Port Vale wants new 'outstanding outdoor facility' at football centre
The club wants to 'transform' part of a playing field
Port Vale have lodged plans for "an outstanding outdoor facility for sport" at a city football centre. A full planning application has been submitted to Stoke-on-Trent City Council for the construction of a 3G artificial pitch at the Bradeley Football Centre on Chell Heath Road.
The proposal, put forward on behalf of Port Vale FC Foundation, would also see onsite parking extended by providing six accessible car spaces, 44 standard car spaces including six electric vehicle charging points, and powered two-wheeler parking facilities. A new grass overspill parking area would also be created for an additional 44 cars.
Although the new pitch will replace part of an existing playing field, the design and access statement says "it would provide enhanced opportunities for football activities including training, coaching, education, skills development, as well as match play", adding that the development would become "a valued contemporary all-weather sports facility for the local football family".
Back in July, we reported that more than £2 million Government funding has been secured to transform Sproson Park, in Burslem, into a multi-purpose Vale Park Community Campus. It follows a partnership between Port Vale, Port Vale Foundation, and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
Previous talks between the club and the council have included Port Vale managing the sports pitches at Dimensions Leisure Centre and the development of training pitches in Bradeley.
The planning application states: "The proposed 3G Artificial Turf Pitch (3G ATP) will encourage more football activity; and the prime purpose of the Centre will remain unaltered, facilitating educational and community sports and physical education.
"Once implemented, the development will be appropriate in its location and the proposed facility will improve the performance quality of sporting amenities at Centre.
"Importantly, enough playing field land will remain post-development to ensure that a flexible arrangement of grass football pitches is maintained to suit the ongoing sporting requirements.
"We believe this project should be supported by everyone because the enhanced facility would improve accessibility to sport, leisure, and recreation amenities in Bradeley and surrounding areas of Stoke-on-Trent; supporting education and community demands for an enhanced, local football facility and providing genuine public opportunities and benefits.
"In conclusion, this development proposal is acceptable in principle, because it would deliver an outstanding outdoor facility for sport; the provision of which would be of enough benefit to the development of football as to exceed any impairment caused by the loss, or prejudice to the use, of the area of grass playing field it replaces."
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