FOLLOWING an increase in antisocial behaviour at the Leighton Recreation Centre, home of the Westbury and District Cricket Club, Westbury Town Council has said it will write to Wiltshire Council to ensure the ground is repaired in time for the upcoming cricket season this summer.
The club has seen an increase in vandalism, including the break in of a storage shed, graffiti and even damage by football studs to the protected green space where cricket is played, which could affect the club’s ability to play games safely this summer.
Wiltshire Council currently own the land, but the cricket club are in the process of applying for an asset transfer and have approached the Area Board of Wiltshire Council to help facilitate this.
In a letter to the town council, the club has said, “[The damage left by] football studs will leave permanent damage to the cricket square this season, which is impossible to now remove, creating unsafe batting conditions. This is unacceptable.
“This lack of safety has extended to criminal damage being caused on council land. The police have been notified once again of a break-in of a storage shed and vandalism and the lack of cameras, lights and action from the council is potentially a contributory factor.
“The level of vandalism and criminal damage is now likely to affect the chances of the cricket club being able to play as safely as possible this season. I have received a call from our groundsman near tears tonight at the latest break-in and wilful damage being caused by casual users of the ground with seemingly no action being taken by the Wiltshire Council despite the police reports.”
Westbury town councillors discussed the damage to Leighton Recreation Centre at its recent highways planning and development meeting.
Cllr Gordon King proposed, “I am writing to Wiltshire Council on this matter, but I think it would be fitting for this council to also write to the unitary authority in a similar vein, so that the ground should be repaired as soon as possible and that some thought should be given to the future security of the grounds, in a way that is suitable to all users.”
Cllr Sheila Kimmins raised the point that the ground is multi-use and sees a variety of different people use the grounds for activities such as dog walking and playing football, and that some damage to the ground is then to be expected as it is not just purely a cricket ground.
Cllr Kimmins said, “This is a recreation centre; this is a ground that is going to be used by everybody. There are dog walkers and children who go up there playing on a regular basis. I read the cricket club’s report carefully about the football studs making marks on their land, but it isn’t their land – it is open land for use of everybody and yes, unfortunately where you have lots of different people using the space for lots of different activities, we’ve got to bear in mind that is open to all and you are going to get wear and tear.”
Cllr Ward Jones added in response, “I would have to disagree with my colleague. There is a small area in the cricket square that needs to be protected; if Wiltshire Council is allowing the cricket club to make use of those premises as a cricket club, then it has a responsibility to guarantee that the small area is protected.
“There are plenty of cricket clubs around the county which similarly share this sort of facility. I’ve got big links with Corsham cricket club; it’s open and used by the public, but they don’t have these kinds of problems. Part of it is creating a state of mind in the local community but the others is land owners taking responsibility.”
Cllr Matt Dean said, “This is quite distressing. The club have a shed that is being broken into on a regular basis, they’re saying there is a complete lack of cameras and lights and that they’re not getting any response from Wiltshire Council and the reason this is coming to us tonight is down to pure desperation really over a lack of action. The club are also suggesting that if this continues, then they will not be able to play cricket on the land this season. So, it’s not the fact that the ground is being used for a variety of different purposes, but that there is an increase in anti-social behaviour at the ground.
Asset transfer update
Westbury town council have previously said that they would support any application by the cricket club to take-over the grounds at Leighton Recreation Centre from Wiltshire Council. The club are seeking an asset transfer of the cricket club grounds from Wiltshire Council and will approach the area board of the council to facilitate this. The club have previously said that an asset transfer is needed so they can have access to the facilities whenever they need to and it is one of their league conditions to have changing room facilities. The club are also looking to protect the cordoned off area of the field for playing cricket.
James Mawson, spokesperson for the club, added, “Following the last town council meeting, Wiltshire Council has started its discussion around a community asset transfer so we can protect our civic community’s green spaces. We’ve been delighted and touched by so much civic support to helping come out of the pandemic by valuing the power of the community and our natural resources.”
