3G PitchInformation

This presentation was intended to be shared at an information evening. In the absence of this

evening (during school closures) it is published on the

school website.

PROPOSAL

• Youth sized 3G pitch, to replace a football pitch that is currently unusable for the vast majority of the year due to poor drainage.

• Improving facilities for students at this Academy.

• In partnership with The FA the new facility will also be used by selected local clubs in the evenings and at weekends.

BENEFITS TO THE

STUDENTS

• PE lessons and fixtures are regularly cancelled due to the poor state of the football pitch.

• This facility will enable a variety of sports (including football, netball, rounders) to be played in all weathers.

• This will lead to improved PE provision for students at the Academy.

LOCATION

LOCATION

• Located to the North of the school buildings, but the pitch furthest away from residential properties.

• 201m from Whitefields Rd (South East)

• 215m to Dingle Lane (South)

• 168m from Dingle Lane (South West)

• This location has specifically been selected due to the distance away from the neighbours. It will be located within the mature trees with no need to remove any existing trees.

LOSS OF EXISTING

GREEN SPACE

• The proposed site is a football pitch which is unusable for the vast majority of the year due to extremely poor drainage. As this pitch is unplayable, students at the Academy are not able to access a full PE curriculum as lessons planned for this pitch are cancelled or moved due to the increased risk of injury. This 3G will accommodate other sports in the school day to enhance our PE and extra-curricular provision.

• The school maintain plenty of green space with a further 2 rugby pitches and a cricket pitch.

LIGHTING

• The FA approved lighting system is LED and the lux levels outside of the pitch area are minimal.

• There will be absolutely no floodlight pollution observed from outside of the school grounds.

• Lights will be set electronically and will automatically turn off at the end of the session. Therefore play and lighting will never continue beyond the set hours.

LIGHTING

HOURS OF USE

• The facility will be for the sole use of the Academy during the hours of 7.30am – 5pm.

• The facility will be let out (as per the development plan) for use by local charter standard football clubs as part of the FA playing strategy.

• Hours for lettings would be 5 – 9pm on weekdays, 9 – 5.30pm on Saturdays and 9 –4pm on Sundays.

NOISE ANDDISTURBANCE

• The facility is as far from housing as it can be and the professional conclusion is that noise could be noticeable but will not be intrusive.

• To ensure we are working with our community, the hours of letting at weekends will be limited and no later than 5:30pm Saturday and 4pm Sunday.

DISTURBANCETO WILDLIFE

• Surveys have shown the proposed venue will not result in adverse impacts to any sensitive ecological receptors, biodiversity or protected species

• As no trees need to be removed for this proposal, damage to local wildlife will be limited.

• The plans include additional tree planting to the North of the facility.

MAINTAINING COMMUNITY RELATIONS

• School Letting Solutions (SLS) are a key partner. They would be responsible for ensuring that clubs using the facility would adhere to the service level agreement, including close supervision of participants.

• A TGAS 3G steering group will meet termly to review usage. Representatives to include:

• Local residents

• Senior leaders at TGAS

• SLS representatives

• A representative from each club using the facility

• Representative from county FA

PARKING

• Sufficient onsite parking for facility users.

• Promotion of car sharing and the use of grass travel methods including walking, cycling and use of public transport.

• Existing entrances and exits used for the facility.

• No parking in the local community or side roads.

DEMAND

• In Solihull, there are only two FA sanctioned 3G pitches available for youth football, both of these are located in North Solihull.

• South Solihull is featured on the FA Playing Pitch Strategy. There is a clear need for this facility as indicated on the FA Local Football Facility Plan (LFFP). The FA LFFP identifies Solihull’s need for 6 more 3G pitches now and 9 by 2028 and has identified TGAS as key priority project

COMMERCIAL VENTURE

• This is not a commercial venture.

• The primary purpose of this proposal is to improve sporting facilities and therefore sporting provision for the young people at TGAS.

• Local clubs have and will be consulted to ensure the 3G meets the needs of our community. “Club Nights” will be created whereby a specific club uses the 3G for that evening thus creating a safe and welcoming atmosphere conducive to positive outcomes.

VISUAL POLLUTION OF BANNERS AND ILLUMINATED

SIGNS

• As this is not a commercial venture, there would be no need for advertisement of this type.

• Football clubs would be those that our students currently play for and who would be signing up to a lengthy contract (which could be ended by SLS if they do not keep to the service level agreement).

INVITING QUESTIONS

• Senior leaders at TGAS have consulted with representatives from the local community to gain a better understanding of residents concerns.

• Changes to the planning proposal have been made based on this consultation.

• We invite queries / comments from our community. These can be sent to office@Solihull.tgacademy.org.uk.