Representation by Portsmouth Divisional Football Association (Portsmouth Divisional Football Association)
- Date submitted
- 17 February 2020
- Submitted by
- Non-statutory organisations
This Association represents the interests of all local grassroots football leagues, youth and adult, male and female. We object in the strongest terms to these proposals. The impact that the works will have on the local sporting community, in particular football, will be catastrophic. There will be significant ongoing disruption at three football sites – Bransbury Park, Langstone Harbour and Farlington playing fields. This disruption could stretch across several seasons with significant reinstatement required after the initial works. History has shown that repair to pitches takes a long time with drainage etc often proving problematic. Portsmouth is one of the most densely populated cities in the UK, and is mostly an island with extremely limited green space. There is little potential to mitigate the loss of these pitches. Aquind has failed to engage with local groups, nor even the City Council, and currently argue that disruption will be only temporary when all experience shows that it will be long-lasting. The effect will be that fewer pitches will be available, which will obviously reduce participation at a time when we are attempting to improve the health of the population.