How is the Welsh Government working with local authorities and Sport Wales to ensure there are sufficient playing fields available for community sport in Wales?
There are a number of ways in which the Welsh Government helps to ensure that people from within our communities have access to playing fields across Wales so that they can participate in sport.
The Welsh Government’s delivery partner for sport in Wales, Sport Wales, works closely with national governing bodies of sport, local authorities and other providers to ensure that sports facilities across Wales are available, affordable and accessible to community clubs and groups. For example, they advocate the development of local authority pitch strategies and involve sports clubs so they are actively involved when developing these strategies.
To support local authorities in their decision making on the development on local sports facilities in Wales, the Welsh Government commissioned Sport Wales to develop the guidance document, “Facilities for Future Generations – A blueprint for sport and active recreation in Wales” which can be accessed at: http://sport.wales/media/1701808/1165_sports_wales_facilities_for_future_generations_report_v8.pdf .
In terms of working with governing bodies of sport, Sport Wales has formed the Collaborative Sports Facilities Group with the Welsh Rugby Union, Welsh Hockey and the FAW Trust. The Group’s work involves planning the appropriate location of artificial pitch developments in communities across Wales and has been very successful. The number of artificial pitches in Wales has risen from 124 in 2015 to 152 in 2018 and the new or upgraded sites have freed up over-used grass pitches, allowing them to be protected.
Furthermore, through the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools and Education Programme, schools, communities and partners, including the Collaborative Sports Facilities Group are working together to provide modern facilities such as new 3G pitches for curricular, extra curricular and community sport activities.
The Welsh Government provides guidance to help Local Planning Authorities gather evidence of the type and amount of open space needed in their area.
This supports our ambitions to provide sufficient and good quality space for play and recreation. Sport Wales are a statutory consultee in the planning system and have a service level agreement in place with Fields in Trust to carry out their duty as the statutory consultee on planning applications affecting playing fields.
I trust this sets out what work is being carried out by the Welsh Government and partners to ensure that the there are sufficient playing fields available for community sport in Wales.