New facilities offer a sporting chance in Bagnall

The local community in Bagnall have said well played to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council for funding the new sporting facilities at the playing fields in Bagnall.

The recreation ground at Clewlows Bank has been given a facelift and a package of improvements to create a new sports pitch, access ramp, fencing and upgrade to the grounds alongside enhanced play facilities including the installation of new swings and new purpose-built safety surface.

The investment has seen the previously waterlogged and uneven ground massively improved with a high specification drainage systems and playing surface to the football pitch.

As part of the changes at Clewlows Bank Bagnall Parish Council has taken over ownership from the County Council and will manage the site to provide a local venue for recreation events and activities.

Bagnall ward member, Councillor Sybil Ralphs, had the original idea for the project and then championed it with the District Council when she approached them for support. She said:

"The playing field was just not fit for purpose and needed a lot of work doing to it. How anyone managed to play football on that uneven and waterlogged surface I will never know!

"The access to the ground was poor and not disabled-friendly and the swings needed renewing. I am therefore delighted that the District Council has taken the opportunity to invest in this important community facility and support the Parish Council in the development of this space for the benefit of local residents and, particularly, the young people of the parish.

"I would also like to thank our County Council colleagues who formerly owned the field and were willing to allow the Parish Council to become the new land owners,"

Chesterfield-based sports field and landscaping specialists Pugh-Lewis carried out the works and handed the field back to the Parish Council at the beginning of the month.

Councillor Andrew Batson, Chair of Bagnall Parish Council, added: "We are extremely grateful to the District Council in supporting us with the project. There has been a great deal of work done behind the scenes to both acquire and improve the recreation ground.

"The project has been a difficult one with the wet weather hampering the construction at key points. My thanks go to the main contractor and, personally, to James Pugh-Lewis for his perseverance. The result is better than our original expectations.

"This is a great addition to the Parish Council's community assets and we look forward to an increase in the use of the recreation ground by local young people and their families."

The pitch will be fit for use as soon as the grass has grown over the drainage slits. To book the pitch please email the Parish Clerk at bagnallpc@gmail.com