A COMMUNITY sports facility is to be developed at Bristol Road Playing Fields in Bridgwater.

Sedgemoor District Council's executive has agreed to the disposal of the land via a 75-year lease to Bridgwater United Community Sports Trust.

The site used to accommodate four football pitches.

However, competitive football ceased there a number of years ago and the land is currently mainly used a large dog walking area.

A spokesperson for the council said: "Whilst the site is an important green lung, it is under utilised and the proposals include long term investment."

The Bridgwater United Community Sports Trust, would like to see the site developed into a major community sports facility which would include:

  • a community park;
  • a children’s park and activity area;
  • picnic and dog walking areas;
  • two hard court multi use games areas (MUGAs);
  • two 7v7 community open access grass pitches;
  • two 5v5 3G community access cage pitches;
  • an 11v11 community grass pitch;
  • an 11v11 community stadium pitch;
  • a community pavilion clubhouse;
  • a car park;
  • appropriate lighting.

The lease will allow Bridgwater United Community Sports Trust to proceed with a phased approach, with its first objective being to get two football pitches in a condition to allow competitive matches.

The lease is conditional on the granting of planning permission.

Access is a key issue and is causing community concern. The executive was assured that it would be the first thing to be addressed.

Other objections were about dog walking areas, potential anti-social behaviour and noise.

The proposals include a designated dog walking area. It is hoped that the increased usage will address of the anti-social behaviour issues and design elements of the construction will address the noise concerns.

The proposals will require planning permission and several issues raised by objectors to the disposal of the lease can be addressed via the planning process.