Kick off time for Haslemere 3G football pitch
The grounds should be finished in time for football season
Waverley Borough Council has kicked off their redevelopment of Woolmer Hill Recreation Ground in Haslemere, ahead of the 2023 football season.
Development started in January and will see a 3rd Generation football pitch provided, improving sport and recreational facilities.
Beacon Hill Football Club and Haslemere Town Youth Football Club will benefit from the new pitch, allowing for more capacity in the area, enabling more training and patch provisions.
Usage of 3G pitches is up to 20 times greater for artificial pitches compared to grass pitches.
As well as use for the two clubs, the council is preparing a wide programme for community use too.
The Council has worked closely with Beacon Hill Football Club, which has raised significant funding to support the project. The project was made possible through a combined effort of partners in the community, with a major grant from the Football Foundation, Waverley and East Hampshire Community Infrastructure Levy funding and contributions from Haslemere Town FC and Sport Haslemere.
Chairman of Beacon Hill Football Club, Jamie Gaitshill, said; “We’re extremely pleased to see this redevelopment kick off and we know our players are too. The conversion of this land into a 3G pitch and regeneration of facilities in this area will benefit not just our football club, but sports clubs and residents in surrounding towns and we’re proud to have been able to contribute toward these efforts.”
East Hampshire District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regulation and Enforcement, Councillor Angela Glass, said; "East Hampshire District Council is delighted to be able to support Waverley Borough Council in delivering this fantastic new facility with £350,000 drawn from East Hampshire's Community Infrastructure Levy. The pitch will be used by residents for miles around, so even though we are crossing district and even county boundaries, it makes perfect sense to work together to provide a facility that benefits everyone."
Waverley Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commerce and Assets, Councillor Mark Merryweather, said: “This is a fantastic example of the council working with local community groups and a great use of Waverley and East Hants Community Infrastructure Levy to substantially increase leisure infrastructure. Encouraging participation in sporting activities is a key priority for us at the council, as we’re acutely aware of the positive impacts to young people’s physical and mental health, so this project is very welcome.”
The development is expected to finish in June 2023.