Approximately 76% of sports pitches in Bournemouth are provided by the Council (of which 25% are provided in schools) and 24% by private and voluntary clubs. The availability of school playing fields for public use outside of school's requirements is still fairly limited.

In 2000, Sport England together with Bournemouth and Poole Borough Council's commissioned consultants to undertake a strategic assessment of playing field provision within South East Dorset covering the local authority areas of Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Purbeck, and East Dorset Councils and prepare a South East Dorset Playing Fields Strategy. The assessment undertook an audit of existing provision and demand, and predicted future demand and provision in the next 5-10 years. The issues and proposals highlighted below are based on those raised in the Playing Fields Strategy and in the review of the 1996 Leisure Strategy.

i) Turf Pitches

The South East Dorset Playing Fields Strategy (the 'Pitch Strategy') highlights the continuing growth in demand for football provision within the conurbation, and in particular the growing demand for mini and junior pitch provision. It is recognised in the Pitch Strategy that the overall standard of pitch provision within Bournemouth is good. Concerns raised include the levels of use and consequent wear, compounded by the limited opportunities to rotate pitches, and the need for improved changing room provision and car parking at certain sites.

An analysis of the change in average pitch usage per site between 1996/1997 and 2000/2001 is provided in Appendix 1.2A to this paper. The Pitch Strategy estimates a further increase in participation of 5% in the next 10 years.

As in 1996, there is a disproportionate demand for senior and junior football pitch provision on Sundays, and further consideration needs to be given to a more balanced programme to include Saturdays. For Bournemouth the existing playing field sites, subject to provision of appropriate changing room facilities and the modifications suggested below, are capable of meeting the town's needs over the next 5 years. Beyond this period additional provision in the green belt will be necessary. The wear to pitches is exacerbated by the extent of casual play in the goalmouths. Provision of fenced kick-about areas for casual play can significantly reduce this problem and a network of such provision around the town is suggested.

a) Council provision for the future

The Pitch Strategy indicates the availability of contributory capital funding through the Football Foundation to assist in financing the identified improvements.

b) School Provision

Extensive use of school provision is made for Junior/Youth football and this is entirely appropriate. The pitches are incapable of sustaining regular adult play in addition to the demands of individual schools.

c) Private and Voluntary Sector Provision

The providers of turf football pitches in 1996 were AFC Bournemouth, Bournemouth Civil Service and Bournemouth Electric Club :-

• Bournemouth Civil Service Club has achieved a planning consent for health and fitness provision and synthetic mini pitches at its Kinson site which will reduce the turf pitch provision by one football pitch.
• Bournemouth Electric Club's pitch provision is being reduced by 1 Junior pitch as part of the site is being developed for housing.
• AFC Bournemouth have recently completed a new 8,000 seat stadium which was partly grant funded by the Council, with a partnership arrangement for football development

ii) Synthetic Pitches

The provision of six 6-A-Side Floodlit artificial training pitches at Littledown Centre with Lottery funding has proven to be extremely successful in providing a new dimension to football provision and football development in the Borough. The facility is complemented by an additional ATP pitch at Bournemouth School. Further expansion of ATP facilities is anticipated as part of Bournemouth Civil Service site redevelopment.

It is unsure whether the market for ATP 6-A-Side provision has reached saturation point or whether there is further capacity. Continual review is recommended. Further potential sites include Slades Farm through the conversion of the existing floodlit tarmac training pitch potentially in conjunction with Bournemouth University, and Kings Park to replace the hard porous training area.

Since 1996 utilisation of cricket provision has declined which is acknowledged in the Pitch Strategy and is shown in Appendix 1.2 B to this paper. Some development work is being carried out within the Active Sports initiative to attract young people to the sport, but the level of participation has dropped dramatically and a fundamental review of the pitch supply in the conurbation is required.

The Pitch Strategy identifies a need within Poole and Bournemouth to provide more centrally located artificial pitch provision. A new artificial pitch has been installed at Meyrick Park funded by the site-based cricket club.

a) Council provision for the future

• Muscliff Park - withdrawal of cricket pitch provision.
• Further review of provision once Canford Park (Moortown Aerodrome) is fully operational.

b) School Provision

As in 1996, whilst a number of school cricket pitches are available for evening and weekend use, they tend not to be associated with cricket pavilions and are thus unattractive to adult teams. It may be possible to explore the use of school sites for developing youth cricket in association with adult clubs linked to the Active Sports initiative.

c) Private and Voluntary Sector Provision

• Dean Park is leased to Bournemouth University who are the principal user.
• Cricket is being retained in the redevelopment of the Civil Service Ground
• but removed in the redevelopment of the Bournemouth Electric Sports Ground.

Whilst the 1996 Strategy acknowledged growth in the game as a result of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) Junior Development initiatives, demand has very much plateaued since that time. There are three clubs in Bournemouth - Oakmeadians RFC, East Dorset RFC and Bournemouth University. In addition, Bournemouth Sports Club provides major facilities for rugby at Hurn. There are also some additional rugby pitches provided within schools. Provision for rugby is fairly well catered for, as in 1996. A second pitch at Iford for East Dorset RFC is desirable and Oakmeadians RFC are short of mini-pitches and on-site training facilities at Meyrick Park.

Further proposals:

The Borough had no synthetic hockey provision in 1996. One synthetic pitch is now available at Bournemouth School. Current demand for hockey, as identified in the Pitch Strategy fairly stable and largely provided for outside of the Borough. There is no identified requirement for additional provision within Bournemouth.