5% up to 2021 and by a further 2.16% up to 2026) changes to the population profile mean that the

proportion of people within the age groups most likely to play pitch sports will increase at a much slower

rate.


generate one team. By applying TGRs to population projections, we can project the theoretical number of

teams that would be generated from population growth and gain an understanding of future demand.

Table 7.4 summarises the implications of population growth and reveals that because of relatively low

levels of hockey participation;

there will be minimum change in the amount of people in age groups playing senior hockey

despite population growth, meaning that demand will remain stable; and

the number of people aged between 11 and 15 will increase slightly but this will not be sufficiently

substantial to generate an increase in the number of teams.


Sport and Age

Groups

Current

population

in age

group

within the

area

Number

of

teams

in age

group

within

the area

Current

TGR

Future

population

in age

group

within the

area

(2021)

Future

population

in age

group

within the

area

(2026)

Potential

Change in

Team

Numbers in

Age Group

(Number of

Teams)

Current -

2021

Potential

Change

in Team

Numbers

in Age

Group

(Number

of

Teams)

Current -

2026

Hockey Senior Men

(16-55yrs)

31042 2 15521 30811 31477

-0.015

0.03

Hockey Senior

Women (16-55yrs)

39575 6 6595 38246 39072 0.11

-0.08

Hockey Junior Boys

(11-15yrs)

5218 2 2609 5496 5615

0.11

0.15

Hockey Junior Girls 4881 1 4881 5225 5338

0.07

0.09


(11-15yrs)

This means that, according to TGRs, and based upon current participation rates, changes to the

population growth would result in demands for pitches remaining stable.

The small number of participants in hockey however means that TGRs do not necessarily provide the

most appropriate means of forecasting growth and efforts to increase participation may have a much

more significant impact.

Reflecting this, the recent merger of the club has created an increase in participation and there are

significant aspirations to further increase membership (noticeably though the creation of strong

relationships with schools - Pleckgate, St Wilfrids and Westholme). In addition, Blackburn Rovers

Community Sports Trust have identified hockey as one of their priority sports for this year and this will

see the work of the Trust, linking with the club, to promote and encourage hockey development. This will

include competitions against other similar teams (for example Everton FC Hockey team) and is anticipated

to raise awareness of hockey in the borough significantly.

EH affiliation data suggests that a growth rate of 4% per annum provides a realistic understanding of the

likely growth in participation over the strategy period.

Club consultation demonstrates that there are circa 120 club members playing hockey in Blackburn with

Darwen, forming a total of 11 teams. If this were to increase at a rate of 4% per annum;

By 2026, there would be 207 players

By 2031 – participation would have increased to 253 players.

Assuming the same ratio of players to teams, this means participation may increase to 19 teams by 2026

and to 23 teams by 2031. This is double the quantity of play that currently takes place and may therefore

require up to 24 hours of usage per week.

While there is capacity to accommodate significant additional demand within the existing pitch stock at

weekends, there is more limited spare capacity at midweek, with only the new pitch at Blackburn Central

School having extensive availability. If these aspirations to increase participation are achieved, at least

two sand based hockey surfaces would be required by 2026 and in all likelihood, 3 would be needed by

2031 to accommodate matches, and training activity midweek.


There are no known further plans that will impact upon the supply of AGPs.

Summary and Key Issues – AGPs for Hockey

The key issues for hockey are summarised in section 9.

.


08

8.Bowls

This section evaluates the adequacy of facilities for bowls and considers:

The supply of greens and demand for these greens

The adequacy of greens

Summary and Issues to address

Supply

The outdoor bowling greens across Blackburn with Darwen are set out in Table 8.1. There are 28 greens

located on 23 sites. Three sites contain more than one green – Corporation Park, Roe Lee Park and Green

Park.

Table 8.1 - Bowling greens in Blackburn with Darwen

Site

Number

of

Greens

St Stephens Conservative Club 1

Blackburn Subscription 1

Witton Park Bowls Club, Pleasington Street 1

Dugdale Bowling Club 1

Highfield Park 1

Feniscowles Memorial Ground 1

Butlers Arms 1

Railway Hotel 1

Alexandra Hotel (East Lancashire Club) 1

Anchor Road (Crown Paints Bowling Club, Darwen) 1

Sandy Lane (Lower Darwen Recreation Ground) 1

Higher Croft Road (Lower Darwen Memorial) 1

Everton Street 1

Whitehall Park 1

Anyon Street (Darwen Subscription) 1

Olive Park, Darwen 1

Cherry Tree Bowling Club (formerly Voith Mill Bowling Club) 1

Edgworth Bowling Club 1

East Lancs Bowling Club 1

Corporation Park 2

Roe Lee Park 3

Green Park 3


The total provision represents a decrease in the number of bowling greens identified in the previous

Playing Pitch Strategy as several greens are now redundant, specifically;

Audley Lane

Queen's Park

Burnley Road

In addition, both Green Park and Roe Lee Park contained disused bowling greens alongside the facilities

that are still managed and maintained.

Until recently, Blackburn with Darwen Council was responsible for the management and maintenance of

12 bowling greens and the remainder were private facilities. With the exception of Green Park, all bowling

greens managed by the Council were handed over to clubs at the beginning of the 2013 season (on a

lease) and clubs now control the management and maintenance of these facilities, although they benefit

from financial contributions from the Council. It is anticipated that the same will take place at the Green

Park site in the short term.

Demand

From the Active People Survey and Market Segmentation data (explained in Section 3), it is possible to

evaluate the proportion of the population that do participate in bowls and how many people would like

to participate in bowls and how this varies across the authority.

The key findings of this analysis reveal that;

the profile of participants in bowls in Blackburn with Darwen is much focused towards older

segments of the population than all other sports considered. The key participants are Elsie and

Arnold, Frank, Roger and Joy and participation is higher in the Fensicowles and Pleasington area

than in other parts of the borough

there is relatively limited latent demand in comparison to the amount of people that currently play

– 80% of those residents that expressed an interest in playing bowls are currently playing. Those

that would like to play but do not currently do so fall into the same groups as those that already

play.

Further detail is provided in Appendix E.


There are bowling clubs located at all active greens in the borough running a total of 125 teams. There

are a multitude of leagues covering the area and most clubs have teams in more than one league.

Many of the clubs in the borough are affiliated to the Blackburn Bowls Partnership, which provides a

forum for knowledge sharing as well as the promotion of bowls as a sport across the borough. This group

has successfully engaged with many schools in the borough, although there has been more limited

success in terms of the transition of young people into clubs.

Table 8.2 summarises the clubs that play within the Borough, the green that they use and the leagues that

they play in.


Table 8.2 – Bowling Clubs in Blackburn with Darwen

Site

Number

of Greens

Approximate

Number of

teams Leagues

Alexandra Hotel (East

Lancashire Club) 1 2 Darwen and Blackburn Leagues

Anchor Road (Crown Paints

Bowling Club, Darwen) 1 4 Darwen Vets and Darwen Leagues

Anyon Street (Darwen

Subscription) 1 3

Darwen and Blackburn Leagues, Nomads

League

Blackburn Subscription 1 6

Blackburn Senior Citizens, Darwen and

Blackburn Leagues, Ladies League

Butlers Arms 1 7

Darwen and Blackburn Leagues, Darwen

Vets, Ladies League, Nomads League

Cherry Tree Bowling Club

(formerly Voith Mill Bowling

Club) 1 6


Blackburn Leagues, Ladies League

Corporation Park 2 10

Darwen Vets, Blackburn Senior Citizens,

Darwen and Blackburn Leagues, Nomads

League

Dugdale Bowling Club 1 5

Blackburn Senior Citizens, Blackburn

League, Ladies League

East Lancs Bowling Club 1 7

Darwen Vets and Darwen and Blackburn

Leagues, Nomads League, Great Harwood

League

Edgworth Bowling Club 1 7

Turton, Ramsbottom, municipal league,

Darwen Vets and Darwen League

Everton Street 1 6

Darwen Vets, Darwen Leagues, Ladies

League and Blackburn League

Feniscowles Memorial

Ground 1 10


Darwen and Blackburn Leagues, ladies

league

Green Park 3 11


Darwen and Blackburn Leagues, ladies

league

Higher Croft Road (Lower

Darwen Memorial) 1 6

Darwen Vets and Blackburn and Darwen


League

Highfield Park 1 3

Blackburn Senior Citizens and Blackburn

leagues

Olive Park, Darwen 1 5 Darwen Vets and Darwen Leagues

Railway Hotel 1 5

Darwen and Blackburn leagues, ladies

league


Site

Number

of Greens

Approximate

Number of

teams Leagues

Roe Lee Park 3 9


Blackburn Leagues, Ladies League, Great

Harwood League

Sandy Lane (Lower Darwen

Recreation Ground) 1 7

Darwen Vets and Blackburn and Darwen


League

St Stephens Conservative

Club 1 4


Blackburn Leagues.

Whitehall Park 1 9

Darwen and Blackburn Leagues, Ladies and

Darwen Veterans, Nomads League

Witton Park Bowls Club,

Pleasington Street 1 6

Blackburn and Darwen League, Blackburn

Senior Citizens, Great Harwood League

Turton Bowls Club 3

Darwen Leagues, Turton Bowling League,

Nomads League

Views

Key issues arising from consultations and site visits highlighted the following as the main areas of

concern;

maintenance and qualitative improvements;

long term sustainability following the recent transfer of several bowling greens from Council

management and maintenance to club based leases;

recruitment and retention of younger and junior members to ensure longevity for clubs and the

sport of bowling. Just Edgworth Bowls Club and Corporation Park Bowls club currently operate

junior sections; and

challenges in recruiting volunteers for maintenance and administration.

While activity at bowling greens is relatively high, almost all clubs have capacity to accommodate further

members.

Green Quality

Chart 8.1 summarises the quality scores achieved through site visits. It indicates that the quality of greens

is relatively consistent across most criteria, with provision for spectators and the bowling green surrounds

the key area for improvement. Most greens were in use at the time of site visit (or being prepared for

matches) and it was clear that they are well valued by those that use the facilities.


Chart 8.1: Quality Scores for Bowling Greens

As can be seen from Chart 8.1, most greens in Blackburn with Darwen were described as being in good

condition. The range of scores was relatively limited, with a sites achieving scores of between 62% and

92%. For those sites that were rated more poorly, the key areas of concern were;

Overgrown surrounds

Rusty railings

Poor paths

More limited pavilions.

Several greens were also showing signs of wear, although this was largely due to the time of the season

that the greens were visited (towards the end of the bowling season).

Accessibility

The age profile of participants in bowls means that access may be more important than for other sports

and many may expect local facilities, or require greens that are accessible by public transport. Map 8.1

therefore illustrates the location of each of the greens and includes a 3 mile catchment area around each

green.

It indicates that most residents are within a 3 mile catchment of at least one bowling green, and very few

have to travel further than this to reach a facility.


Map 8.1 - Bowling Greens in Blackburn with Darwen


Meeting Current and Future Demand

There are no supply and demand models for bowling greens and it is therefore not appropriate to assess

demand by applying the methodology used by other sports or by the use of TGRs.

Adoption of a historic Sports Council standard of 10 greens per 60,000 people (Planning for Sport 1970)

would give a requirement of circa 24 greens across Blackburn with Darwen based on a population of

148,000 (current figures). Existing provision is above this standard and added to this, there are several

bowling greens that are not currently used.

There is no evidence based upon current participation that there is demand for additional facilities. While

some greens are relatively heavily used, most clubs have capacity for additional members, and the

flexibility of fixtures means that there is scope to accommodate more teams on existing greens.

Assuming that each green can take at least six matches per week (12 teams assuming that teams play

home and away alternately), based upon the number of teams run, no greens are at capacity.

Although there is sufficient capacity currently, the ageing population suggests that the number of people

who may have the propensity to participate in bowls is likely to grow in future years. There will be

significant growth in the number of residents falling into the older age groups by 2021 and further

increase by 2026. The potential impact of this is summarised in Table 8.3. It must be noted that these

figures are based upon the assumption that bowls players fall into the age group of 60+. While it is

recognised that this is not entirely accurate, membership figures, consultation and the Sport England

Market Segmentation indicate that this enables a realistic estimate of future participation to be

undertaken.

Table 8.3 - Calculation of Potential Growth in Bowls

Table 8.3 therefore indicates that assuming participation rates remain constant, demand for bowls is likely

to increase by 81 players as a direct result of population growth. Assuming that membership of all greens

is even, this would mean a membership of 35 players at each bowling club currently, increasing to 37. This

is a more than manageable level of membership and offers significant scope for expansion.

Current Situation

Area considered Calculation

Current Population Aged 60+ 27458

Current Participants in Bowls (Active People) 927

% of Current Population Participating in Bowls 3.3%

Future Situation based upon above figures (2021)

Future Population aged 60+ 29923

Assumed Future Population in Bowls (participation

remains constant)

3.3%

Potential Future Participants in Bowls 987

Future Situation based upon above figures (2026)

Future Population aged 60+ 30569

Assumed Future Population in Bowls (participation

remains constant)

3.3%

Potential Future Participants in Bowls 1008


This suggests therefore that there is sufficient stock to of facilities to meet current and future demand,

based on existing participation rates. Indeed, higher levels of membership are likely to be a key way of

maximising the sustainability of clubs as increased numbers of members will bring with it higher levels of

income, which will be required to support the management and maintenance of greens.

Future participation in bowls is only likely to grow significantly if a more aggressive approach to

recruitment is taken by clubs and governing bodies. Most clubs do little marketing of existing

opportunities outside of word of mouth and leafleting currently and there has been little growth in the

sport, with some who have been involved in the sport in the area for years expressing concerns about the

decline in the number of members, and in the number of teams entered into league and cup fixtures.

If marketing / promotion was to be successful and latent demand and participation increases were

realised, demand could increase significantly but it is likely that the existing stock of facilities would

remain sufficient.

Key Issues

The key issues for bowls are set out in Section 9.


08

9. Summary and Key Issues

Introduction

This section brings together the findings for each sport set out in Sections 4 – 8 and summarises the key

issues emerging for each sport. It also highlights where there are issues or overlaps between sports.

Football

Supply

There are 107 football pitches, 68% of which are available for the community – this is a

relatively high proportion

Only 10% of pitches are not secured for community use (all are located at primary

schools). Almost all secondary school facilities are managed by Blackburn with Darwen

Council, providing a good level of facilities that are accessible to the community.

33% of pitches are adult sized while the remainder cater for junior and mini soccer

There is a reliance upon Council pitch provision – the Council is the primary owner and

manager of facilities

The pitch stock is characterised by large sites, particularly those sites owned and

managed by the Council. These larger sites serve people across the borough and residents

travel to use the facilities

In addition to the existing pitches, there are seven former playing fields, and additional

pitches closed on Pleasington Playing Fields. These sites offer the potential to provide

additional facilities should the need arise

Pitch quality varies significantly and there are differences in quality within specific sites

as well as across the borough. 27% of football pitches have been rated as poor and 30%

of pitches as good. Drainage and playing surface are the most frequently occurring issues

identified both through on site evaluation and local consultation

The quality of pitches is noticeably lower at sites managed by Blackburn with Darwen

Council than other providers – this has a particular impact due to the reliance upon

Council pitches. Quality issues are attributed to maintenance procedures as well as issues

requiring capital investment to resolve them

The quality of changing accommodation is similarly varying. Few sites do not have

changing accommodation at all but the condition of some of the stock is poor

Pitch capacity is significantly influenced by quality issues, including at several large

Council facilities, where fewer games can be sustained than would otherwise be possible

due to the pitch surface and drainage conditions

Quality is the key concern arising through consultations with both users and providers –

pitches are perceived to be deteriorating and maintenance regimes are becoming more

limited

There are concerns about the sustainability of maintenance procedures longer term.

Demand

FA data suggests that participation is above the regional and national averages for

adult football although there is scope to increase the amount of mini and junior activity

There is a strong club structure, with many clubs offering a pathway from junior to

senior sport and large numbers of big clubs. The leagues are also very proactive and well

structured, facilitating high levels of participation. Recent participation trends indicate that

while adult participation has remained static or declined, there has been a more steady

increase in junior and mini football

Overall there are 217 teams playing regularly in competitions in the borough. 65% of


these teams are aged 16 and below. This is a similar proportion to the amount of pitches

of smaller size, suggesting that supply is well balanced with demand

There has been a recent decline in adult participation contrasting with a slight increase

in junior play. It is very evident that there has been significant movement towards larger

clubs and a reduction in the number of smaller teams

There are a small number of clubs with their own facilities (particularly pyramid clubs)

but clubs are largely reliant on Council facilities

There is limited use of venues that offer unsecured access to the community – just two

sites are used - (Roe Lee Park Primary School and Griffin Park Primary School)

Almost all schools have their own facilities and there is therefore limited impact of

educational demand on community use. Some sites do however not meet curricular

demand, including pitches at secondary schools that offer community use agreements.

Many schools indicating that improvements are required to facilities refer to the quality of

pitches available to them

There is a small element of displaced demand – Turton FC are travelling outside the

borough to play due to a lack of available pitches within Blackburn with Darwen

The Sport England Active People survey indicates that there is potential to increase

participation by 17% based upon the total population that would like to play. This

suggests that there is a degree of latent demand.


Site By Site Activity

Modelling of site by site activity reveals a clear imbalance in the levels of usage across

the Borough. While some sites are heavily used and overplayed, others receive more

limited use either due to the lack of quality of pitch or the ownership of the site (primarily

pyramid clubs)

An imbalance of play also exists within sites with some pitches (particularly those closer

to changing accommodation at large sites) receiving high levels of use while others being

used much less frequently. This is generally attributed to both the quality and the location

of the pitch (proximity to changing accommodation)

There is little spare capacity available across the borough as a whole, although there is

scope to increase the amount of play that takes place at the Council venues of Blacksnape

Playing Fields, Witton Country Park and Corporation Park.

Reflecting the limited spare capacity, several sites are overplayed, including Pleasington

Playing Fields, Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School Playing Fields (QEGS) Branch Road and

Sandy Lane, Roman Road Community Pitch, Pleckgate Playing Fields and Feniscowles and

Pleasington War Memorial Ground. Quality is particularly responsible for overplay on

Pleasington Playing Fields and Pleckgate Playing Fields, while on the whole, overplay at

other sites is largely caused by high demand from large clubs

Adult Pitches

There is a small amount of spare capacity on adult pitches (9.5 match equivalents) - the

majority of this is at private club sites (primarily those playing in the pyramid) and St

Marys College. Greenfield Community Centre is the only public venue with spare capacity.

There is overplay on Queen Elizabeth, Roman Road and Pleasington Playing Fields. The

capacity of both Pleasington Playing Fields and Pleckgate is hampered by pitch quality.

Investment is required to improve capacity of these pitches and the level of maintenance

is insufficient to cope with the amount of play, meaning that further deterioration in

quality is occurring. Many of the quality issues are attributed to the poor maintenance

regime, rather than quality issues per se

There is more limited availability on adult pitches at peak times (4.5 match equivalents).

More than half of this is at St Marys College – just 2 match equivalents are at public

venues. St Marys College is also used during the week for curricular purposes

Junior Pitches

The greatest pressures currently occur on junior pitches – caused by both high demand


and quality issues limiting pitch capacity. There is no spare capacity overall (overplay is

greater than unused capacity)

Overplay is focused at sites accommodating large clubs - Feniscowles and Pleasington

FC and Darwen Rangers. Added to this, teams from Turton FC are displaced due to a lack

of capacity at their home ground.

Most spare capacity exists at unsecured sites that are not used currently. Everton

Playing Fields is the only site with spare capacity not falling into this category – this is

managed by the league and therefore there is heavy use at peak times on league days

While in theory pitches at St Bedes RC High School, Darwen Vale High School,

Blackburn Central School and Witton Park High School are available for the community,

there is currently no capacity for community use as the quality of pitches means that sites

are only able to sustain curricular requirements. Quality of provision is therefore

significantly impacting upon available capacity in this instance. It is anticipated that

pitches at these sites become available later in 2014 (to be discussed later)

There are 6.5 match slots available at peak time – of this, 0.5 match equivalents are at

Everton Road Playing Fields while the remainder are all at sites that are unsecured for

community use

Excluding unsecured sites, peak time capacity is reduced to 1.5 match equivalents,

suggesting that supply is closely balanced with demand. There is no spare capacity across

the week and a requirement to relocate 3.5 match equivalent sessions that take place on

sites without formal access agreements

9v9 Pitches

7.5 match equivalent slots are available on 9 v 9 pitches, just 4 of which are at peak

time. There are no pitches at unsecured sites. This suggests again that capacity is relatively

restricted

Mini Pitches (7v7 and 5v5)

While there is enough spare capacity within the stock of mini pitches (26 match

equivalents), capacity is more limited at peak time, with 65% the spare capacity available

at Everton Playing Fields outside times when used by the East Lancs Youth Alliance league

(this site is leased by the league). Just 8 match equivalents are available at peak time

Other Issues

Compounding the problems at these sites with overuse and maintenance, many pitches

are located on public recreation grounds and are used for informal recreation. Along with

overlapping seasons for football and cricket, this means that there are limited

opportunities to carry out appropriate maintenance and pitch reinstatement. The majority

of pitches that are of higher quality are those that receive more limited usage and those

that do not accommodate informal use.

Concerns relating to quality do not focus exclusively on public pitches, with several

clubs managing and maintaining their own facilities raising issues with sustainability and

in particular in relation to maintenance programmes for private pitch sites. The cost of

maintenance was seen to be prohibitive and there is perceived to be a need for ongoing

investment into maintenance as well as capital investment into pitch quality issues

Population growth will generate 4 junior teams and 10 mini teams as well as 1 adult

team. While mini and adult play can just be accommodated within the existing pitch stock,

there are already insufficient junior pitches and therefore there will be future shortfalls of

provision

Added to this, clubs have significant aspirations to increase participation, equivalent to

24 new teams in the next five years, many of which will be in the junior age group.

Achievement of specific growth aspirations would reduce spare capacity on adult pitches

to 7.5 (2.5 at peak time) and mini pitch provision would become tightly constrained, as

well as junior pitches. The recent changes to the way that junior football is played mean


that the FA are confident that demand for football in the younger age groups will

continue to increase. Pilots have demonstrated improved team retention between the

younger age groups and this is likely to have a short and long term impact on demand,

placing further pressures on the existing pitch stock.

It is hoped that pitches equivalent of 9 junior matches per week and 6 senior matches

per week will open at BSF schools during 2014 (assuming quality issues are addressed).

The opening of these pitches will mean that current participation can be accommodated

but will not address future demand

Several clubs have also expressed an interest in managing and maintaining their own

facilities. Most are currently dispersed across several Council venues and would like to

relocate to a self contained site to support ongoing club development. This would require

the creation of new facilities.

AGPs for Football

Only two of the eight full sized AGPs are 3g, the preferred surface for football and there

are an additional 5 small sized 3g pitches. Darwen Vale High School (small sized 3g pitch)

is the only 3g pitch controlled by the Council. The full sized pitches are both owned and

managed by schools meaning that the Council is not in control of access to these facilities

The remaining AGPs are sand based (there are 6 full sized and several small sized

facilities) and there are 11 pitches at the Lucozade Soccer Dome. These pitches can be

used for football training but are not approved surfaces for competitive football.

Despite the emphasis on sand based provision, 90% of activity on AGPs at peak times is

football. The remaining 10% is hockey, but this is isolated to two sites – Blackburn

Northern / Pleckgate High School and Witton Country Park.

Across all of the full sized pitches that are available to the community, pitches are

operating at 68% capacity at peak time, which includes evenings and weekends. Almost all

spare capacity exists at weekends however and there are just 15 hours available midweek

across the whole pitch stock. Blackburn Central High School is the only site with

significant availability midweek and this is a new sand based pitch which had only just

opened when the assessment was undertaken. There is almost no spare capacity on the

3g pitches, which are the most popular for football teams

There is therefore limited capacity for further football training activity on full size

pitches during the week and the small number of 3g pitches means that there are few

opportunities to use AGPS for competitive fixtures at the weekend. Sport England Facility

Planning modelling (FPM) confirms that supply is closely matched with demand

While full sized pitches are reaching capacity, use of small sized pitches (with some

exceptions) is more limited and there is scope to accommodate numerous additional

teams) on these sites.

If participation was to increase significantly therefore, the capacity of existing full sized

AGPs may become constrained (if assumed that all teams would want to train). Increased

requirement for time for hockey training at Pleckgate High School (currently restricted to

Wednesdays), if required and granted, would also mean that some football use may be

diverted elsewhere.

Club consultation revealed that despite most pitches being at capacity, there are few

concerns about the amount of AGPs and few quality issues raised.

Football - Key Issues

The key issues for football can therefore be briefly summarised as;

Limited spare capacity for all types of pitches. Most notably;


o Pressures on the stock of junior pitches (insufficient to meet both current demand and in

the longer term) which is generated by;

o High demand from junior teams, particularly the large clubs of Feniscowles and

Pleasington FC, Darwen Rangers FC, both of which are over capacity. Most large clubs are

dispersed across multiple sites

o Quality issues at school sites – new pitches are due to open during 2014, but there are

quality concerns at the sites currently (no community use available despite secured

agreements being in place)

Quality issues at adult pitches influencing pitch capacity - the quality issues experienced,

particularly those at Pleasington Playing Fields and Pleckgate (due to the scale of the sites) are

reducing the capacity of adult pitches. Overuse (in relation to the quality and capacity of the pitch) is

causing further deterioration of pitches. While the existing stock of adult pitches is sufficient to meet

current and future demand, current maintenance issues and pitch quality issues are building year on

year and pitch quality is inhibiting demand as well as restricting capacity

Even with investment to bring the quality of pitches up to required standards, the programme of

maintenance at public pitches is insufficient to cope with the levels of use and is further limited by the

multi use of sites for football and cricket. There are also gaps in communication between bookings

teams and maintenance providers. Without improvements to maintenance, even with capital

investment, pitch quality will continue to deteriorate and impact the overall stock of facilities. There

are also concerns about the sustainability of maintenance regimes at private pitches

Participation, particularly for juniors is continuing to increase and there are significant aspirations

for club development. Several clubs express concerns however about longer term sustainability

While there are enough AGPs overall, while 90% of use is football, only two full sized AGPs have a

3g surface, meaning that the remainder are more suited to hockey. There is a need to balance the

requirements of both sports. Just two pitches are currently used for hockey (Pleckgate High School

and Witton Country Park). The lack of 3g pitches inhibits the quality of the training that takes place

for football and means that there are limited opportunities to use AGPs for match play.

There is limited use of smaller sized AGPs

Some specific opportunities arise for football;

Improvements to pitch quality would improve the capacity of the stock of pitches – it is likely

however that capital investment would need to be made alongside improved maintenance

programmes

Several clubs have aspirations to manage their own facilities. The lease of pitches could provide

clear benefits to both the clubs and pitch providers

There are several former playing fields sites that are not currently used but could be brought back

into use to meet existing deficiencies

The conversion of existing sand based surfaces to 3g pitches may provide opportunities to

increase the number of facilities available for competitive football.


Cricket

Supply

There are 19 non turf wickets across Blackburn with Darwen, of which just one is not

available for community use. There is therefore long term security that these facilities

will remain available

There are 9 grass squares, 3 of which (33%) are not available for community use – this is

a relatively high proportion of the total number of pitches

All facilities that are not available for community use are located at Queen Elizabeth

Grammar School (3 grass squares) and Westholme Independent School (1 non turf

wicket)

Blackburn with Darwen Council is the main provider of non turf wickets, while all grass

pitches open to the community are located at club bases. With the exception of Cherry

Tree CC, all clubs also have at least one non turf wicket which they use for training and

some junior play

There is one disused artificial wicket at Pleasington Playing Fields. There is also a former

cricket pitch at Pleckgate High School / Blackburn Northern which used to

accommodate a club which has since folded

Except pitches at Darwen CC, East Lancs CC and Edgworth CC, all cricket pitches are

used as football pitches on the outfield during the winter months. This can add to the

wear and tear of pitches and impact upon the ability to undertake maintenance relating

to both football and cricket pitches

Pitch quality overall at club bases is average but there are no poor quality facilities

although there are some site specific issues that need to be addressed.

Although functional, there are also quality issues with the non turf wickets and

particularly the associated outfields at Pleasington Playing Fields and Blacksnape

Playing Fields. Non turf wickets at Council facilities do not meet ECB guidelines

Demand

Participation in cricket is static although the small decline in adult participation

contrasts with a small increase in junior teams

66% of cricket teams are open aged male teams meaning that senior teams still

dominate the cricket landscape.

Two forms of the game currently taking place and there is currently little interaction

between them. 51% of teams are based at five clubs, while the remaining teams

participate in the midweek and weekend cricket leagues which use public pitches and are

not affiliated to the England and Wales Cricket Board

Anecdotally, demand is particularly increasing in the midweek and weekend leagues,

and facilities are starting to inhibit the ability to cope with this demand


Club Bases

Analysis of activity at the club bases, with the exception of Edgworth CC, indicates that

there is capacity to accommodate more play on grass wickets at all sites. The existing

facility at Edgworth CC is overplayed, but the non turf wicket is used as an overspill for

junior play. Feniscowles and Pleasington CC is also used to the level that the site can

sustain suggesting that there is limited opportunity for growth. The remaining clubs are

able to accommodate their existing levels of demand as well as aspirations to increase

participation and there is no requirement for second grounds (except Darwen CC who

have already secured a second ground). All clubs are however currently impacted by

quality issues, some of which are impacting upon capacity (East Lancs CC, Darwen CC).

Training is of greater concern. All clubs require updated training facilities either due to

poor quality (Darwen CC, Edgworth CC, East Lancs CC and Feniscowles CC) or a lack of

provision (Cherry Tree CC). A lack of training facilities impacts both potentially upon use

of the grass wicket, but also on the attractiveness of the club and an ability to compete at

a high level. For some clubs, a programme of refurbishment of the clubhouse is also


required.

Sustainability is perhaps the key challenge for clubs currently, with several indicating

that they are seeking to diversify in order to maintain their membership and to sustain the

current maintenance regimes.

Midweek and Weekend Leagues

Weekend and midweek leagues use artificial wickets at facilities owned and managed

by Blackburn with Darwen Council (Blacksnape Playing Fields and Pleasington Playing

Fields) and participation is therefore reliant upon this provision. Theoretical analysis of

activity at these sites suggests that there are more than sufficient wickets to

accommodate peak time demand, as well as activity over the season.

The quality of facilities however means that not all pitches are used - some wickets are

heavily used while others are hardly played and there is limited scope to increase cricket

as a result. As suggested by this, the quality of pitches is a significant issue for teams

(particularly at Pleasington Playing Fields). Issues vary on each pitch, but in general terms,

the key concerns relate to the evenness of the outfield, drainage issues, proximity to the

river and lack of shelter. Unless improvements are made to facilities that receive less use

(to enable more games to take place at one time), there is limited opportunity for growth.

Other Issues

Population growth will result in the addition of just 1 -2 junior teams and possibly a

senior cricket team based upon current participation rates. Growth of clubs could largely

be accommodated within existing structures however growth of the midweek and

weekend leagues may be inhibited by the quality of facilities and the restrictions that this

places upon the use of the pitches.

Clubs also have aspirations to increase participation and this could largely (with the

exception of Edgworth CC) be accommodated within the existing pitch stock. There is also

believed to be significant scope to further enhance participation in the Midweek and

Amateur leagues, if facilities allow.

Pleckgate High School are keen to reinstate the former Blackburn Northern Cricket Club

facility (located on the school site). There is no evidence of need for this facility from a

club perspective currently (or in future years) however this would fulfil a curricular benefit

for the school.

Key Issues to Address

The key issues to address can therefore be summarised as;

While all cricket pitches are currently valuable resources, there is no requirement for additional

pitches to meet current or projected future demand Population growth will however increase the

number of players and place additional demands on existing facilities.

There is a need for new / improved training facilities at club bases - Darwen CC, Edgworth CC, East

Lancs CC and Feniscowles CC (all improved )and Cherry Tree CC (new)

Added to this, quality issues at club sites (Darwen CC, East Lancs CC) are currently impacting upon

the quality of cricket that can be played

There is an inbalance in use of public cricket pitches, with some pitches regularly used, and other

pitches hardly used. This arises due to the quality of pitches and the desires of the league to avoid


certain pitches due to the issues experienced. As a consequence, this impacts upon the capacity of

the league and also does not make the best use of resources

Many cricket pitches also function as football pitches and this causes issues with the maintenance

regime, with limited time for reinstatement, rest and recovery as well as out of season maintenance

Clubs raise concerns over long term sustainability

Rugby

Supply

Blackburn Rugby Club is the main site for rugby in the borough, containing five pitches. The

quality of pitches at the club is average to good, although the changing accommodation is

poor and the clubhouse also requires investment. There is a need for significant additional

investment if facilities are to be brought up to RFU quality standards. Just one pitch is floodlit,

and this is of significantly poorer quality than other pitches.

Outside of the club, there are only two other sites with rugby pitches – Queen Elizabeth

Grammar School and Westholme School. Neither are used for community rugby although the

pitches at the grammar school are available and of adequate quality

A new pitch will be opened at Darwen Vale High School in 2014 which will further add to the

stock of facilities.

Demand

Blackburn Rugby Club (the only club in the borough) is a large club which offers progression

from midi rugby through to seniors and veterans. It has 16 teams in total and owns its own

ground

The club has experienced recent growth although they continue to struggle to recruit

players at school age, and also suffer a drop off when players reach the age of 18. There is

relatively limited rugby played in schools within the borough which is thought to contribute

towards these issues. The club have however sought to build links with schools and higher and

further education establishments with a view to increasing this

Active People surveys indicate that 21% of those interested in rugby do not currently play,

suggesting that there is a small amount of latent demand that could be realised.


Taking into account all pitches available for community use, there is sufficient provision to

sustain the required level of play

At Blackburn RUFC specifically, where all community activity is currently focused, the

equivalent of 4.75 matches take place during the week and these matches are concentrated on

four pitches. With a capacity of circa 2.5 matches on each pitch, there is scope to increase play,

as well as availability to do so at peak time.

The training pitch is however very heavily used, sustaining a similar match equivalent level of

play per week as the amount spread across the other four pitches. This is the only pitch with

floodlights and therefore the only pitch that can be used for evening training. This pitch is

overused and quality deterioration experienced as a result.

The club recognise the concerns about the impact of training and have aspirations to create

an AGP to reduce the impact on the grass pitches and provide a more flexible way of

accommodating training and match play. An IRB accredited AGP would also be usable for

competitive fixtures. In this instance, the increased capacity offered by the AGP would mean

that current and future training needs, as well as match play could easily be accommodated

within 4 pitches. Otherwise, at least 4 pitches, two of which are floodlit are required to sustain


Rugby

club activity.

Population growth alone will have little impact on demand for rugby, with just one

additional midi rugby team created. The club however have significant aspirations to continue

to grow participation and increased facilities may be required if these plans are achieved.

The club have concerns about the long term sustainability of their facility and are seeking to

improve clubhouse and changing facilities as well to improve the overall pitches available.

They believe that existing participation is inhibited by the location of facilities and the poor

quality of the existing site. They are currently reviewing options in partnership with the RFU to

identify a preferred solution.

Key Issues

Analysis therefore reveals that the key issues to address are;

Capacity of site– There is a need to address the inbalance of provision for matches and training.

Only one pitch is currently suitable for use and as a consequence is overused and of poor quality.

Quality of existing facilities – There is an identified need to improve the quality of existing changing

and clubhouse facilities and sustainability of the club site. This requires significant investment

Potential to increase participation.

Hockey

Supply

There are six full sized sand based pitches for hockey in Blackburn with Darwen. Only one of

these is not available for community use. The remainder are all controlled by Blackburn with

Darwen Council, so there is a good level of control over the surfaces that are provided. The

two 3g full sized pitches are not suitable for hockey activity

There are also several smaller sized sand based pitches which could be used for hockey

training

Facilities are primarily located in the north and west of Blackburn town. The two sand based

AGPs at Witton Country Park, as well as the new sand based pitch at Witton Park High School

are located in very close proximity to each other.

The quality of sand based AGPs is good and few quality issues are identified. Pitches at

Witton Country Park will however soon require replacement and the pitch at St Wilfrids High

School is poor quality. The full size pitch at Westholme School that is not available to the

community does not have floodlights – this limits the potential of this pitch to meet

community activity

The quality of smaller sized pitches is lower than the larger facilities and many are accessible

informally, meaning that they predominantly host recreational activity

While overall Blackburn Northern Hockey Club are happy with the quality of their facilities,

they raise some minor concerns with regards pitch surface and the need for new goalposts, as

well as aspirations for on site shelter.

Demand

There are 12 hockey teams, primarily based at Blackburn Northern Hockey Club (11 teams

across all age groups). The remaining team play at Witton Country Park

Blackburn Northern Hockey Club have a partnership arrangement with Pleckgate High


Hockey

School, Blackburn with Darwen Council and Balfour Beattie allowing them access to the

Pleckgate High School facility free of charge at weekends and on a Wednesday evening while

Witton Warriors Hockey Club rent their facility – this means that while Blackburn Northern

have guaranteed access to their site, Witton Warriors are competing with football teams for

use of the site

Participation has recently increased, particularly influenced by the merger between

Blackburn Northern HC and Clitheroe Ladies. Increases in membership have been experienced

in all sections of the club

England Hockey has significant aspirations for the ongoing development of hockey, and

initiatives involving hockey currently underway are likely to see growth in participation.

Increases in demand may be felt in both formal hockey and in new forms of the game.

Blackburn Northern and England Hockey have recently successfully introduced the PL4S

programme to four school satellite centres (two within Blackburn with Darwen)

Analysis of recent affiliation data suggests that hockey participation may grow up to 4% per

annum. By 2031, this would see current participation double


Hockey usage is restricted to the 6 full sized sand based AGPs. 90% of activity on AGPs at

peak times is however football. Despite this, the majority of the pitch stock, and in particular

full size pitches, is sand based pitches. Football takes place across the pitch stock, which

hockey usage is isolated to two facilities – Blackburn Northern / Pleckgate High School and

Witton Country Park. This suggests that there is a potential imbalance in facilities.

Hockey usage over the course of the week is equivalent to just over 15 hours the majority of

which is at Pleckgate (Blackburn Northern Club). A large proportion of this play takes place at

weekends

Across the stock of AGPs, there is significant capacity to accommodate further competitive

hockey fixtures at the weekend (although Pleckgate / Blackburn Northern AGP is already well

used) however there is much more limited scope to extend midweek training hours due to the

competing demands from football. There is scope to accommodate further hockey at Witton

Country Park, and unmet demand at lots of AGPs over the weekend (peak period for

competitive fixtures). This means that while availability at peak times for hockey does not

constrain demand, capacity issues across the week limit opportunities for training

Significant increases in demand may therefore see opportunities for hockey restricted,

particularly if additional evening training slots are required

Population growth will have limited impact upon the demand for hockey. The recent merger

of the Blackburn Northern Hockey Club, as well as other initiatives by England Hockey to

increase participation are however likely to see growth of the club and a subsequent increase

in demand up to 4% per annum, which would see the amount of teams double

Projecting future demand, it is likely that match play could be accommodated within the

existing pitches but that additional capacity for training may need to be considered. It is in

midweek evenings where access to facilities is much more limited. At least two pitches

(potentially three by 2031) would be required for hockey usage if demand was to increase at a

rate of 4% per annum

The key issues to address with regards for hockey are therefore;

Competition with football highlights the importance of maintaining (and potentially increasing in

light of participation increases) appropriate access to sand based AGPs for training and competitive

activity for hockey clubs;


There is an identified inbalance between sand based and 3g pitch provision – there are six full sized

sand based pitches and only 2 full sized 3g pitches but 90% of activity that takes place on the AGP

stock is football. This has no negative impact for hockey, but any changes to the pitch stock should

take into account the need to retain 2 sand based pitches for hockey;

Quality of facilities impacts upon the activity that can be undertaken. There is a need to address site

specific issues at Pleckgate / Blackburn Northern in order to ensure the continued growth of the

club and pitch surfaces at Witton Country Park are also in need of replacement

Existing small sized AGPs are underused and there is scope to increase the use of these facilities.

Bowls

Supply

There are 28 bowling greens at 23 sites. In addition, there are three sites that used to contain

bowling greens (Audley Lane, Queen's Park and Burnley Road ) and redundant greens at both

Green Park and Roe Lee Park (other greens still remain at this site).

Until recently, Blackburn with Darwen Council was responsible for the management and

maintenance of 12 bowling greens and the remainder were private facilities. With the exception of

Green Park, all bowling greens managed by the Council were handed over to clubs at the

beginning of the 2013 season (on a lease) and clubs now control the management and

maintenance of these facilities, although they benefit from financial contributions from the Council.

The quality of bowling greens is good and few issues were identified through either

consultations or site visits.

Demand

The profile of participants in bowls is focused more towards older segments of the population

than all other sports considered. Active People suggests that there is some latent demand - 80% of

those residents that expressed an interest in playing bowls are currently playing.

All active greens have existing clubs and there are a total of 125 teams. Most clubs enter several

leagues and many are affiliated to the Blackburn Bowls Partnership, which provides a forum for

knowledge sharing as well as the promotion of bowls as a sport across the borough.

Bowling is relatively static and some clubs indicate that they have experienced a decline in

membership

There is little junior participation, with only two clubs having established junior sections.


There are no supply and demand models for bowls greens with the only standard being a historic

Sports Council standard. Current provision of 27 greens means that provision is above this

standard.

All existing greens are well used and there are several strong leagues running in the area,

ensuring that those wishing to participate competitively have the opportunity to do so.

All clubs however have capacity for additional members, and there is scope to accommodate

additional teams on all greens at the current time

The recent transfer of assets to clubs from Council management and maintenance will create new

challenges, as clubs are now required to maintain their own facilities in the same manner as private

clubs. This is viewed as the key challenge moving forwards, as clubs work to achieve the required

maintenance in a sustainable manner and within their given budgets and income available.

In contrast to pitch sports however, the ageing population of the borough may see bowls

become more popular in future years, as it is the older age groups who have a higher propensity to

participate. This growth alone could generate an additional 86 bowls players, meaning that each

green would accommodate on average 37 members, which is still well within acceptable capacity.

Higher memberships will increase the sustainability of existing greens, particularly as clubs move

towards self management and maintenance. Without growth in participation, there are concerns


over the future sustainability of bowls clubs.

The quality of bowling greens is currently high (particularly at the former Council facilities) and

ongoing knowledge sharing will be essential if this is to be maintained. Increases in participation

will be instrumental in ensuring the longevity of bowls and will provide additional income to enable

management and maintenance regimes to be sustained.

The key issues to be addressed for bowls are therefore;

there is no requirement for the creation of additional greens, although all current functioning

greens are considered valuable resources;

there is a need to ensure that the quality of greens is maintained through the retention of ongoing

maintenance practices and knowledge sharing;

site specific improvements are also required; and

there are significant opportunities to grow the sport of bowls within the borough and to promote

opportunities to participate. There is a need to maximise income into bowls clubs to ensure the

ongoing sustainability of clubs.

Population growth will increase the number of players and place additional demands on existing

facilities.

Next Steps

This assessment summarises the key issues arising and provides an overview of the assessment

undertaken. The strategy document will seek to address the issues identified and set out the priorities for

delivery.

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