3.00 Proposed Facilities

Proposed Site Layout Generally

Adjacent to this will be a new all floodlit weather pitch, a floodlit premier quality football pitch with small spectator stand, some external floodlit multi-sports courts and an illuminated 1 kilometre-long cycle track. To the north will be constructed a youth area comprising BMX, skateboard and multi sports facilities adjacent to the existing County Youth Centre.

Car parking will be increased to effectively meet the needs of the site and full coach and minibus drop off and parking facilities will be provided. The access arrangements for the Sundorne Road will be improved by the introduction of a mini roundabout and a new controlled pedestrian crossing will be provided to improve the crossing facilities across the Sundorne Road from the residential area to the north.

Use of the site for other activities such as dog walking, kite-flying, disabled cricket etc. will be accommodated within the overall design and layout, and the design will allow for improved pedestrian and cycle links from the north of the site to the existing tow path to the south.

Proposed Dry Sports Centre

The new Dry Sports Centre accommodates the following facilities: -

Externally the facilities are open access areas

• 8 Senior Football Pitches
• 4 Junior Football Pitches
• 4 Mini Soccer Pitches

Youth Area, illuminated

• Skateboard Park
• BMX Area
• Multi Sports Court

Controlled Access via the Centre will be to

• Floodlit Premier Pitch
• Floodlit Artificial Pitch
• Floodlit MUGA's
• Illuminated Cycle Track

Proposals in Detail

Access and Arrival

Visitors arriving by car, coach or minibus will arrive at the site via the improved site access and will either be dropped off at the 'drop off' facility adjacent to the entrance or will park at the front of the building. Accessible and parent and child spaces will be provided close to the building as well as minibus spaces for groups.

On arrival at the new centre, visitors will enter the main foyer and will be greeted at reception.

From this point, access is controlled, allowing movement either directly to the outdoor changing room where teams will be able to change and then access the grass pitches, or, via a controlled access route into the rest of the centre allowing use of the other facilities. Cyclists wishing to bring bicycles for use on the cycle track will be let in via an external gate.

The foyer/reception and café area beyond will provide a welcoming and exciting space, which is large enough to accommodate major event gatherings. Legibility of the facility is an important feature and all facilities may be accessed direct from the foyer and main circulation route east/west though the building. Public toilets are accessed directly from the foyer and also adjacent to the dry change and outdoor change rooms.

Reception

This will be via an open desk arrangement with a variety of levels to allow for ambulant disabled people and wheelchair users as well as able-bodied adults and children.

Adjacent to this will be an administration area fitted with office furniture and equipment with an adjacent photocopy room/store. The room will overlook the entrance and cycle lock-up area for good supervision.

Café and Servery/Bar

The café will form the hub of the centre providing a meeting point, allowing viewing of the climbing, multi purpose and external facilities and will cater for approximate 80 covers internally.

The servery (which can be secured from the café by a drop down shutter) will serve a range of light hot and cold snacks both to the café and, via an external hatch, the adjacent external terrace when required. The kitchen and cellar facilities will allow for basic range of catering facilities to serve the café, multipurpose room, coach education room etc. and will be fitted with commercial standard catering equipment. It is envisaged that for major events where additional capacity may be required, additional mobile kitchens could be hired to supplement the permanent facility and this could be located externally, adjacent the kitchen service access.

Sports Hall

The eight court sports hall, 34 x 37 x 9.1m with a full 'impact energy absorbing' sprung floor to BS 7044 will allow for:

• 8 Badminton Courts to Senior County Standard
• 2 Netball Courts
• 2 Basketball Courts
• 2 Volleyball Courts
• Short Mat Bowls

Electrically operated bleacher seating, four tiers high, is to be provided allowing for approximately 300 spectators viewing for example, a competition match on a full basketball court whilst still allowing space for officials and equipment, competitors and disabled spectators etc. Informal viewing will also be provided via 'ball proof' glazing to the access corridor to allow views of the activities.

Proper storage is to be provided for loose equipment such as mats, volleyball, badminton and netball sets, balls etc within a designated smoke ventilated store. The hall will also be fitted with permanent equipment including electrically operated drop down basketball goals and wall mounted practice goals.

Squash Courts

Two glass backed squash courts are to be provided complete with spectator provision for approximately 32 people

Climbing Facility

Central to the café area and adjacent to the reception, the climbing facility will provide a visible and interesting focus to the space. The detailed design and fit out of this facility will be by a specialist climbing facility contractor and the final design agreed with the local climbing fraternity. It is anticipated that the central feature will be a large boulder allowing opportunities for climbing routes, workout and practice of techniques not using ropes. Additionally it is anticipated that a practice climbing wall will be provided to allow practice and development of skills using rope techniques, abseiling etc. Additional opportunities exist to utilise the surplus space above the adjacent stores and reception/administration areas. The floor will be soft foam and the entrance controlled by a balustrade.

Multi Purpose Room

This 9 x 12m room will be fitted with a sprung timber floor and the flexible accommodation will allow a wide range of activities to be undertaken. These could be for classes such as Aerobics, Step Aerobics, Relaxation, Martial Arts, Dance or perhaps warm up exercises. In addition, this space can be used for functions, seminars, holiday clubs etc. The nearby toilets and kitchens will allow for any catering requirements. A store is to be provided for any equipment such as mats, steps, furniture etc. Viewing into the room will be available via glazing to the café area.

Coach Education Room

This intended to provide a seminar room for teaching coaches but at other times would be available for other similar use such as club meetings or private hire. It will be fitted with flexible folding/stacking furniture and AV equipment. View to the entrance are provide via the glazing, which will be fitted with blinds for occasions where privacy is required.

Sports Development Office

This will provided permanent office facilities in connection with the continuing sports development programme. It will be fitted out with office type furniture, storage and IT facilities. Again, glazing and blinds will be provided to the outside.

Toilets and Changing Areas

The Changing Facilities are accessed directly from the main Foyer/Reception and have been split into two areas serving the outdoor grass pitches and the cleaner, dry sports or artificial turf facilities. The changing facilities will be a flexible design with good choice and comfort, comprising: -

• 14 group change rooms serving grass pitches including 2 enhanced premier pitch changing
• Male and Female Officials Changing
• 2 Group Change Rooms serving the Artificial pitch, external MUGA's and Cycle track
• Male and Female Dry Change facilities serving Sports Hall, Squash, Multi Purpose Room
• 3 designated accessible change rooms.

All change areas will be served by toilets and showers accessed directly from the changing areas. In addition, further toilets outside the change rooms will allow for additional flexibility of use and will include 3 No. designated accessible toilets.

Lockers will be provided to allow for maximum use of the group change rooms and their location in the corridor areas will provide good security. Grooming/vanity areas will be provided in certain locations.

Baby change facilities will also be provided within the general toilet areas and vanity/grooming areas provided in suitable locations with hair drying facilities.

First Aid/Physio Room

A suitably equipped room will be provided to allow for first aid treatment and physio treatment serving the whole site. For outdoor treatment it is envisaged that treatment would be administered 'on the field' with the room forming a base where mobile equipment would be stored

Cleaners Store

This will provide for storage of all manual and powered cleaning equipment for use throughout the Centre

Staff Facilities

The Centre will require facilities for the welfare of the staff and this will take the form of a staff room with kitchenette and adjacent locker/change rooms. Toilet and shower facilities will be provided within the change rooms and will also be suitable for disabled staff.

Plant and Access for Service

The plant room has been integrated into the overall design and located on the South West corner of the building where it will relate to the intended location of the incoming services from Sundorne Road to the North

Uncontrolled Access Areas

Most of the football pitches and the outh area will remain fully accessible as at present. Access for walkers and others will  remain, with an enhanced route to the tow path provided by way of a 'Linear Park' originating at Sundorne road. Additionally, bound surfaced paths to all of the pitches and facilities will allow for access by disabled users as well as those with push chairs. Two amenity areas will be created with benches and some shelter planting to allow a focal point for spectators to gather/wait.

Senior, Junior and Mini Soccer Pitches

These are to be regraded to maximum 1 in 100 falls where feasible and improvements to the sub base made as required. Pitch drainage is to be introduced to and the entire pitch

construction renewed to comply with recommended standards. Following establishment of new turf, sand slit drainage will be carried out to complete the drainage system. Consideration of levels will ensure ease of maintenance by equipment and will retain large flat areas of turf for use for a range of activities including kite flying and disabled cricket. A storage area will be provided for goals adjacent to the existing maintenance area

Youth Area

A Youth area is to be created to encourage broader participation in sport and will be located in an area near to the Sundorne Road which will include:

• Skateboard Park
• BMX Area
• Multi Sports Court

The area will be illuminated to street lighting levels for security. The multi sport court will be porous tarmac surfaced and fenced to allow all weather use for a wide range sports activities such as five a side, basketball etc. The BMX and skateboard areas will be developed in design in consultation with local skateboarders, BMX riders to ensure suitability and the works will be constructed by a specialist contractor. It is envisaged that a low fence and self-closing gate will be provided to prevent access by dogs or small children inadvertently straying into the area.

Controlled Access Areas

Access to the best pitches/facilities will be controlled via the Centre and will include the Premier Pitch, the All Weather Pitch, the MUGA's and the Cycle track.

Floodlit Premier Pitch

This pitch is intended to be the best natural turf pitch on the site and will be of a suspended water table type, fully drained, with pop up irrigation. It will be fenced with weld mesh fencing to 3m high with 3m nylon ball stop fencing above. At low-level additional fencing will be provided to prevent damage by balls. The pitch will be served by a 150 seater covered seated spectator stand, designed to match the main building. Players and spectators will enter the enclosure via separate entrances to avoid contamination of spectators' footwear by mud. Floodlighting will be provided via 15m drop down floodlighting columns located beyond the run off areas. Dug out shelters will be provided for the teams.

Floodlit Artificial Pitch

Adjacent to the premier pitch will be the Artificial Surfaced pitch. This will be of '3rd generation' type construction with a 60mm carpet with a sand/rubber crumb infill, suitable for play using full studded boots. It will have the same fencing and lighting as the premier pitch. Pitch dividers (dividing the play surface into three) will provide increased flexibility by allowing use for mini soccer etc. Dug out shelters will again be provided and storage space beyond the run offs will be provided for goals when not in use. The pitch will be surrounded by a tarmac margin to allow for winter snow clearance. Clean off areas will be provided adjacent to pitch access points to remove material from boots.

Floodlit MUGA's

These will be of porous tarmac construction with drainage, with 3m high perimeter fencing and pull out divisions between courts. They will primarily provide external courts for tennis, netball and basketball. A store will be provided for netball and tennis equipment when not in use, integrated with the main Centre.

Cycle Track

A 1 km long tarmac cycle circuit is to be provided to provide a safe off road, road race and training facility. It will be generally 6m long but will widen to 8m adjacent to the start/finish line. It will be illuminated to normal residential road lighting levels. Adjacent to the start/finish line will be an area for spectators, competitors or officials to gather or spectate. A store for the storage of specialist cycles, disabled equipment etc. will be provided, integrated with the building. A sink for cycle tube repairs will be incorporated. Cycle hoops will be provided for competitors.

Site Access

This is to be improved by the introduction of a new roundabout in lieu of the existing 'T' junction.

This will be sized to meet the peak flows from the site resulting from Football matches at

weekends (although these will be reduced by the use of staggered kick-offs).

Parking

Provision will be increased to 381 car-parking spaces and will include 30 designated disabled spaces and 10 parent and child spaces. Spaces for 9 minibuses and 3 full sized coaches are to be provided as well as good drop off facilities adjacent to the main entrance. 40 cycle rack spaces will be provided to meet the needs of cyclists and pedestrian access will be encouraged by improved pedestrian links and the provision of a new combined pedestrian and cycle crossing to the Sundorne Road.