by Callum Ellis
A FOOTBALL coach from Bridgend has labelled the local council’s decision to increase sports pitch fees by up to five times as “atrocious”.
Penybont Ladies first-team manager, Jason Davies, fears the increase in pitch fees could kill grassroots football in the local area.
Bridgend County Borough Council said it will no longer be able to provide the subsidies required for pitches and pavilions due to funding cuts.
The council need to make further savings of £36.4m over the next four years and is encouraging clubs to take control of the facilities themselves.
“It’s going to put clubs out of action,” said Davies, speaking at the FAW Trust’s Grassroots Coaching Conference.
“They won’t be able to afford that price hike and I think grassroots football will turn to nothing in Bridgend. That’s the biggest problem it’s going to cause.
“It’s going to have a massive impact on the borough, where you’re looking at maybe 400 kids missing out on playing football.
“I think it’s atrocious what they are planning to do.”
Football and rugby clubs are currently charged £56 to hire a council-run pitch and pavilion for each match, which could rise to £305 from April 2020 under the proposed fees.
Cricket clubs could see an increase from £62 to £464, while bowls clubs could be imposed with a £23,000 fee each year.
Davies – who has been heavily involved with grassroots football in the county borough – believes the price hike could force children to miss out on the opportunity of participating in sport.
“As coaches, all we want to do is get more children involved in football,” he added.
“When they are involved in sport, even if it’s not football, it gives them the attitude where it’s a team game and they have to help each other out.
“If there are no children playing football, you’re going to have more suffering with mental health problems and obesity issues.
“Teams could have to pay up to £300 – it’s ridiculous.”
The price hike has been met with widespread criticism on social media, with local sports clubs and residents airing their frustrations.
Prices for parks pitches in Bridgend are rising from £56 to £305 per week next year. THREE HUNDRED AND FIVE. Per week. In a heartbeat, the council price out tens of thousands of people from playing sport. This is beyond shameful— it’s evil. Entire communities will disintegrate. pic.twitter.com/4Oz0cXtKJd
— charlie c (@cottreII) October 21, 2019
Davies suggested a change to the scheduling of the football season could ensure children in the junior age-groups are able to play on the council-run pitches all year round.
“A solution would be to use the pitches more often. They could change the time of the football season.
“The junior age-groups could use them from April to September so you’re getting more football played and you can play in the evenings.
“They could reduce the costs then and get more games played throughout the day if they don’t have the same kick-off times.
“If you played on the Woodlands in Pencoed and it’s a nice day, you could have [junior] games being played at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm if they are only an hour long.”
A petition has been set up in protest of the proposed charges and received more than 5,000 signatures.
