Ambitious plans to regenerate sports facilities and playing fields have been delayed after costs began “going through the roof”.
Woodside Sports Village is an “exciting state-of-the-art” project that Watford Borough Council has planned for Woodside Playing Fields in Garston.
The plans have been years in the making and it was hoped that construction might have begun earlier this year after planning phases were given the green light
But amid rising costs, the council has taken a step back to work out what is actually “deliverable and affordable” and admitted the pandemic has hampered progress.
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For example, plans submitted last year by the council for a community sports hub, a new cricket pavillion, cafe, and toilets, along with the refurbishment of existing sports clubs facilities were later withdrawn.
And the latest council financial documents show that just under £8 million set aside for the sports village has been rephased to the 2022/23 budget, with the spend for the last financial year on the project just over £500,000 - much less than anticipated.
At a finance scrutiny meeting on June 27, councillor Mark Watkin described the sports village project as “incredibly complex”.
He explained: “It’s complex because it’s a relationship with a lot of the sports groups and what they want, and it’s trying to get to what will actually be deliverable and affordable because the costs of that project were beginning to go through the roof. There has been a lot of rethinking going on.”
Tim Williams, councillor responsible for neighbourhood services, added: “As you would expect with any complex, long-term project, like Woodside Playing Fields, we continually review our plans against our agreed budget.
"This is particularly important with current construction costs, which we know are increasing significantly as inflation rises.
"We are committed to improving this well-loved and much-used open space and are currently developing options for an improved cricket pavilion, changing facilities, public toilets, and boxing club.
"We are engaging with key users and stakeholders on these plans, which represent a significant investment in Woodside and will be ready for people to see later this year."
The sports village proposals appear to be split into different phases and it remains to be seen which ideas that have been mooted in the past come forward at a later date - and that prove to be feasible.
There have been recommendations for activities such as adventure golf and a high ropes course, while plans to convert or demolish Watford Indoor Bowls Club for uses such as a trampoline park, activity centre, multi-use venue, or gymnastics club have been explored.
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There have also been proposals for improvements to the toddler and junior play areas, along with a sensory garden, as well as increasing the size of the car park.
Any take-up of these proposals would join existing facilities at Woodside such as several football pitches and the athletics stadium.
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