Eviction of footballers defended by Blackburn with Darwen council

5:00pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Catherine Pye, Health reporter

BLACKBURN with Darwen Council has defended its decision to evict young footballers from “partially-used” all-weather pitches.

Dr Craig Hammond, of Willis Road, Blackburn, has complained that, on Sunday afternoon, security guards were dispatched to the pitches on the road, because the youths had not paid for entry.

Dr Hammond said: “As a local resident, I regularly walk around the park area, and often find that the pitches are only occasionally, and partially, used.

“On the back of the recent storming success of Team GB at the Olympics, we need more of this kind of impromptu sporting collaboration, to nur-ture and promote further home-grown talent, and success.

“However, this uplifting scene was all brought to an abrupt, and unnecessary, end as security guards arrived to shut down the matches and lock up the premises.

“It seems that the use of the otherwise empty facilities had not been paid for.

“I spoke to some of the despondent youths after their eviction, and it seems that, at an extortionate price for one hour’s use, this is well beyond their pockets. So, as it stands, it seems the council prefers to have this community resource overpriced and empty.”

Dr Hammond has called for an alternative financial arrangement to allow the young people to use the facility more regularly.

Coun Damian Talbot, executive member for culture, leisure and young people, said the council was keen to encourage young people to play sport.

But there was a cost in maintaining the artificial pitches and associated changing facilities.

He said: “This Sunday these unauthorised players were asked to leave as the staff were closing up the facility at the end of the working day.

“Correct procedure was followed as the pitches are locked up at night at weekends for health and safety reasons as there are no staff there to supervise customers.”

The artificial pitches cost £32.45 for a pitch during the week, with a special discounted rate at the weekend of £22.75.

Comments (11)

5:42pm Wed 12 Sep 12

CapitaBackHander says...

That is NOT a health and safety reason! No wonder people hate H&S.
The reason they are locked (rightly so) is so that the pitches are not vandalised e.t.c.
That is NOT a health and safety reason! No wonder people hate H&S. The reason they are locked (rightly so) is so that the pitches are not vandalised e.t.c. CapitaBackHander

5:49pm Wed 12 Sep 12

A Darener says...

But there was a cost in maintaining the artificial pitches and associated changing facilities. These charges would be incurred whether the pitches were open or closed so they may as well be open.
But there was a cost in maintaining the artificial pitches and associated changing facilities. These charges would be incurred whether the pitches were open or closed so they may as well be open. A Darener

6:23pm Wed 12 Sep 12

happycyclist says...

Olympic legacy...
Olympic legacy... happycyclist

6:38pm Wed 12 Sep 12

CapitaBackHander says...

A Darener wrote:
But there was a cost in maintaining the artificial pitches and associated changing facilities. These charges would be incurred whether the pitches were open or closed so they may as well be open.
No. When someone pays to play on the pitch that charge goes towards profit and maintaince of floodlights, pitch, changing rooms e.t.c. When they are open and used for free then there is no income. If the facility is closed then there is no (arguements sake) running cost but if left open for anyone to use then the pitches WOULD be wrecked and therefore not usable for paying customers.
If the pitch is closed then obviously the lights are not on and the pitch will (hope) not get wrecked.
I don't know how this pitch operates and no idea why in Darwen section BUT I play football elsewhere and the kids who jump on there for free are a pain in the arse because they don't leave when a paying customer arrives.
I also don't know the true story behind this but if it is a council owned property and the income is factored into my council tax then I wouldn't want the local kids using it (expensive football pitch - not a piece of school land away from windows) without registration e.t.c.
[quote][p][bold]A Darener[/bold] wrote: But there was a cost in maintaining the artificial pitches and associated changing facilities. These charges would be incurred whether the pitches were open or closed so they may as well be open.[/p][/quote]No. When someone pays to play on the pitch that charge goes towards profit and maintaince of floodlights, pitch, changing rooms e.t.c. When they are open and used for free then there is no income. If the facility is closed then there is no (arguements sake) running cost but if left open for anyone to use then the pitches WOULD be wrecked and therefore not usable for paying customers. If the pitch is closed then obviously the lights are not on and the pitch will (hope) not get wrecked. I don't know how this pitch operates and no idea why in Darwen section BUT I play football elsewhere and the kids who jump on there for free are a pain in the arse because they don't leave when a paying customer arrives. I also don't know the true story behind this but if it is a council owned property and the income is factored into my council tax then I wouldn't want the local kids using it (expensive football pitch - not a piece of school land away from windows) without registration e.t.c. CapitaBackHander

6:39pm Wed 12 Sep 12

woolywords says...

Following that line of absurd logic, the council should close every park and green space in the Borough. We wouldn't want anyone injuring themselves while playing ball with a dog or child. I may not be able to sleep tonight for worrying about the H&S implications.
Following that line of absurd logic, the council should close every park and green space in the Borough. We wouldn't want anyone injuring themselves while playing ball with a dog or child. I may not be able to sleep tonight for worrying about the H&S implications. woolywords

7:23pm Wed 12 Sep 12

Hovis1945 says...

Not the Venky's then! Ah well live in hope!!!
Not the Venky's then! Ah well live in hope!!! Hovis1945

8:03pm Wed 12 Sep 12

kakaimacgul says...

I've played every sunday on the witton park astro turf, for about 8 years now (some of my friends around 12 years!)
never once have I paid, we have been kicked off the pitches 3 times in all that time, absolutely pointless!
if people come over and say they've booked the pitch and show us their receipt, we move with no issues........everyt
ime they lock the pitches...........pe
ople (me and my friends don't) just rip the fence panels off and go on the pitches, costing them money to fix the damage when by simply leaving a gate open this could have been easily avoided (obviously I don't condone nor promote damage to the facilities)
By allowing people to use the facilities (young kids having a kick about with their dads etc) how is this a cause to kick people off?.....there is no where like this where you can play for FREE in blackburn, the hourly prices of such facilities are quite frankly laughable!....would the council rather youths were out drinking and smashing up phone boxes and cars, than kick an inflated object around a metal enclosure?.........
I've played every sunday on the witton park astro turf, for about 8 years now (some of my friends around 12 years!) never once have I paid, we have been kicked off the pitches 3 times in all that time, absolutely pointless! if people come over and say they've booked the pitch and show us their receipt, we move with no issues........everyt ime they lock the pitches...........pe ople (me and my friends don't) just rip the fence panels off and go on the pitches, costing them money to fix the damage when by simply leaving a gate open this could have been easily avoided (obviously I don't condone nor promote damage to the facilities) By allowing people to use the facilities (young kids having a kick about with their dads etc) how is this a cause to kick people off?.....there is no where like this where you can play for FREE in blackburn, the hourly prices of such facilities are quite frankly laughable!....would the council rather youths were out drinking and smashing up phone boxes and cars, than kick an inflated object around a metal enclosure?......... kakaimacgul

10:06pm Wed 12 Sep 12

makaveli96 says...

It wasnt a Northern Olympics anyway!

It was for the South!
It wasnt a Northern Olympics anyway! It was for the South! makaveli96

10:26pm Wed 12 Sep 12

RUinsane says...

This is exactly the kind of thing that should be free watching that shad doc the other night. Let youths use it for nowt, this lets them blow off energy and have some free fun. Its either that or let them continue to throw rocks at your car while out of their heads on bubble. I know what i'd sooner have. I pay my council tax, the council should do as we want. What was the point of putting all that money into youth zone when they could just have opened all leisure facilities in the borough for free for those in areas like shad.
This is exactly the kind of thing that should be free watching that shad doc the other night. Let youths use it for nowt, this lets them blow off energy and have some free fun. Its either that or let them continue to throw rocks at your car while out of their heads on bubble. I know what i'd sooner have. I pay my council tax, the council should do as we want. What was the point of putting all that money into youth zone when they could just have opened all leisure facilities in the borough for free for those in areas like shad. RUinsane

8:28am Thu 13 Sep 12

BritainfortheBritish says...

Not used enough ? To be sold off ?
Not used enough ? To be sold off ? BritainfortheBritish

9:16am Thu 13 Sep 12

Moonman says...

Would anyone be batting an eyelid if, for example, JJB had chucked someone off their pitches because they were using them without paying and would it have made the headlines? Probably not. Another biased article from the LT trying to paint the council in a bad light to grab headlines.
Players on artificial pitches are covered by the owner's insurance against injury and that is included in the price. Not factoring in the health & safety issues of playing without sufficient supervision, this is why pitches can only be used by paying players. This FACT seems to have been omitted from this article.
Would anyone be batting an eyelid if, for example, JJB had chucked someone off their pitches because they were using them without paying and would it have made the headlines? Probably not. Another biased article from the LT trying to paint the council in a bad light to grab headlines. Players on artificial pitches are covered by the owner's insurance against injury and that is included in the price. Not factoring in the health & safety issues of playing without sufficient supervision, this is why pitches can only be used by paying players. This FACT seems to have been omitted from this article. Moonman

Comments are closed on this article.

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree