Was this the best idea?

How many times have we heard the comments, “No-one ever asked us about where that money should be spent” and the associated “What were the Council thinking when they did… (why didn’t they talk to us beforehand)?” Or there’s the complete opposite of, “We never see any of the money that’s supposed to be coming into this area”. The Abbeyfield MUGA (pronounced moo-ga apparently) symbolises many of these difficulties.

There are some old tennis courts in the corner of the park. In common with the rest of the north of the city, these courts have been subject to planned dismaintenance. But with their demise, there’s been popular semi-formal regular cricket sessions. At the beginning of last year, a group of staff began to think about how the courts could become a zone for a ‘Multi-Use Games Area’.

The Sheffield Wildlife Trust took on the job of trying to make this happen. Ideas were considered; designs were ordered; meetings took place; and estimates of the costs were made. But it seems that three groups of people weren’t made priorities for being involved – the Friends of Abbeyfield Park, the cricketers and other young people who use the courts, and the immediate local residents. Sure, there’s been letters, conversations between a designer and five cricketers… And then planning permission is needed because from somewhere, floodlighting is required!

By this July, to turn old tennis courts into a games area for the 21st century was going to cost £150,000 (minimum), only some funding was definite (and what there was had to be spent before next March) and there was real concern as to whether the games area would ‘fit’ with the heritage status of the park. But would cricketers use the area under floodlights in February? Would there be enough footballers or netballers to use the floodlighting in December? Who’d paid for the electricity? Who’d maintain the lighting (bearing in mind that Parks hadn’t been asked to pick up the tab yet)? And would the lighting create similar problems for residents (Firshill Close, Road and Abbeyfield) as in other parts of the city near floodlight games areas?

The Area Panel discussed this with Parks officers this week. They unanimously agreed to take a different tack – are there other (existing) spaces in local parks that could host a good quality games area? If floodlighting is thought to be needed and supported, could there be other venues for it? And do we need to spend £150,000 when it might be that more young people benefit from a lot less amount of spending? Other local organisations are now being asked.

So this is why ‘nothing’ has happened; but the Panel believes that this saves a white elephant from growing, and might in the end be much more valuable for this community. If you’ve any thoughts on this, let the Council know – contact Amie Rowland at Meersbrook Park, S8 9FL.