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View Full Version : Peterborough City Council, Sports and Leisure, "NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE"



n j titman
02-03-2010, 07:34
Last evening, The Embankment Astro turf pitch was reopned, only five months late.

After a high six figure sum spent, to relay the new surface, the result is an embarassment to the Council, and yet another horrendous example of the abuse of public funds.

The near pitch was so sand covered, it was potentially dangerous. The damage such a sand ovelay causes to the new surface is known to everyone in the astroturf world, but not, to the PCC it appears!

The Goal Posts are unsecure; holes in the nets;two lamps out on the Floodlights, that, (and I speak as a Lighting Engineer of 40 years experience), are approximately 15 degrees of true, resulting in poor light levels on the pitch, and significant glare problems resultantly; no toilets or changing facilities (I was told the toilets had been "condemned!"; but, to save the best, (and worst waste of space until last), the Pitch markings were, even by the PCC Standards, an unbelievable series of errors.

No half way line marked; The goal circle areas approx 5m too small; the penalty spots, subsequently set at 8 m only; the centre circle too large; etc wetc etc.

Now Mr Winde has only been using this facility for umpteen years, and had reconfirmed same pitch markings to the PCC,but as usual, their gross incompetence means more public funds wasted in correcting these errors.

The Head of the PCC Sports and Leisure, I sadly repeat yet again, provides a "Check list" to be completed pre any hiring of this facility. I now firmly believe that he actually meant he would employ residents of the "Czech" Republic, not "Check" ; must have been my misunderstanding!.

Our City, "Pride in Peterborough", with a population of over 160000, apart from being the only City in England of similar size, NOT*** to provide any full sized Football Astroturf facility for its citizens,talks about its potential "River Taxis", Cathedral Square Water fountains" etc.,

When will the City look after the artificial surface needs of ourmajority sport, football?

***** means that both the Embankment and Bushfield are primarily Hockey pitches on which football is permitted!!!!!!! Maybe that is why the proposed 3G surface at Bushfield was dropped. Hockey is not played on such a surface!!!.

But, there again, Hockey is a much bigger sport than Small sided football, isn't it?!l
When

Harbs
02-03-2010, 09:06
Whats going to happen from here Nick?

Princey
02-03-2010, 10:41
Can this website not start/fund/organise the petition along with Nik T to wake up the council and show them that the sports loving people from Peterborough are interested......
Something along the lines of
We, the sports people of Peterborough and it surrounding area, wish to petition the council for .................... and so on
Circulate it to all clubs, hockey, football etc - all age groups and see what replis you get.
I'm sure Plummer at the ET would give it some coverage given the right "scoops"
Hopefully thats stirred the juices

n j titman
02-03-2010, 10:48
Whats going to happen from here Nick?

I have emailed my contact at the NLP, and also Swanny at the ET, but I believe that until we have a resonse from PCC, Master Tye, I can take the matter no further forward.
Celeste is unlikely to do anything but add soundbites!!

Also passed to Couinty for the Small Sided Committe to note

Andy
02-03-2010, 11:02
And it's only going to get worse with leisure facilities expected to be hit hard(er) by all local governments.

I like the local 7-aside scene, but the facilities on offer are p*ss poor. if Rob schedules a team for 3 games, with a half hour break, they'll be down the embankent for the best part of 2 1/2 hours with nowhere to go to the toilet or even get out of the rain, should the need arise.

GOod luck with the Champion's League when approximately 14 teams will be down there for about 4 hours!

Glasgow Rangers Champions
07-03-2010, 08:20
I can actually shed some light on the toilet issue, as you will all be aware there is indeed a changing room and toilet facilities beside the astro turf pitch on the athletics track. On enquiring why it never gets given to the football lads the response was a swift sharp one due to the fact last time it was gioven the go ahead for it to be used by the 7 a side league many years ago the changing rooms were unfortunally wrecked with people blocking all the sinks, showers and toilets with bog roll and for some unknown reason deciding to pull some light fitings of the wall. After that the descion was to never let the so called footballers use the facilities again.
Also on the pitch note the pcc have a new astro turf down at Riverside (sugerway) has anyone enquired about using them facilaties as i can guarentee you they are top notch and the football pitches will be opening next season (sept 2010 is the proposed date) but the astro is allready open i think :).

Harbs
08-03-2010, 09:48
I played at the Embankment on Thursday last week and it was quite a shocking experience.
The ball flew off the ground there was that much sand on it, it was hard to keep your footing and the lighting was not the best. (better than power league though, i cant see beans down there!)
Considering how much money has gone into this project it is embarrassing.
The keepers areas are so small it really doesn't help the game. 7 a side pitch 5 aside area and no half way lines.
Very poor show PCC!

n j titman
08-03-2010, 14:06
Re the post by "Glasgow Rangers".

I have been refereeing for RWT for 14 years, including the blessedly short period we were on the grass inside the Athletics Track, and have absolutely no knowledge of such alleged damage. Perhaps the gentleman would like to be more specific.

You will all be delighted to know that conditions are still as bad, and until the PCC line up the pitches, replace/repair the lights, provide toilet facilities (on Thursday evening there were ladies and kids on and aroung the athletics track, and players urinating in public (in fairness where else where they supposed to go-there are still no notices), and secure the goalposts,we shall see no improvement.

Peterborough City Council Sports and Leisure are as useful to 7 a side Teams, as Barry Fry is loved by all at London Road!!

Despite offering Swannie comments re this subject it is interesting to see, once again, no take up. Well it is a provincial local rag that depends on local advertisers, and the PCC is one of their biggest.!!

Andy
09-03-2010, 10:49
Nick,

Swanny's been on holiday and still is this week.

You could try Bob French, but unless you're one of his mates or one of the old boys down the rugby club, you've got no chance.

n j titman
09-03-2010, 13:54
Thanks, but my comment re the ET and the PCC stands!!


Nick,

Swanny's been on holiday and still is this week.

You could try Bob French, but unless you're one of his mates or one of the old boys down the rugby club, you've got no chance.