Belfast Council has commissioned an “action plan” to increase the number of playing pitches throughout the city for amateur league games.
At the council’s recent monthly meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee (January 21st), a motion forwarded by the DUP to bring council pitches up to “match day” standard gained cross party support.
The motion states: “There is a constant complaint from both clubs and individuals regarding the shortage of playing pitches in Belfast. However, there are also a number of sites, under council ownership, which could be better utilised to address this issue.
“The council will ask officers to bring forward an action plan which will include investing in identified sites, which are in council ownership, and how they can be brought up to match day quality. This will, in turn, generate additional income for the council while maximising asset use for the benefit of the local community.”
DUP Alderman George Dorrian told the S,P&R Committee: “To speak of my own experiences, there are a number of pitches in East Belfast, within our ownership, and certainly for the length of time I can remember, that have never been used for match day amateur league games. They were historically - I don’t know why that was stopped.
“There are pitches at for example Saint George playing fields, Victoria Park and Blanchflower grass pitches, which were used for league games. They are still well maintained open pitches. Essentially all they need is pitch markings and a replacement of goal posts.
“I know there is a bit of an expectation for 4G pitches these days, but there are quite a few clubs still that would just appreciate a pitch. And one of the biggest problems across Belfast continually is complaints about the shortage of pitches, and yet we are sitting with maybe eight or nine in my own area alone that could be used on match days.”
Sinn Fein Councillor Ciaran Beattie said: “It is a problem, I know teams in my constituency that have to travel to Larne, even though there are pitches in West Belfast.”
He added: “This is broader than just soccer. There are parks that haven't been invested in for decades. We have seen in the pandemic more and more people out walking, running, jogging and cycling, and some of our parks are just a wasteland. They barely have a path. They are lucky to have the grass cut.
“These are vital assets in our communities, and it wont take a lot of money to upgrade. So this can be broadened out to look at parks, our land, which should be properly used. But I do agree there is a massive gap in soccer provision, and it is not down to the lack of facilities, it’s down to the lack of investment."
DUP Councillor Sarah Bunting said: “Within the Balmoral area there are two teams in particular who are paying extortionate prices to train at private facilities because there is just nowhere else for them to do it. That is costing the families of the kids - at youth academies they are having to pay silly prices to train because there aren't council facilities for them.”
The DUP accepted a Sinn Fein amendment for council officers to also look at general park provision across the city, including other sports. Two reports will be returned, one on general provision, and the other on the potential for city park pitches to be used for amateur teams.
