Mill Lane Latest News

November 2023 Updates:

“Environmental Impact of 3G” 

 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_23_4602

 https://www.sportengland.org/how-we-can-help/facilities-and-planning/planning-for-sport/position-statement-on-3g-pitches#:~:text=However%2C%20concerns%20have%20been%20raised,which%20is%20also%20a%20microplastic.

Football clubs survey data collection – view results.

Primary School survey – view results.

Tennis Club survey – view results.

Netball Club survey – view results.

August 30th 2023

All August updates on this link including correspondence to forum members and response to petition

Options under consideration

The Mill Lane Forum/Steering Group concluded and reported to the Council that there was equal support among stakeholders for two sets of proposals. There was some overlap between them.

Common to both options:

• · Children’s play area
• · Picnic area
• · Pavilion and car parking
• · Outdoor gym
• · A running/walking track

Football:

• · One option proposed a single, floodlit, fenced 3G full sized pitch that would be marked for different age group play. (Explanatory note: conventional 3G pitches have “rubber crumb infill”. There is talk of using other forms of more natural infill and these are often referred to as 4G but, in reality, they are really the same as 3G but with a different infill material).
• · One option proposed two junior grass pitches for use by children to the age of 12. No fencing, no lighting.

Additional facilities were proposed by one of the options:

• · An area for a primary school running track
• · Provision for junior tennis
• · A tennis practice wall
• · Padel tennis
• · Pickleball
• · Netball courts (possible additional use for basketball)
• · Space reserved for additional tennis courts

All of these options are under consideration. In view of the number of possibilities it is likely that facilities will be added over time rather than all at once.

Data is being collected regarding some of the more recently added options and data already collected is being updated.

In addition to views and wishes of residents, consideration in reaching conclusions that are appropriate for Wickham must be given to:

• · environmental impacts
• · costs of installation and maintenance
• · revenue potential from hire fees
• · impact on Council’s available funds
• · availability and cost of finance
• · knock-on consequences such as traffic volumes and access
• · planning considerations relative to the local plan and policies
• · allowance for the future impact of the numerous competitive facilities being progressed in neighbouring authorities

No option is currently “off the table”. A comprehensive, final consultation among residents with PO17 post codes will be undertaken later this early next year. Residents will be provided with as much information as they need in order that the Council has an excellent picture of the balance of resident opinion before making decisions.