3G artificial pitches feasibility study for former sports centre site
A detailed feasibility study will be carried out with a view to installing 3G artificial sports pitches on the site of the former Queen’s Park Sports Centre.
At a meeting of Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet today, Tuesday 7 March, councillors agreed that the study should look in greater detail at options for having 3G artificial sports pitches on the Boythorpe Road site that are suitable for use by different sports. These could include football, rugby, hockey and athletics.
The study will be developed with the input of key stakeholders, including potential contractors, operators of similar facilities, local sports clubs and the Friends of Queen’s Park.
Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said:
“From the options considered in the public consultation 3G artificial sports pitches appears the best way to meet our desire to have a use on the former Queen’s Park Sports Centre site that provides value for money for our residents, fits in with the heritage nature of the grade II* listed Queen’s Park and is financially viable.
The next stage to make this a reality is to produce a detailed feasibility study and business case that examines the different ways this could be delivered, the cost of doing it and the return on investment it would provide. Any income generated would be invested back in providing frontline council services.”
A consultation held with residents in September and October last year found that 69 per cent of the 583 people who responded agreed with this plan for the site.
At their February meeting, councillors also received a petition led by Chesterfield residents Adrian and Donna Todd that the council should build and run an ice rink on the site.
Councillors passed a motion that although the council is not able to afford to build and operate an ice rink, it would support any private operators who may plan to build one in the borough in the future.
