Council To Stop Maintaining Branksome Cricket Pitch

BCP Council has decided it will no longer maintain the cricket pitch at Branksome Recreation Ground in Poole. According to the council, the costs to maintain the pitch are much higher than the money it brings in, making it unsustainable.

Local residents are worried about this change. They believe that without proper investment, the recreation area will not be well-kept, which is upsetting because it's an important part of the community.

Additionally, there are concerns about The Pavilion, a building in the area that's currently not in use and has been boarded up.

A spokesperson for the BCP Council explained:

"Branksome Recreation Ground is important to our community, and the council aims to meet the needs of its users. Just like last year, we plan to mow the grass at least six times a year. If possible, we might do it more often, depending on the weather and available resources.

Regarding the cricket pitch, last year it was only booked for six events, earning about £565, while the maintenance cost was £11,500. This maintenance includes a lot of work - like mowing, rolling, marking, and fixing it up after games. It also requires a lot of water and staff supervision, which are expensive and labor-intensive."

The council also mentioned that they remove the goalposts on soccer fields after the season ends to help the grass grow better for the next year.

The spokesperson added:

"We encourage local sports clubs to book our public sports fields to help keep them in use. We are also discussing with community groups the future of The Pavilion to find a sustainable way to use it that will benefit the community."