Copy of email:
We are sure that you have all seen or heard in the press, papers
and social media that Wasps Rugby has exchanged contracts to
purchase the Sports facilities at Warwickshire College – Henley
Campus which includes the astro turf pitch that we currently use
to play a number of our home fixtures. This is subject to them
getting planning permission from Stratford District Council to
fulfil their plans to build what they are describing will be a
state of the art training facility. Wasps have stated publicly
that they hope to have the facility up and running for the start
of the 2020/21 season.
Crucially, Wasps plans will include a 5G rugby pitch on the base
of the existing astro turf hockey pitch and they will provide no
community access. Hockey can’t be played on a 5G pitch so that
would be the end of hockey at the venue anyway. Other local
sports and clubs will be affected as well as Stratford Hockey
Club.
Although it has taken us a few weeks to communicate to our
members we have been taking action in the background. We have
provided a Henley residents group details of our usage of the
facility for their discussions with Henley Parish Council and
tried to speak to Wasps to get more information about when any
proposed changes are likely to take place.
We have also been in touch with the College with whom we
currently book the venue. The College has put us and other users
on notice that any further bookings, beyond the end of November
cannot be assured, but we believe from our dialogue with the
College that our use this season should continue for now,
although this could come to an end on short notice. For now we
propose to continue to play the fixtures there as programmed,
whilst we can do so. However if Wasps’ plans come to fruition
this will present a significant challenge next season, if not
sooner.
We are looking at other options but as you will all know the
shortage of astro turf pitches for hockey in the area means that
this will not be easy.
We have contacted Stratford District Council planning department
for clarity on Wasps’ application but they have confirmed that
nothing has been received to date. We have explained the Hockey
Club’s interest in the matter but it is not possible at this
stage for them to register our interest until a planning
application has been made. We will simply have to monitor the
situation. Any member who wishes to voice their opposition to
the proposals (insofar as they have been broadcast in the media)
should feel free to do so. In due course, as and when there is a
forum for formal representations, we will let you know.
This situation once again shows the desperate need for a second
astro turf pitch in the town and we will urge the Council and
other parties to build this into any negotiations they have with
Wasps and hope that this may add support to any other local astro
turf proposals.
At the AGM in March we gave an overview of KES’s plans for an
astro turf pitch at Manor Road in Stratford. We have remained in
touch with KES but the position remains that their development is
dependent on them selling the strip of land on the playing fields
that borders Manor Road and obtaining planning permission for
housing on it. We understand that the School continues to work
on their plans and hope to submit their application in the New
Year. We will keep you posted on this and at the appropriate time
when full details are publicised, we will be encouraging members
of the Club to ensure that the benefits to the Club and the
community be made known. The School have re-affirmed that they
welcome the Hockey Club as their principal community partner and
user. In the meantime you will appreciate that there is no
certainty over the outcome nor of the timescale for implementing
the project (if successful).
We will update you if we hear any further news or if we need to
take any further action. For now, no change is being made to our
fixture list and programmed match times but if Henley does close
before the end of the season we will have to review how best we
balance our commitments with the available pitch resources.