New soccer centre set for Hammersmith Park

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New soccer centre set for Hammersmith Park

Friday July 8, 2011

A multi-million pound football centre, with significant free use for local residents, is set to be built in Shepherds Bush.

The council is set to appoint Sport and Leisure Group Ltd to construct 11 astroturf pitches and one basketball zone at Hammersmith Park.

The new, £2.1 million site will replace the park's existing all-weather pitch which has fallen into a state of disrepair with the fabric turf falling out and the fences in need of replacement. The facility is the only available community pitch in the Shepherds Bush and White City area and the council is responding to residents who have asked for improvements to be made.

If the Council's Cabinet agrees to appoint Sport and Leisure Group Ltd (trading as PlayFootball.net) at Cabinet on July 18, a planning application could be submitted late summer with the new pitches open to the public in Spring 2012.

The new facility will include eight five-a-side pitches and three seven-a-side pitches to ensure a variety of groups can be catered for. In addition to the free basketball area, registered local residents will also be given substantial free use of one-five-a side pitch and one seven a side pitch.

A pavilion, café and car park will also be built which suitably fits into the surroundings of the park.

Cllr Greg Smith, Cabinet Member for Residents' Services, said: "This is a absolutely fantastic deal for Shepherds Bush and White City residents. The council has managed to secure £2 million to be spent in Hammersmith Park at zero cost to the taxpayer in return for a state-of-the-art soccer centre that local people will be able to use for free. Residents have been asking us to upgrade the obsolete all-weather pitch for several years and we are sure that they will be delighted with the new complex.

"Hammersmith & Fulham is one of the sportiest boroughs in London and we are delighted that Hammersmith Park will soon have first class sports pitches."

John Gordon-Smith, Chairman Friends of Hammersmith Park, said: "I think that this is absolutely brilliant. For a small park we now have a fantastic Japanese garden, great childrens' play equipment and potentially this new sports facility. We did a survey of park users a few years ago and a cafe and toilets came out top in what people wanted so we are very pleased that we shall now be getting that. The park certainly punches above its weight for a small park."

As part of the deal, the council will be removing the poorly-used bowling green at Hammersmith Park which is used by the visually impaired bowlers of the Metro Blind Sport club. These bowlers have been transferred to Ravenscourt Park - a move which they have embraced.

Bill Reynolds of Metro Blind Sport said: "We are all delighted with the move. We were based at Hammersmith Park for about eight years and were the only people using the green. The facilities at Ravenscourt Park are far better and everyone there is very friendly and welcoming."

Hammersmith Park, a stones throw away from Queens Park Rangers Football Club, has undergone a radical transformation recently. The park's historic Japanese Garden has been refurbished with new Japanese-themed natural and adventurous play installed to provide a continuous  play trail across the whole site.

A climbing forest has also been created and three large spectacular play mountains also have been built. The council has built a hedge maze that is proving to be hugely popular with children. The maze was the number one suggestion when the council asked youngsters what they would like to see in the park.

» Send us your comments now

I am a retired semi professional footballer who was once a promising young prospect for the nation of st lucia . I retired because I couldnt make it into the subs bench in chesham united so therefore I would like to play on these pitches to get scouted for another semi pro team.
From Ryan@chesham on 26/04/2012 at 11:55
People who agreed with the plans probably thought 'significant free use' of the pitches meant that they'd be able to use them free of charge most of the time. Limited use of 2 pitches makes this unlikely seeing as so many people use the astroturf already, despite its bad condition. This is clearly selling off land to a private company who have chosen facilities that will help it make the most profit possible. If people use the tennis courts regularly, that means there is a need for them there. The ones on Shepherds Bush Green and Wormholt are also busy, so this move will clearly make it much more difficult for tennis players to get a court when they want to play. If it wasn't about money, why couldn't the council just have made the astroturf into 5-a-side pithces, and redone the tennis and basketball courts?
From Danny T on 19/09/2011 at 22:02
The new pitches will provide residents with some of the best football facilities in London and the majority of people we have spoken to have told us that they are in favour of these plans. The council has more than 35 tennis courts scattered around the borough - that is more than nearly all other London local authorities.
From H&F Council on 19/09/2011 at 10:56
While I welcome the much-needed regeneration of the sports facilities in the area, I am unsure whether this represents an improvement on what we had originally (as in around 10-15 years ago) when there was a premium astro-turf pitch with, goals, lines and proper fencing, 2 tennis courts and a basketball court, all free to use and in good condition. Firstly, limited free use of one out of eight 5-a-side pitches does not (to any human being with a working brain) represent 'significant free use'. Secondly, the new development has no tennis facilities. So as a sports facility, it is actually poorer than what we have already. The tennis courts were used every day, including by some very good young players and I see no reason other than them being less profitable for their absence in the new development. It only takes using the park to know that I am not alone my opinions, so can we have some answers please?
From Danny T on 17/09/2011 at 16:01
Great though it is to have sport facilities, what does "significant free use" mean? 10%,20%,30%,40%? In addition, are the grounds are being sold or just leased to CSSC Properties Ltd (owner The Sport & Leisure Group)?
Also, to echo E Plunket, given that there is a scarcity of tennis courts in the north of the borough why is no consideration being given to multi use pitches?
From degler on 04/08/2011 at 18:45
Great to have this development but should the existing tennis courts area be incorporated in the development, please ensure that there is at least 1 tennis court included in the complex. As residents of Loftus Road and frequent user of the tennis courts most of the year, our sporting activity would be adversely affected should there be no provision for tennis in the complex or Park. I have observed good use of the tennis courts, especially by young people and families in the summer.
Thank you for your consideration.
From E Plunket on 19/07/2011 at 18:36

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