Moulton village bids to upgrade playing field (From Warrington Guardian)

Moulton village bids to upgrade playing field

PLANNING permission to update Moulton's playing field facilities is being sought by the parish council.

The field off Main Road is to have separate play areas for toddlers and juniors, a multi-games area and teenage shelters installed around the football pitch.

Ideas to transform the area have been talked about for many years and have now been formalised through Moulton's Parish Plan.

Rowland Wakeling, chairman of the parish plan's steering group, is delighted there is some signs of progress.

He said: "It's good to see the land being put to good use because plans for the playing field were already so far advanced we integrated them into Moulton's Parish Plan and they are certainly helping with the overall vision."

Steve Oakes, chairman of Moulton Youth Football Club and a member of the parish plan's steering committee, also welcomed the development but had reservations about how it will affect the football club.

He said: "Developing the land will be good for the youth of the village and the shelters for teenagers are certainly a good idea but it won't give the football club any advantage.

"At the moment, we play seven-a-side at the bottom of the main pitch and developing the land will stop small-sided football taking place."

Steve said that seven-a-side football, which takes place at the same time as the 11-a-side game, is the life-blood of the football club and ensures children's skills are developed from an early age.

He added: "At the moment we haven't got a seven-a-side manager for next year, so not having a pitch isn't an immediate problem but in years to come, I think we'll convert the large pitch into two smaller ones for seven-a-side.

"To keep the club going, we really need to keep seven-a-side going."