FACILITIES
The Facilities Group was formed from five individuals who either had professional expertise, experience or
qualifications in the field of leisure, recreation or youth provision and services.
The agreed objectives for the group were:
- Review current provision in terms of leisure and recreation facilities available to the residents of the town.
- Recommend what facilities and services should be provided in the future to meet reasonable aspirations.
The agreed remit for the group was deliberately focused on physical leisure and recreation provision, rather than
services available to all ages. Thus, no consideration was given to the
services which were either currently available for senior citizens or for the
very young, such as retirement homes, sheltered accommodation, nurseries or play
schools. There is a case for a study on the wider issue of facilities and
services available within the town for these groups in the future.
The group's first task was to review the existing portfolio of leisure and recreation facilities available to local
residents and to consider all available research information. The group then
identified activity areas that appeared to be under provided, following further
research and consultation.
Following surveys and consultations with local people it is concluded that current provision for leisure and
recreation facilities and opportunities for participation in active sports and
physical recreation is generally satisfactory. However there are gaps in
provision although during the period of the study the Town Council met one of
the principal findings of the research carried out of youth views. This was the
lack of a skateboarding facility in Arlebury Park.
One of the other key findings was the shortage of changing accommodation to service the sports pitches, both
at Arlebury Park and Stratton Bates playing fields, particularly having
regard to recent changes in the rules governing youth sport. The Town
Council has already recognised this problem and is planning to increase the
changing room capacity at the Arlebury Park complex, as part of a major
development programme, for which it is currently assembling the necessary
resources.
Although it was not a specific finding of the group, during the initial study phase of the work, two issues
were raised at the public consultation workshops and exhibitions. These were
firstly the lack of a genuine Town Hall facility with sufficient audience
capacity for major cultural and social events appropriate for the size of
the local community, and secondly, the absence of allotments. The Town
Council is currently investigating options for the provision of allotment
land.
The group did not consider that it was
appropriate to make recommendations about a new Town Hall facility of a size and
audience capacity which would normally be available to a settlement of the size
of New Alresford. The reason for this conclusion was the availability of Perins
Main Hall and the limited capacity Community Centre, Edward Knight Centre and
the John Pearson Hall which made it unlikely that a good case could be made for
funding for a new major building
Finally the group recognises that the town has benefited greatly from the successful development of Perins Community
School with a range of modern facilities that are available for public use
outside school hours. Future developments (new fitness suite, dance studio and
additional sports hall) are now in the process of planning and implementation as
a result of the school being granted special sports college status. The group
welcomes these developments, but considers it important that a comprehensive
plan be developed in partnership with the town residents to maximise public use
of all the school's recreation and cultural facilities out of school hours.
Critical Facilities Issues
The critical issues are as follows:
- Lack of provision for youth activities outside school hours.
- A shortfall in public open space, against City Council standards
- Lack of adequate changing room accommodation to meet the needs of the successful development of local
sports teams and the changed rules for ' junior' (young people) teams.
- The lack of an indoor swimming pool.
- The lack of a co-ordinated group to represent sports and recreation interests
- That some minor 'sports' and activities had no local provision
- That Perins School facilities were not used to capacity at some times
- The lack of a major village hall/ public hall (such as at Itchen Abbas or Bishops Waltham), with substantial
public audience capacity suitable for significant cultural events.
- Inadequate number of grass sports pitches, particularly for rugby and football.
- Lack of public community use of Perins Main Hall.
- The absence of allotments.
- Library opening hours too limited.
Facilities Recommendations
