Sports Hub!

[Lord Stiffupperlip]

I guess Highams has always played a big part in my life.
Memories from boyhood 'day-long' footie games, which ended only with the setting sun, to taking part in school athletics sports days when every primary school in Accy competed for a trophy.
Later, in my teens, playing local combination soccer on waterlogged or frozen pitches in hail, rain & shine.
My nostalgic ramblings have a point, which is that as far back as I can remember, Highams was never anything other than 'playing fields'.
There's little doubt that the recent work has transformed the old Highams into a more practical venue for field sports but - is it being utilised to it's maximum potential?
I still cross Highams to get to the Wham for mid-week & Saturday games & for evening walks during summer.
You can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I've actually seen any form of competitive match taking place.
What I do witness are a lot of irresponsible dog-walkers allowing their pets to roam (& defacate) freely.
Youths churning up the fields on dirt-bikes and families using it as a picnic spot, invariably leaving a mountain of litter behind them.
Reading some of the posts on here, you might imagine that Highams had become some sort of nature reserve for dog-walkers, rather than the sports field which is its main purpose.
I can't understand the local residents complaints about it being used as a sports hub? It's been fulfilling this role for donkey's years.
It's a bit like the residents of the recently built Whinney Hill estate complaining about developments at the Wham, when the ground was there long before a brick was laid on their house.

[baldy]

East Lancs Football Alliance now backing plans for the Sports Hub!

ELFA Support Higham?s Sports Hub Plans | Accrington Stanley Community Trust

[st06nc2]

http://www.stanleytrust.co.uk/update...-hub-proposal/

[cashman]

Originally Posted by st06nc2

UPDATE: Higham?s Sports Hub Proposal | Accrington Stanley Community Trust

well seems to me if people went to the residents meeting they would be aware its a perfectly reasonable proposal.?

[KiTChener]

Originally Posted by cashman

well seems to me if people went to the residents meeting they would be aware its a perfectly reasonable proposal.?

especially if the LCC land next door can become public open space... it has been underused for years!

[Shurm]

Just read the Ladies Football Team will use the Hub for training and matches so does that mean they will give up the lease on Livingstone Road ? The same lease they won't give up in order for that land to be developed as the Hub ??

[Mr T]

(sir) Martin;

New ladies team is being formed as existing Girls and Ladies are staying on Livingstone Road ( their choice)

[Shurm]

Ok that explains that then, what will the ladies on Livingstone be called ?

[maccawozzagod]

Livingstone Road mob are Accrington Girls and Ladies I think. The new team is Accrington Stanley

[baldy]

St Joesphs girls have merged to make Accrington Stanley Ladies who'll be playing on Highams

Accy ladies who already play on Livingstone Road are a different club!

[Shurm]

Oh right I always thought they had something to do with Stanley didnt realise they were totally independent all makes a bit more sense now.

[AccyMad]

I've received a flyer through my door this morning about a public meeting - headline is 'Save Highams playing fields for public use', it's being held at St. Joseph's church hall next Wednesday at 6.30.
It states that the meeting has been arranged with HBC & Commnity Trust representatives to discuss the proposals - all well & good except the Trust have NOT been invited, just wonder if this has been done so they can then say that the Trust's representatives couldn't be bothered to turn up??
Wasn't surprised that the name at the bottom of the flyer is Councillor Malcolm Pritchard

[cashman]

Nowt that man does would surprise me.

[maccawozzagod]

Hopefully I'll attend, just for a bit of balance ;-)

[AccyMad]

Was thinking of going, just to hear what's being said - could be interesting