Media Releases
Mapledurham Playing Fields Consultation Results
05/12/2006
Press Release
The headline results of a six-week consultation on the future of Mapledurham Playing Fields were announced at a meeting of Reading Borough Council's Cabinet last night (Dec 4).
Three years ago the Mapledurham Management Committee recommended that the pavilion at the playing fields be rebuilt. This followed two consultations with local residents and users of the playing fields and pavilion.
Since that time new funding opportunities from external agencies have opened up, which could help provide changing facilities. Caversham Primary School Governors were also keen to investigate the possibility of rebuilding their school on the site.
The Mapledurham Management Committee and Reading Borough Council were keen to gauge public opinion, particularly about whether the public thought that the loss of a small parcel of land was acceptable and how strong the demand was for a new facility.
The six-week consultation process began in September and residents and users of Mapledurham Playing Fields were asked for their views on four possible options.
The headline results of the consultation, announced for the first time at a Cabinet meeting on Monday night, were as follows:
- Option A - To provide a new sports pavilion and changing rooms at a cost of approximately £1.1 million: 252
- Option B - To provide a new building that includes changing rooms and a meeting room, but NOT a replacement hall: 34
- Option C - To demolish the existing hall but re-provide changing rooms for sports pitches: 2,097
- Option D - To provide facilities in partnership with a new Caversham Primary School: 499
(No Option Selected: 68)
Many of the consultation replies for Option C, along with those who did not select an option, said that they did not want to see any loss of open space. The Management Committee has now asked Reading Borough Council to push ahead with Option C, but have asked that Council officers investigate options for delivering this without any loss of land at Mapledurham.
Catherine Wilton, Lead Councillor for Culture and Sport, received a petition at Monday night's Cabinet meeting on behalf of the Council. She said: "It is our intention to respond to the consultation by doing what the majority of people want - to proceed with rebuilding the changing rooms and to look for options to carry this out without any loss of open space."
Fred Pugh, who Chairs the Mapledurham Management Committee, added: "In response terms this was one of the most successful consultations I have known. I wish to thank all those who responded. The community have given us a clear message - no sale of land - and we shall be working with them over the coming months to deliver the chosen option."
ENDS
Notes for Editors: Notes to Editors: A more detailed explanation of each of the consultation options can be found at the following link:
http://www.reading.gov.uk/consultations/mapledurham/
Ruth Allman
Tel: 0118 939 9957
Oscar Mortali
Tel: 0118 939 0301