Waterwells Sports Centre

(Click the thumbnails to see the full size pictures)

Back in 1997 there was a planning agreement between the developer of Waterwells Business Park and Gloucester City Council to provide 15 acres of land together with a financial contribution of £170k for sports & recreation facilities.

A clause in the agreement stated that "if after the expiry of a period of ten years the above amount had not been fully expended for such purposes the funds and land were to be returned to the developer".

Several years later, as the land had not been adopted and your Parish Council did not want this fantastic opportunity to be lost, a working group was set up consisting of representatives from Quedgeley Parish Council, Gloucester City Council and members of local sporting groups to progress the project.

The land was being used for grazing animals and these and the electricity pylons on site had to be removed prior to work being undertaken; geotechnical and land level surveys were carried out. At the same time an application was made to Sport England for funds to provide changing facilities and to develop the field into playable pitches but this was refused. This turned out to be as a result of a fault by Sport England and the Parish Council received some compensation for the work put in to make the application.

Football Foundation Award
 
However, time was of the essence. A new application was made to the Football Foundation and on 8th Dec’ 2005 a grant of £301,228 was awarded.

 

As a result the land was drained and levelled, football pitches were provided and work started on the changing facilities in 2006, being completed in April 2007.
The Centre is proving very successful and is now being used on a regular basis throughout the year.

 

The Working Group currently advises the Parish Council on the management of the facilities and successfully negotiated a contribution of £180k with the City Council and Quedgeley Urban Village Limited to provide a synthetic, floodlit, all weather pitch with the help of a further £50k from the Parish Council. This is currently under construction and is due for completion early in October.

If you are interested in booking the centre or want to know more please contact the Quedgeley Parish Council, telephone 01452-721552, or call at the Parish Office, Monday to Friday 9.30AM–2.00PM, in School Lane.

Related pages: Waterwells Sports Centre Committee