Bushfield Astro Turf

[n j titman]

The credibility of Peterborough City Council Sports and Leisure department reached new lows last evening.

For years the safety of players is of no interest to the Council as both the embankment and Bushfield astro pitches have been let in seriously dangerous condition. Despite a plan of action by the Sports and Leisure bossman to ensure both pitches are checked pre hire and faults reported, his staff have no interest in doing so.

I arrived at Bushfield at 1820 to inspect the pitch as R Windle had told me on the telephone at 1750 there were problems with one goalmouth where the surface was badly torn, and also a hole in the middle of the pitch.

The staff had put the corner flas out but not even bothered to inspect the pitch.

Both goalmouths are torn up irrepairably, the hole in the outfiled alone should have been suffice for them to condemn the pitch, but, this is the Council and until their attention was drawn to the problem and usual answer received "well the pitch is being relaid in July " etc, and absolute refusal to put my liability insurance at risk as players safety is paramount, did they close down the near 7 a side pitch.

What betting they let it out to private hirers/schools though from today?!

Teams who had arrived to play were let down by the council who should have condemned the near pitch 48 hours ago.

At NFA Small Sided meetings, I raise the subject of PCC astro pitches abysmal condition, no maintentance, and the fact we have no 3G pitches, and less than certain market towns. Compared to the rest of Northants we are not even poor cousins regarding facilities, we are simply a jokee.

[jb]

that pitch was like that 2 weeks ago! and the goal was brought forward and the byline marked out with cones. at least you can see the gaping holes on the nearside pitch. the far pitch's lines in the centre circle are missing which are far more dangerous as they catch you totally unnaware as you think the holes are the pitch markings.

[Raph]

Nik, great points raised. By 3G, do you mean the rubber-crumb artificial pitches? You are right, it's shocking that we only have them at Powerleague - which is a privately owned facility.

The pitches at Bushfield are a disgrace and those at Embankment are only marginally better.

[n j titman]

Yes. 3G is standard for all surfaces in England, same as the Moscow pitch England lost on!

Interestingly, Tommy Mudd told me he referee at Bushfield on Monday pm and the latest hoels were not there! So much for the Sports nad Leisure staff bothering to check out pitch safety!!!

[moe]

I played at bushfield monday night and according to Robert Windle looks like next week games will be held on the grass next door.
Peterborough City Council have never cared about anything in the local area its all about easy money other wise they would not be so willing to sell everything off for a few quid, ripping down buildings at no thought what so ever, building on allottments ect.... and as for the embankment and bushfields you also have werrington 5 a side pitch which is just leathal but they still willing to rent it out. You only have to look at the facilities of the council grass pitches to see how little they care.

[Lee]

Whilst on the subject of the council penny pinching. We usually would of held the charity cup at Bushfields free of charge.. This year they quote £350 for one pitch. Lol. (Bloke who organised it before 'has left')

We're getting two pitchs, bar & catering, function hall for presentations, secure parking and entry for half that. The council is a joke and regardless of what they tell you its all about the money.

Them 7aside pitches are a disgrace we played on them Sunday night the council take Roberts money easily enough for them but their not so quick to put some back into it. Maybe they should just cover the gaps up with that red tape of theirs!

Damn council :hbgr:

[sneeksxxx8]

I played on them on Sundays night and theres were no holes or anything.. With all the 7 a side games that go on their nearly every evening, they should start thinking of re laying it. That 3D pitch is good and altho it'll probably cost them a few bob, its worth it as it will be an investment for even more money!

[Harbs]

sneeks am i reading your post wrong... we play for the same team there is a masssive tear in the pitch which is one of the reasons i didnt score my 8 one on one's ;) the pitch is in the worst condition i have seen it in the last 10 years!
Its dangerous enough playing on astro in my opinion with out hazards to work around.

[sneeksxxx8]

Stop making excuses, it wasnt that bad on Sunday night but i went there the other day and its very bad now!

[Tin Tin]

its a good topic i play at bushfields on a wednesday and the pitches are awful at the moment its the users having no respect for the pitch 3G is definetly the way forward.

[Dugout 08]

quite true tin tin , i last played down at bushfields on a wednesday nites for thompson builders 3 or 4 years ago and the pitches were tearing up then , god knows what there like these days .. P.S The ref's were just as bad as the pitches , sorry nick had to get it in

[Raph]

Surely the rubber crumb/3G will last a lot longer too?

By the way Lee, "Maybe they should just cover the gaps up with that red tape of theirs!" . . . I would've been proud of that one mate, great line, haha!

The PCC were the same when all our kit got half-inched and it WAS THEIR FAULT for not locking the doors at Bushfield and for employing sub-standard repair methods on the doors locks to the changing rooms.

I feel a petition coming on . . . care to get it started Nik? !!

[Harbs]

Raph you are such a trouble maker but for the sake of keeping the teenagers off their computers when they should be out burning off the big mac they just swallowed whole i do agree a petition is the way forwads.

[c,mon the hoops]

Raph you are such a trouble maker but for the sake of keeping the teenagers off their computers when they should be out burning off the big mac they just swallowed whole i do agree a petition is the way forwads.

Followed by a march round orton and some of us being chained to the goalposts!

[BoOgAlEe]

We played at bushfield tonight (thursday) and the near pitch has now been deemed dangerous and has been closed for the forseable future, 5 weeks according to Robert. It is a complete joke, the council should pull their fingers out of their ar*es and put some of the money generated by RWT back into the pitches and facilitys at bushfield and the embankment. 3G is the way forward IMO.

[n j titman]

The poo has hit the fan with PCC.

"No excuses" is their absolute response.

There has never been any maintenance at either Bushfield or Embankment; the PCC or their franchisees seem to believe there is no need!!

RWT is the "Customer" of PCC. If I treated my customers the way PCC have treated RWT , !!!


Petition? Only problem may be finding someone at PCC who can read and write a positive, honest reply!!!

Incidentally for those playing at Bushfield on Sunday evening, on the grass, this means "grass" as in the green stuff, not an open invitation to smoke it!!

[moe]

Incidentally for those playing at Bushfield on Sunday evening, on the grass, this means "grass" as in the green stuff, not an open invitation to smoke it!!


Nik told a funny

[Raph]

We played last night at Bushfield too and the pitch that is 'supposed' to be safe, is pretty poor too!

[oldbloke]

played 2 on grass, different completely! lads thought it was an eleven a side game, shots from 20 yards, stopped our passing game on uneven surface, became messy. was good to see rob grafting at the end with his goalposts! made the night. hope we are back on astro soon as lighting will become a major issue.