A MULTI-USE games area (MUGA) and fitness equipment could soon be installed in Grassacres Park after councillors approved the plans which are designed to improve the town’s health and well-being.
MUGAs are small sports pitches that you would typically find at schools, leisure centres, local parks and sports clubs and they can be used to play a variety of different sports.
The council said it has “identified a shortage” of sports-related facilities in the town and that the facilities that are provided currently in Westbury are primarily for younger children. The MUGA planned for Grassacres would allow opportunities for informal ball games and recreation activities for a larger proportion of the general public.
Westbury town councillors unanimously voted to approve the plans at a meeting of the town council on Monday 6th November. The councillors spoke favourably about the plans at the meeting and took the opportunity to thank the town’s community ranger, David Krzyzosiak, who has been leading the project.
Speaking at the meeting, cllr Gordon King said that lots of thought had gone into the plans and that it would have positive long-term impacts on the health and well-being of residents. He also asked for assurances to be made that the youth club mural, currently at the site, could be maintained and stored elsewhere, as a permanent reminder for the hard work young people put into the design.
He added, “This is one of the best projects we have put together in the town for quite some time.”
Cllr Matt Dean raised concerns over the potential noise and light pollution impacts of the project, but he was informed by cllr Jane Russ that there are no current plans to light the MUGA and that some noise would be expected as it is a play area.
“The majority of the feedback we have received through the consultations has been really positive –particularly from adults,” cllr Russ in response. “We also spoke to large groups of children who were walking back from school and they came and looked at the plans and all gave us the thumbs up, so be reassured that it is wanted by those who will use it.”
Cllr King added, “The concerns about noise are valid but there are no plans to remove any hedges [which would impact of the noise heard by neighbours] and the nearest property to the site is quite some distance away from the centre of the MUGA.”
The council held multiple consultation about the MUGA plans, both in person and online, and according to the council’s business case for the plans, the results from the consultation found that, “94% of people completing survey said they would use the MUGA if one was to be installed, 99% of people completing survey said they liked the reviewed design concept, and the top activity’s people would like to see included within the design were football, basketball and play trails.
“75% said they would use the fitness equipment more if it was outside the play area, and it was identified that people also wanted the fitness equipment to be accessible and inclusive.”
The MUGA project will see the installation of three basketball hoops with nets, cricket targets and stumps, toddler pitches and goal panels. The plans could cost up to £140,922 but the council says that the majority of the funding required will come from their community infrastructure levy (CIL), which is a tool for local councils to help raise funds from developers, to deliver infrastructure such as new schools, open space or public transport.
Westbury Town Council says, “This is great news as there will be no financial impact on the taxpayer and will benefit the whole town, as the MUGA will be in a central location at Grassacres Park. The town council is also looking for grant funding opportunities and if successful, this will be used to offset the CIL that can then be used for other projects in the town.
The town council is now putting the tender and planning applications forward to progress the project, after reviewing the proposed designs, and works will be scheduled to be completed by early summer 2024.
