Artificial Grass Pitch Yeovil Recreation Ground – Update 15th November 2011

The Regulation Committee this morning passed the planning application of the AGP at Yeovil Recreation Ground.  Thanks to everyone who has supported the Club in this by writing letters, being at meetings and speaking at meetings.  This is potentially a very exciting time for Y&SHC.

Artificial Grass Pitch Yeovil Recreation Ground – Update 8th November 2011

The next stage is the Regulation Committee Meeting on Tuesday 15th November 2011 at 10am at the Council Offices in Yeovil.  As much support as possible will be needed even though the chance to speak will be limited.  If you are able to attend and lend your support please can you e-mail Jo McDermid so that the Club can get a rough idea of numbers attending

Artificial Grass Pitch Yeovil Recreation Ground – Update 2nd November 2011

Following South Somerset District Councils Area South Committee Meeting this afternoon the Committee voted in favour of recommending the planning application in principle. The application will now be taken to the next Regulation Committee Meeting on Tuesday 15th November 2011 at 10am. This application has to go to a wider committee as it is being submitted by South Somerset District Council.

Once again Club support will be need at this meeting and we will be in touch nearer the time with further details.

Many thanks to Keith Walters, Bill Bibby, Jo McDermid, Will Ireland and Di Darch for speaking on behalf of the Club today and thanks also to the other members who were there in support.

England Hockey Release Funding for Yeovil Hockey Development

10th August 2011

Step Closer For All Weather Sports Pitch

Yeovil & Sherborne Hockey Club is one step closer to getting a new floodlit artificial grass sports pitch that would provide the community as well as the club with a much-needed full size multi-use pitch suitable for hockey, recreational football, tennis and netball.

Thanks to the England Hockey Board and South Somerset District Council funding, the pitch will provide a new home for Yeovil and Sherborne Hockey Club, giving them an ideal platform to develop grass routes hockey in the community as well as supporting their senior sides to achieve even greater success in the future. During the daytime the facility will be available for use by Yeovil College and other local schools, whilst also being available for football, tennis and netball use.

Subject to planning permission, the new facility is intended to be located next to the existing Athletics Arena at the council-owned Yeovil Recreation Centre – alongside the existing football pitches, pitch and putt course, flagship play area, changing rooms and refreshments kiosk.

Yeovil and Sherborne Hockey Club have been working with The District Council prior to this new funding and will continue to do so throughout the projects planning and construction phases. Keith Walters, Chairman, said, “This has been a long process and as Chairman of the hockey club I can say this is genuinely fantastic news and, if the next process goes through, it would have huge benefits. We are delighted. For the last nine years our club has been playing in Dorset because there hasn’t been anywhere suitable in Yeovil, so it means we can bring the club back to South Somerset once again and we can get more community schools involved with the club. It will also mean the club is closer to the college again in order to further develop grass roots hockey and identified talent. Clearly the England Hockey Board has recognised that investment is critical in South Somerset for hockey to continue and to grow, and that is great news.”

Alex Teasdale, National Manager of Clubs and Facilities at the England Hockey Board added, “We are delighted to be investing in the facilities at Yeovil. Our capital funding assessment process has been really tough for applicants and Yeovil has done well to secure not only funds from ourselves, but also to secure the total funding needed. We look forward to seeing Yeovil and Sherborne Hockey Club returning to the South Somerset, and the pitch being fully utilised for grassroots hockey development. With an exciting season ahead, and increased interest in hockey as a result of London 2012, we hope to see many newcomers join in at the new facility.”

The proposals will include a small warm up area, a range of landscaping enhancements, and a new CCTV system to oversee all facilities and improve security at the site.

With the funding package secured, a detailed design will be prepared and a planning application will be submitted later this autumn, which will be open to public viewing and comment.

If the planning permission is secured then the facility is expected to be open in September 2012.

***The above is the view of the Yeovil & Sherborne Hockey Club Management Committee and any other individual opinions from club members are not endorsed by the Club. For further information please contact Keith Walters or Jo McDermid.***