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Wakefield Sports Facilities Evidence Review June 2015

In developing the Leisure, Recreation and Open Space Local Plan (LROS) it is important to establish an evidence base, not only to provide the policy context for the Plan but also to assess the existing provision throughout the district and identify future requirements. It is also necessary to review strategies, policies, and programmes to provide, manage and enhance the district’s leisure, recreation and open space assets and facilities. This paper summarises the background evidence for sports facilities within Wakefield District.

Wakefield Indoor Sports Facilities Review – West Yorkshire Sport 2015

The Council commissioned West Yorkshire Sport to review the provision of and demand for indoor sports facilities, in order to update the

evidence base for the Leisure, Recreation and Open Space Local Plan (LROS). The study was commissioned to update the PPG17 Indoor

Sports Facilities Strategic Plan (Knight, Kavanagh & Page 2008) which addresses provision and demand up to 2018. The Wakefield Swimming

Pools Facilities Planning Model (Sport England) was carried out in 2012 followed by the Wakefield Leisure Review 2014 (Deloitte) which

addresses demand for swimming pools and leisure centres, including health and fitness facilities.

Sport England’s sports facilities calculator (SFC) was used to determine the demand for indoor facilities within Wakefield District. Whilst the

SFC can be used to estimate the facility needs for whole area populations, such as for a whole local authorities, there are dangers in how these

figures are subsequently used at this level in matching it with current supply for strategic gap analysis. The SFC should not be used for

strategic gap analysis as it has no spatial dimension. The figure that is produced is a total demand figure for the chosen population. It is

important to note that the SFC does not take account of:

Facility location compared to demand

Capacity and availability of facilities - opening hours

Cross boundary movement of demand

Travel networks and topography

Attractiveness of facilities For these reasons total demand figure generated by the SFC should not simply be compared with facilities within the same area. Other tools and techniques are available, such as the Facilities Planning Model, as was done in 2012 with the Local Assessment of Swimming Pools (Wakefield MDC/Sport England, August 2012). The SFC is best used to quantify the demand for specific community sports facilities that a specific/discrete area’s population would generate. Once this demand has been quantified, it will be up to the planning authority to decide how this new demand could be met, which could be through existing facilities, improvements to existing facilities or new facilities.

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The following table sets out the requirements for the LROS plan period to 2026.

Wakefield District Demand for Indoor Facilities

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

Pool (square metres) 3516 3535 3552 3572 3590 3609 3627 3645 3662 3678 3693 3708

Sports hall courts* (number) 91 91 92 92 93 93 94 94 95 95 96 96

Sports** halls (number) 23 23 23 23 23 24 24 24 24 24 24 24

Current Provision 2014-15

Pool (square metres) 4220

Squash courts (number) 31 Not included in sports hall courts numbers above.

Sports halls (number) 48 The current provision consists of 26 four badminton court size halls plus 22 unknown size halls.

Figures rounded up. *Sports hall courts are badminton courts **sports halls are of four badminton courts size, therefore the figure of 23 halls equivalent to 92 courts for 2015 indicates current demand is met.

The West Yorkshire Sport study examined indoor facilities within Wakefield District and adjoining areas within 30 minutes travelling time by public transport and 20 minutes driving time. This was carried out for individual settlements in the LDF Core Strategy Settlement Hierarchy, in order to identify communities where there shortfalls with accessibility to indoor facilities. These are set out in the tables below. The settlements where journey time is over 30 minutes are the villages of Kirkhamgate, Middlestown, Netherton and Woolley. Clearly it must be remembered that some of the people deemed not to have access to facilities via public transport may only be just outside of the 30 minute cut off and some census output points were more than 400m from a bus stop which means they would have shown up as being inaccessible via public transport. Also it is worth considering that those living in more rural areas are likely to be willing to travel slightly longer than those in urban areas to access facilities. Improved bus services are the key to tackling this issue as sports halls and fitness facilities should be located in larger settlements and swimming pools in the main urban areas. Another option is to consider whether there are suitable school sports halls or other community halls which can be used if there is local demand for a particular facility.

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Access to Indoor Facilities: Average journey time to nearest facility by public transport (minutes) Settlement Health & Fitness Sports Halls Squash Studio Swimming

Wakefield 7.3 8.4 4.9 8.9 10.0

Castleford 9.1 9.1 5.6 14.0 13.2

Pontefract 10.7 14.7 3.4 12.9 11.5

Hemsworth 7.8 10.5 5.2 9.4 23.9

Horbury 6.3 8.3 7.4 15.5 22.8

Knottingley/ Ferrybridge 10.2 12.2 3.4 11.0 12.5

Normanton/ Altofts 9.0 10.9 8.2 13.7 8.8

Ossett 9.7 8.0 6.7 13.4 12.1

South Elmsall/ South Kirkby 9.6 11.1 7.9 10.0 16.4

Stanley/ Outwood 8.3 7.9 5.8 12.0 14.0

Ackworth Moor Top 4.3 9.0 3.4 13.9 6.9

Crofton 6.2 7.8 8.7 17.0 16.6

Fitzwilliam/ Kinsley 10.0 10.2 7.2 13.6 14.3

Ryhill/ Havercroft 8.7 8.5 9.4 17.0 17.9

Upton 10.1 10.3 9.2 10.6 28.5

Badsworth 10.7 15.2 9.4 21.5 27.3

Darrington 13.3 13.3 7.4 13.3 20.6

Hall Green 15.6 18.3 10.4 21.5 15.6

High & Low Ackworth 10.8 10.7 3.4 12.9 10.8

Kirkhamgate 27.0 26.8 6.0 >30 >30

Middlestown 14.5 16.4 9.3 24.5 >30

Netherton 13.4 17.4 10.6 23.40 >30

North Featherstone 8.0 6.0 4.3 4.8 4.8

Notton 11.2 18.8 14.2 11.2 11.2

Sharlston 15.4 11.9 9.2 20.1 14.8

South Hiendley 15.7 14.8 10.9 16.0 28.0

Streethhouse 10.0 18.5 10.0 13.9 14.7

Thorpe Audlin 22.9 22.9 6.7 24.3 25.5

Walton 9.9 10.3 8.1 18.9 14.9

West Bretton 14.3 13.7 6.9 15.5 14.3

Woolley >30 >30 12.51 >30 >30

Outside any settlement 11.6 15.8 8.9 13.2 13.4

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Access to Indoor Facilities: Percentage of population outside 30 minute journey time on public transport Settlement Health & Fitness Sports Halls Squash Studio Swimming

Wakefield 5% 0% 2% 5% 5%

Castleford 3% 1% 7% 3% 23%

Pontefract 9% 7% 2% 12% 11%

Hemsworth 16% 0% 7% 16% 24%

Horbury 8% 0% 0% 8% 12%

Knottingley/ Ferrybridge 9% 7% 0% 9% 13%

Normanton/ Altofts 11% 3% 13% 11% 11%

Ossett 7% 5% 1% 7% 7%

South Elmsall/ South Kirkby 23% 8% 3% 23% 33%

Stanley/ Outwood 2% 0% 2% 2% 2%

Ackworth Moor Top 22% 0% 0% 22% 22%

Crofton 4% 0% 0% 15% 15%

Fitzwilliam/ Kinsley 26% 26% 16% 26% 33%

Ryhill/ Havercroft 24% 0% 6% 24% 24%

Upton 28% 28% 0% 28% 74%

Badsworth 57% 57% 0% 57% 57%

Darrington 22% 22% 0% 22% 22%

Hall Green 27% 27% 0% 27% 27%

High & Low Ackworth 20% 0% 0% 36% 20%

Kirkhamgate 71% 0% 0% 100% 100%

Middlestown 14% 14% 0% 14% 100%

Netherton 27% 14% 0% 27% 100%

North Featherstone 25% 0% 0% 25% 25%

Notton 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

Sharlston 15% 15% 13% 15% 15%

South Hiendley 51% 0% 0% 51% 84%

Streethhouse 47% 29% 0% 47% 47%

Thorpe Audlin 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

Walton 9% 10% 10% 19% 9%

West Bretton 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

Woolley 100% 100% 12.5% 100% 100%

Outside any settlement 53% 35% 2% 53% 56%

Wakefield District 11% 4% 3% 12% 18%

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Wakefield Leisure Review 2014

Deloitte (in association with The Sports Consultancy and GT Architects) were appointed by the Council to undertake a review of its leisure centres. The Council currently provides seven leisure centres:

Two in the city of Wakefield (Sun Lane Leisure and Thornes Park Athletics Stadium).

Five in the Five Towns area (Normanton Pool, Featherstone Sports Complex, Pontefract Pool, Castleford Pool and Knottingley Sports Centre).

Until March 2013, there was a centre serving the south east of the district (Minsthorpe Swimming Pool). A replacement is to be built at Minsthorpe College Community Sports Centre in South Elmsall.

Based on the outcomes of the research, it is clear that in terms of quantity of facilities, the overall level of provision in Wakefield is good, other than in the south east. The closure of Minsthorpe Pool has left the area unserved and there is a clear need for replacement provision. In terms of quality and provision, the city of Wakefield is the best provided for with the new Sun Lane Leisure and Thornes Park Stadium. In the Five Towns area, there is an overprovision of facilities and condition issues at a number of sites, most notably Knottingley Sports Centre, Castleford Pool and Pontefract Pool. Therefore, there is a strong case for the rationalisation of existing facilities in this area and the provision of a new centre, which meets the needs and expectations of the local market. The new leisure centre and refurbished Knottingly Sports Centre potentially could also include facilities to meet the specific demand highlighted below in addition to swimming, health and fitness. Demand for Leisure in Wakefield As part of the Leisure Review a demand assessment was undertaken for four facility types: swimming pools, sports halls (both using Sport England’s Facility Planning Model), health and fitness facilities (using The Leisure Database Company’s latent demand report) and five-a-side football pitches.

For swimming pools, the analysis indicated that the current quantity of swimming pool provision (including the now closed Minsthorpe Pool) was approximately in balance with demand.

For sports halls, the analysis indicated a significant undersupply* in the district equivalent of twelve badminton courts/ three 4 badminton court size sports halls.

For health and fitness, the analysis indicated a latent demand in the Five Towns area (circa 2,500 memberships), Knottingley (circa 600) and the south east (circa 1,100).

For indoor five-a-side pitches, the analysis indicated a demand for about four pitches. * This is taken from the PPG17 Indoor Sports Facilities Strategic Plan 2008, and needs reassessing. The study identifies 23 sports halls equivalent to 92 badminton

courts. It identifies a shortfall of 12 courts giving a total of 104 courts or 26 halls. The West Yorkshire Sport audit of facilities in 2015 identifies 26 four court size

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sports halls plus an additional 22 of unknown size, which suggests there is not a shortage of sports halls - however demand should be reassessed using the Sport England Facilities Planning Model. Provision of new facilities In order to address these shortfalls the Council has determined that a new swimming-based facility will be provided at Minsthorpe College sports complex to serve the South East Area. A new wet and dry facility will be provided in the Five Towns Area, and Knottingley Sports Centre will be remodelled to close the swimming pool and provide a new dry facility. There is potential to provide indoor sports facilities such as five-a-side football, tennis, badminton, netball, and bowls in addition to swimming, health and fitness facilities.

Playing Pitch Strategy 2010-2030 The Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) is based on a review of the previous Playing Pitch Plan “A Playing Pitch Plan for the Wakefield District 2005 – 2015”. It is an assessment of supply and demand for key pitch sports across the district, specifically football, cricket, rugby league, rugby union and hockey. The assessment follows the methodology and framework detailed in Sport England’s “Towards a Level Playing Field” (2003). The assessment of outdoor bowling greens and tennis courts falls outside of the scope of the Sport England assessment methodology. However the Playing Pitch Plan included these and the PPS also includes summary data and findings to assist in the development and management of these facilities. Sport England’s Playing Pitch Strategy Guidance (2013) sets out a new methodology together with a facilities planning model so consequently a new PPS is being prepared for Wakefield District. The following table sets out the provision of playing pitches, plus outdoor bowling greens and tennis courts from the 2010 PPS.

Playing Pitch Type Current Provision Required Provision 2030

Football senior 115 61

Football junior 47 63

Mini soccer 27 39

Cricket 43 43

Rugby League senior 42 29

Rugby League junior 6 16

Rugby Union senior 19 10

Rugby Union junior 1 9

Hockey (full size AGP) 9 9

Crown bowling green 54 No national standard for provision

Tennis court 80 143 (including 99 floodlit)

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Conclusions from PPS

Football: There are deficiencies in mini and junior football with surpluses in senior football facilities. The PPS audit has revealed that there is sufficient space available to meet future demand for pitches as the surplus of senior pitches can be converted to provide junior and mini football pitches. The overriding issue tends to be quality and provision of suitable changing facilities on some sites, and how these will be maintained in the future.

Cricket: Current provision is sufficient to meet future demand over the next 5 – 20 years. The PPS indicates that clubs need additional and improved indoor training facilities to support growth in participation. Developing links with schools that have appropriate indoor space for cricket training facilities is an option for addressing this need. Primary and secondary schools need access to safe indoor and outdoor facilities – all secondary schools should have access to an artificial pitch and indoor nets for practice.

Rugby League: There is need for an all-weather pitch with flood lighting. Current provision is sufficient to meet future demand but there are limited opportunities in Wakefield North, Horbury and South Ossett, Pontefract South, South Elmsall and South Kirkby wards (a full size 4G pitch suitable for RL has now been provided at Minsthorpe College sports complex in South Elmsall. AGPs are also planned at Featherstone Rovers, Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Wildcats community stadiums and at Hemsworth Water Park).

Rugby Union: The majority of pitches are located at club sites and current provision is sufficient to meet future demand.

Hockey: There is need for another AGP at Wakefield Hockey Club (which has now been provided) and future issues with the pitch at Slazenger Hockey Club. There are no hockey facilities in most of the district’s wards and hockey is played on three AGPs which are shared with football.

Tennis: There is a significant shortfall of 63 tennis courts across the district (however more academy and school sites now have community access so the number of available courts needs reassessing). There is a need for more all-weather and floodlit facilities.

Bowls: The majority of greens are privately owned by clubs or leased from the Council. The quality of private greens and pavilions is generally good. There are issues with poor quality and maintenance of some of the Council’s facilities, particularly those in public parks. These facilities seem to be sufficient to meet future demand, although no standards are given in the PPS. There is need for extended indoor facilities possibly at Thornes Park Stadium or Featherstone Indoor Bowls Club.

Action to Meet Identified Needs in LROS Appendix A lists venues which provide indoor sports facilities within the district, and in neighbouring districts which are accessible to Wakefield residents within 30 minutes travelling time on public transport. Since the PPG17 Indoor Sports Facilities Strategic Plan was published in 2008, the following has already occurred to address the identified needs for indoor sport facilities:

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Sun Lane Leisure with two swimming pools, health & fitness and studio facilities has been built in Wakefield city centre.

The health & fitness provision at Thornes Park Stadium has been upgraded and indoor bowling mats provided.

Lightwaves Leisure centre is now a community operated facility with four badminton court sports hall, indoor cricket, five-a-side football and boxing facilities.

Many of the academies and colleges in the district are offering community use of their sports halls, indoor and outdoor facilities in South Elmsall, Hemsworth, Featherstone, Knottingley, Pontefract, Castleford, Normanton, Horbury, Ossett and Wakefield (see Appendix C).

There is still potential need for:

All-weather floodlit/ indoor tennis facilities (identified in the Playing Pitch Strategy) – this needs reassessing;

Extended indoor bowls facilities at either Thornes Park or Featherstone (identified in the Playing Pitch Strategy) – this needs reassessing;

More sports halls (equivalent to 12 badminton courts size identified in the 2008 PPG17 Indoor Facilities Study) – however this needs reassessing as subsequently more sports halls are now available – see page 5 above;

Four five-a-side football pitches (identified in the 2014 Leisure Review) – this needs reassessing as it is focused on the Five Towns Area rather than Wakefield District as a whole.

The options for meeting demand for facilities in the future are:

1. Rationalise WMDC leisure centre/ swimming pool facilities and provide new leisure centre and sports hub complexes as set out in the Leisure Review 2014.

2. Provide facilities at the community rugby league stadiums at Castleford Tigers, Wakefield Wildcats and Featherstone Rovers. 3. Consider extending indoor provision at Thornes Park Stadium or utilising the Wakefield College Thornes Park Campus site if it becomes

vacant. 4. Sports hubs can be developed on some of the larger Council owned sites such as Pontefract Park and Spring Mill Ossett. Local

provision can be rationalised and enhanced in main urban parks and recreation grounds such as Thornes Park Wakefield and Hill Top Knottingley. Country parks created through colliery restoration can also accommodate outdoor facilities such as Pontefract Prince of Wales. Hemsworth Town Council are planning to provide an AGP and community sport facilities at Hemsworth Water Park & Vale Head Park.

5. Continue to support and encourage community use of school facilities to address local deficiencies, particularly in smaller settlements. 6. Community sports clubs will continue to be significant providers of facilities. Support clubs to safeguard existing provision and develop

new facilities to meet deficiencies.

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Appendix B lists outdoor sport facilities owned and managed by the Council. It is clear that there are plenty of sites available which are well distributed across the district. Street Scene Property Services are confident that the Council has sufficient land to meet current and future demand. Issues of ‘deficiency’ are largely due to the quality of some pitches and changing facilities, marking out pitches or rationalising facilities to adjust to changing requirements. These are management issues and do not require more land to be provided in LROS.

In LROS a number of Leisure Opportunity Areas and Sports Facility allocations have been identified which support enhanced and new sport and community facility development. These are:

SF1 Featherstone Rovers Sports Hub

SF9 Minsthorpe College Sports Hub

SF15 Balne Lane playing fields, Wakefield

LA1 Ferry Lane playing fields Stanley, Wakefield

LA2 Minsthorpe playing fields and swimming pool site

LA3 Ryhill & Havercroft Sports Centre and playing fields

LA6 Pontefract Prince of Wales

LA7 Knottingley Hill Top (Knottingley Sports Centre and Greenhouse Park) Planning consent has been granted for new stadiums for Wakefield Wildcats at Newmarket and for Castleford Tigers at Glasshoughton (with practice pitches including a full size artificial grass pitch). The Council is considering developing improved facilities to create sports hubs at some of its larger sport and recreational sites at Ossett Spring Mill and Pontefract Park. Both these sites have golf courses, sports pitches and changing facilities with capacity for new pitches, which could include an all-weather pitch together with improved changing facilities. There is capacity in Wakefield Thornes Park and Pontefract Park to enhance and extend tennis and bowling facilities. The Council has identified some Leisure Opportunity Areas which could also provide sports hubs with indoor and outdoor facilities together with other community facilities as required. These sites combined with the sport facilities allocations above will provide sufficient land in strategic locations to meet requirements for facilities identified in the Leisure Review and Playing Pitch Strategy. There are a number of sports clubs, community clubs and miners welfare clubs throughout the district which offer a wide range of good quality sport and community facilities to members (see Appendix D). Many professional and semi-professional sports clubs have community links which enable wider access to their facilities. The Council will continue to support clubs in developing their facilities, and will encourage community access wherever practical. Some clubs lease land and facilities from the Council, others are privately owned. The facilities offered by sports clubs need to be included in the PPS and indoor facilities audits.

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The following table reviews the evidence and gives a commentary on provision of facilities and how the Council can address the issues raised.

Sport Action Document/ Evidence

Indoor Sports Facilities

Swimming pool Leisure Review 2014 gives sufficient evidence for swimming

Wakefield Leisure Review Final Report 2014 – overprovision in Five Towns area. Replace Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley pools with a single centre with pool and fitness facility in the area. Provide a new pool at Minsthorpe College. Replace/ refurbish Knottingley Sports Centre to dry facilities only.

WMDC Local Assessment of Swimming Pool Facilities Planning Model 2012.

Indoor Facilities Review 2015 (WY Sport/ WMDC).

WMDC PPG17 Indoor Sports Facilities Strategic Plan Final report 2007. The Council is considering a leisure centre with pool and fitness facility in the Five Towns area and redeveloping Knottingley Sports Centre to dry facilities only. A new pool is to be provided at Minsthorpe College, South Elmsall.

Health & fitness (gym & studio)

Included in Leisure Review 2014

Wakefield Leisure Review Final Report 2014 – latent demand in Five Towns area can be met at the new swimming pool and leisure facility and by replacing/ refurbishing Knottingley Sports Centre.

Indoor Facilities Review 2015 (WY Sport/ WMDC). Health and fitness facilities will be included in the new Five Towns leisure centre.

Squash Number needs checking Indoor Facilities Review 2015 (WY Sport/ WMDC). Check demand and supply of squash facilities.

Sports hall Leisure Review 2014 uses PPG17 Report – check and update facilities list. Include facilities outside the district within 30 minutes public transport travel time. Check quality and availability - educational sites could have restricted access.

Wakefield Leisure Review Final Report 2014 – need equivalent of 12 badminton courts (or 3 four court sports halls).

Indoor Facilities Review 2015 (WY Sport/ WMDC) – demand for 24 (four court size) sports halls by 2026. Appears to be sufficient halls to meet this demand currently.

WMDC PPG17 Indoor Sports Facilities Strategic Plan Final Report 2007 – need equivalent of 12 badminton courts (equates to three four court sports halls).

Check demand and supply of sports halls.

Five-a-side football Leisure Review 2014 looks at need in the Five Towns area so the district needs assessing as

Wakefield Leisure Review Final Report 2014 – four pitches required. Check demand and supply of five-a-side pitches.

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a whole.

Tennis Needs assessing Wakefield Playing Pitch Strategy 2010-2030 – need for all-weather/ indoor facilities.

Check demand and supply of indoor tennis facilities.

Cricket Needs assessing Wakefield Playing Pitch Strategy 2010-2030 – need for improved indoor facilities. Check demand and supply of indoor cricket facilities.

Bowls Needs assessing Wakefield Playing Pitch Strategy 2010-2030 – need for extended indoor facilities either at Thornes Park or Featherstone Indoor Bowls Club.

Check demand and supply of indoor bowling facilities.

Outdoor Sport Facilities

Rugby League Needs assessing Wakefield Playing Pitch Strategy 2010-2030 – need an all-weather pitch with flood lighting. Current provision sufficient to meet future demand but limited opportunities in Wakefield North, Horbury and South Ossett, Pontefract South, South Elmsall and South Kirkby wards.

A full size 4G pitch has been provided at Minsthorpe College sports complex. Featherstone Rovers are planning to have an all-weather pitch with community access. Community use facilities will also be included at the new Wakefield Wildcats and Castleford Tigers community stadiums including a 3G/4G practice pitch. There is sufficient space in existing playing field sites, community access academies, LROS Sports Facilities and Leisure Opportunity Area allocations to accommodate improved and new rugby facilities if required.

Rugby Union Needs assessing Wakefield Playing Pitch Strategy 2010-2030 – Majority of pitches are located at club sites and current provision is sufficient to meet future demand.

There is sufficient space in existing playing field sites, community access academies, LROS Sports Facilities and Leisure Opportunity Area allocations to accommodate improved and new rugby facilities if required.

Football Needs assessing Wakefield Playing Pitch Strategy 2010-2030 – deficiency in mini and junior pitches which can be met through use of surplus senior pitches. Poor quality changing facilities and pitches across the district. Clubs require higher standards of provision, stifled demand.

There is sufficient space in existing playing field sites, community access academies, LROS Sports Facilities and Leisure Opportunity Area allocations to accommodate improved and new football facilities if required.

Hockey Needs assessing Wakefield Playing Pitch Strategy 2010-2030 – Need for another AGP at Wakefield

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Hockey Club and future issue with pitch at Slazenger Hockey Club. There are no hockey facilities in most of the district’s wards and hockey is played on three AGPs which are shared with football.

The AGP has now been provided. There is sufficient space in existing playing field sites, community access academies, LROS Sports Facilities and Leisure Opportunity Area allocations to accommodate improved and new hockey facilities if required.

Cricket Needs assessing Wakefield Playing Pitch Strategy 2010-2030 – most clubs manage their facilities and there is a reasonable spread of clubs across the district. Current provision is sufficient to meet future demand but there is an issue of quality of some changing facilities. Primary and secondary schools need access to safe indoor and outdoor facilities – all secondary schools should have access to an artificial pitch and indoor nets for practice.

Quality and maintenance is an issue of management rather than of providing sites in LROS. School and academy provision is an issue of need and finance for each institution rather than LROS.

Tennis Needs assessing Wakefield Playing Pitch Strategy 2010-2030 – There is a significant shortfall of 63 tennis courts across the district. There is a need for more all-weather and floodlit facilities.

There is sufficient space in existing main urban parks (such as Thornes Park and Pontefract Park) and LROS Sports Facilities and Leisure Opportunity Area allocations to accommodate improved and new tennis facilities if required.

Bowls Needs assessing Wakefield Playing Pitch Strategy 2010-2030 – Greens are maintained by private bowling clubs, WMDC, Town and Parish Councils. They are well distributed across the district with only one ward without a green which is sufficient to meet demand. The main issues are quality of club house facilities and grounds maintenance - greens in public parks in particular are prone to vandalism and neglect.

Quality and maintenance is an issue of management rather than of providing sites in LROS. There is sufficient space in existing main urban parks (such as Thornes Park and Pontefract Park) and LROS Sports Facilities and Leisure Opportunity Area allocations to accommodate improved and new bowls facilities if required.

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Appendix A: Indoor Facilities (includes facilities in adjoining districts)

Swimming Pools Council facilities Castleford Swimming Pool - WMDC Featherstone Sports Complex - WMDC Knottingley Sports Centre - WMDC Normanton Swimming Pool - WMDC Pontefract Swimming Pool - WMDC Sun Lane Leisure Wakefield - WMDC Dewsbury Sports Centre - Kirklees Council Middleton Sports Centre - Leeds CC Rothwell Sports Centre - Leeds CC Royston Leisure Centre - Barnsley Council Scissett Leisure Centre - Kirklees Council Private membership clubs Bannatynes Health Club, Wakefield Cedar Court Hotel Health Club, Wakefield Future Fitness Club, Wakefield Nuffield Health and Fitness, Wakefield Oasis Health Club, Wakefield Total Fitness, Wakefield Waterton Park Hotel Leisure Club, Walton Academies/ Colleges (access may be restricted) Ackworth School Ossett Academy Silcoates School St Wilfreds Catholic High School, Featherstone Health & Fitness (gym and studio facilities) Council and community use facilities Crofton Community Centre Denhale Activity and Recreation Centre Dewsbury Sports Centre – Kirklees Council Featherstone Sports Complex - WMDC Freeston Academy Leisure Centre Ryhill & Havercroft Community Sports Club – Havercroft & Ryhill Town Council Hemsworth College Sports Centre Hemsworth Community Centre Knottingley Sports Centre - WMDC Lightwaves Leisure Centre Middleton Sports Centre – Leeds CC Minsthorpe College Sports & Fitness Rothwell Sports Centre – Leeds CC Royston Leisure Centre – Barnsley Council Scissett Leisure Centre – Kirklees Council Sun Lane Leisure Wakefield - WMDC Thornes Park Athletics Wakefield - WMDC Academies/ Colleges (access may be restricted) Airedale Academy Ackworth School Carleton Academy Castleford Academy

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Crofton Academy De Lacey Academy Knottingley Outwood Grange Academy Ossett Academy St Wilfreds Catholic High School, Featherstone Wakefield City Academy Private membership clubs Anytime Fitness, Wakefield Bannatynes Health Club, Wakefield Bodymania Fitness Centre, Rothwell Bodyworks, Featherstone Body Zone Fitness Centre Cedar Court Hotel Health Club, Wakefield Fit 4 Life, Ackworth Fitness Base Gym, Pontefract Fitness Flex, Pontefract Fitness First Health Club, Wakefield Fitness Zone, Normanton Formula Fitness, Knottingley Future Fitness Club, Wakefield Isobodies Fitness, Wakefield Iveridge Health Club, Oulton Lifestyle Fitness, Wakefield Lock Lane RL Sports Centre, Castleford Muscleworld Health Club Nuffield Health and Fitness, Wakefield Oasis Health Club, Wakefield Pontefract Squash and Leisure Club Sandal Fitness Centre Spring Life, Castleford Superflex Gym, Upton The Works Fitness, Wakefield Tops Fitness and Rehabilitiation, Outwood Total Fitness, Wakefield The Club, Burntwood Court Hotel, Barnsley Wakefield Fitness and Wellbeing Centre Waterton Park Hotel and Leisure Club Xercise4Less, Castleford Xercise4Less, Wakefield Sports Halls (4 badminton courts size) 27 halls equivalent to 108 courts Airedale Academy Sports Centre, Castleford Carleton High School, Pontefract Castleford Academy Crofton Academy Featherstone Sports Complex - WMDC Freeston Academy Leisure Centre, Normanton Hemsworth College Sports Centre Horbury Academy Kettlethorpe Academy, Wakefield Kings High School, Pontefract Knottingley De Lacey Academy Knottingley Sports Centre - WMDC Lightwaves Leisure Centre

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Lock Lane RL Sports Centre, Castleford Middleton Sports Centre – Leeds CC Minsthorpe Community College, South Elmsall (has two 4 court sports halls) Pontefract New College Ossett Academy Outwood Grange Academy Rothwell Leisure Centre – Leeds CC Silcoates School, Wrenthorpe St Wilfreds Catholic High School, Featherstone Wakefield Cathedral Academy Wakefield City Academy Wakefield College Thornes Park Campus Wakefield High School Sports Halls (size unknown) Highwell School, South Hiendley Horbury Academy Pontefract Squash Club Ossett Academy Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield Rodillian School, Stanley Royston Sports Centre, Barnsley Ryhill & Havercroft Community Sports Club Sandal Junior School, Wakefield South Elmsall Town Council Social Centre St Thomas A Becket Catholic High School, Sandal Thornes Park Athletics, Wakefield (athletics and bowls) Thornhill Sports Centre, Dewsbury Wakefield Independent School, Wragby Squash Courts Ackworth School Dewsbury Sports Centre Knottingley Sports Centre Middleton Leisure Centre Pontefract Squash Club Rothwell Squash Club Silcoates School Skelmanthorpe Squash Club The Club, Burntwood Court Hotel, Barnsley Wakefield Sports Club

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Appendix B: WMDC Outdoor Sports Facilities for Club and Community Use Some sites are leased from the Council by clubs (club in brackets where known), with options for maintenance and providing club facilities such as changing rooms. Other sites are available for hire or for more informal community use. Sports pitch information was provided by Street Scene Property Services in 2014. Football Altofts MW, Lock Lane (Altofts Sports Club) – 1 pitch, changing facilities Barracks Field, Pontefract – 2 pitches, changing facilities Carr Lodge Park, Horbury – 1 pitch, changing facilities Chequers Close, Pontefract – 1 pitch, no changing facilities Church Road, Altofts – 3 pitches, no changing facilities Edward Sutch/Denhale Arc, Flanshaw – 1 pitch, no changing facilities Featherstone MW – 1 pitch, changing facilities Lupset Sports Ground, Wakefield – 3 pitches, changing facilities Ferry Lane, Stanley – 2 pitches, no changing facilities George V Eastmoor, Wakefield – 1 pitch, changing facilities Grange Park, Outwood – 1 pitch, changing facilities Grasmere Road, Alverthorpe – 2 pitches, changing facilities Green Lane, Cutsyke – 1 pitch, changing facilities Green Park, Horbury – 2 pitches, no changing facilities Haggs Hill, Queens Drive, Ossett – 1 pitch, no changing facilities Haw Hill Park, Normanton – 1 pitch, changing facilities Henry Avenue, Havercroft – 1 pitch, nochanging facilities Howards Fields, Knottingley – 2 pitches, changing facilities Hudson Avenue, Notton – 1 pitch, no changing facilities Hill Top Knottingley (Kellingley MW) – 2 pitches, changing facilities Illingwoth Park Ossett (Ossett Town FC) – 1 pitch, no changing facilities Ladybalk, Pontefract – 1 pitch, no changing facilities Leeds Road Castleford (Glasshoughton Community Forum) – 2 pitches, changing facilities Lofthouse Gate Colliery, Wakefield – 4 pitches, no changing facilities Mill Lane, Streethouse – 1 pitch, no changing facilities Minsthorpe Park, South Elmsall – 3 pitches, no changing facilities Painthorpe Lane, Crigglestone (Hall Green Juniors FC) – 3 pitches, changing facilities Pontefract Park – 6 pitches, changing facilities Purston Park, Featherstone Queens Park, Castleford – 4 pitches, changing facilities Queens Drive, Roundwood, Ossett – 6 pitches, changing facilities Savile Park, Castleford – 2 pitches, no changing facilities Shay Lane, Crofton (Walton Sports Club) – 2 pitches, changing facilities Slack Lane, Newmillerdam – 3 pitches, changing facilities Snydale MW, Normanton – 1 pitch, changing facilities Spring Mill, Ossett – 3 pitches, changing facilities Thornes Park, Wakefield – 6 pitches, changing facilities Tombridge Crescent, Kinsley (Kinsley Boys FC) – 1 pitch, changing facilities Wakefield Road, Hemsworth (Hemsworth FC) – 3 pitches, changing facilities Whitwood Willowbridge, Castleford – 1 pitch, changing facilities

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Rugby Church Street, Ossett (Ossett ARLFC) – 1 pitch, changing facilities Featherstone MW – 1 pitch, changing facilities Ferry Lane, Stanley – 1 pitch, no changing facilities George V Eastmoor, Wakefield – 2 pitches, changing facilities Green Lane, Cutsyke – 1 pitch, changing facilities Howards Fields, Knottingley – 3 pitches, changing facilities Hill Top Knottingley (Kellingley MW) – 2 pitches, changing facilities Lock Lane Castleford (Lock Lane Sports Club ARLFC) – 3 pitches, changing facilities Lister Close, Featherstone – 1 pitch, no changing facilities Methley Road Rec, Castleford – 1 pitch, changing facilities Methley Road (Castleford Panthers ARLFC) – 3 pitches, changing facilities Painthorpe Lane, Crigglestone (Crigglestone ARLFC) – 3 pitches, changing facilities Pontefract Park – 2 pitches, changing facilities Shay Lane, Crofton (Walton Sports Club) – 1 pitch, changing facilities Snydale MW, Normanton – 1 pitch, changing facilities Spring Mill, Ossett – 1 pitch, changing facilities Wakefield Road, Featherstone (Featherstone Lions ARLFC) – 4 pitches, changing facilities Walnut Drive, Normanton – 1 pitch, no changing facilities Whitwood Willowbridge, Castleford – 2 pitches, changing facilities Currently unused fields suitable for football or rugby pitches Coach Road, Outwood – 1 pitch, changing facilities Ferrybridge Park, Knottingley – 3 pitches, changing facilities Highfield Road, Hemsworth – 1 pitch, no changing facilities Hudson Avenue, Notton – 1 pitch, no changing facilities Orchard Head, Nevison, Pontefract – 1 pitch, no changing facilities Pease Park, Pontefract – 1 pitch, no changing facilities Purston Park, Featherstone – 1 pitch, no changing facilities Silcoates Rec, Wakefield – 1 pitch, no changing facilities Wrenthorpe Park – 1 pitch, changing facilities Cricket Savile Park, Castleford (Castleford CC) Featherstone MW (Featherstone Town CC) Altofts MW Lock Lane (Altofts Sports Club – Altofts CC) Thornes Sports Ground, Lilac Avenue, Wakefield (Wakefield Thornes CC) St Johns Snydale, Normanton (Normanton Snydale CC) Shay Lane, Crofton (Walton Sports Club - Walton CC) Stanley Sports Club, Lee Moor Road (Stanley CC) Lupset Sports Ground, Wakefield (Azaad CC) Hemsworth MW, Fitzwilliam (Hemsworth CC) Leeds Road Castleford (Glasshoughton CC) Bowls Savile Park, Castleford – 1 green Queens Park, Castleford – 2 greens Castleford Lane, Ferrybridge – 1 green Haw Hill Park, Normanton – 1 green Smirthwaite Park, Normanton – 1 green Featherstone MW – 2 greens

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Altofts MW Lock Lane (Altofts Sports Club – Altofts BC) – 1 green Thornes Sports Ground, Lilac Avenue, Wakefield – 1 green Thornes Park, Wakefield – 2 greens Friarwood Valley Garden, Pontefract – 1 green Wrenthorpe Park – 1 green Valehead Park, Kinsley – 1 green Lock Lane, Stanley – 1 green Leeds Road, Castleford (Glasshoughton BC) – 1 green Reid Park, Horbury (Reid Park BC) – 1 green Potovens Lane, Outwood (Grange Park BC) – 1 green Tennis Savile Park, Castleford – 4 courts Queens Park, Castleford – 1 court Haw Hill Park, Normanton – 3 courts Thornes Park, Wakefield – 6 courts Valehead Park, Kinsley – 3 courts Pontefract Park – 4 courts Reid Park, Horbury – 1 court Grange Park, Outwood – 2 courts (WMDC/ leased?) Golf Pontefract Park – 9 hole course (Pontefract Golf Club) Ossett Springmill – 9 hole course Lupset Sports Ground, Wakefield – 18 hole course Valehead Park, Kinsley – 9 hole course Thornes Park, Wakefield - putting green Athletics Thornes Park Stadium– synthetic floodlit outdoor track and grass field facilities, indoor hall with 60m sprint track and long jump pit, gymnastics and fitness facilities. Watersports Pugneys Country Park, Wakefield – sailing, canoeing, windsurfing.

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Appendix C: Academies, Schools and Colleges with community use facilities Airedale Academy, Castleford Ackworth School Carlton Community High School, Pontefract Castleford Academy Cathedral Academy, Wakefield Crofton Academy De Lacy Academy, Knottingley Freeston Academy, Normanton (Freeston Leisure Centre) Hemsworth Arts & Community Academy (Hemsworth Sports Centre) Horbury Academy Kettlethorpe High School Kings High School, Pontefract Minsthorpe Community College, South Elmsall (Minsthorpe Sports Centre) New College, Pontefract Ossett Academy Outwood Grange Academy Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield St Thomas A Becket Catholic High School, Wakefield St Wilfred's Catholic High School, Featherstone Silcoates School, Wrenthorpe Featherstone Academy (Featherstone Sports Complex) Wakefield City Academy Wakefield College Thornes Park Campus Wakefield High School Wakefield Independent School, Wragby

Appendix D: Community Sports Clubs Altofts MW Sport and Social Club Crigglestone Sports Club Featherstone MW Sports Club Fryston MW, Castleford Glasshoughton Community Sports Club Hemsworth MW Sports Club Kellingley MW Sports Club, Knottingley Lock Lane RL Sports Club, Castleford Nostell MW, Crofton Ossett Sports Club Ryhill & Havercroft Community Sports Club Slazenger Sports Club, Horbury Snydale Sport and Social Club (St Johns MW), Normanton South Elmsall MW Sports Club South Kirkby MW Sports Club Stanley Sport and Social Club, Wakefield Townville MW Sports Club, Airedale, Castleford Upton Community Sports Club Wakefield Sports Club Walton Sport and Social Club West Yorkshire Sport and Social Club, Sandal