Agenda item

Report of Corporate Director for Community Services

Eddie Curry, Head of Parks and Open Spaces, presented the report of the Corporate Director of Community Services and the Director of Sports Culture and Parks, highlighting the following points:

(a)  The Victoria Embankment cricket pavilion is a popular local structure, but has been unused for a number of years. It has been vandalised and is in a poor state. There are birds in the building and it is a maintenance liability.

(b)  Plans were drawn up to assess the viability of restoring the existing pavilion. The new pavilion will need to be accessible, usable, and financially viable. The plans involve the clearing of internal walls and installation of support pillars, and additional drilling into the foundations for pillar support. It is not known if the foundations would be strong enough to support the pillars. In order to make the building accessible, the pavilion would either need an extension with an external lift, or the installation of extended steps and a ramp. An external lift would cause extensive ongoing maintenance issues and costs, and due to the height of the raised steps on the building, a slope would take up a large amount of space. Either structure would be prohibitively expensive.

(c)  Cricket governing bodies require certain minimum standards for pavilions, which must include: 4 changing rooms, disabled access, 2 officials’ rooms, a tea room or kitchen, and an external viewing area. Without this minimum standard, governing bodies are very unlikely to help with funding for a refurbishment project. The re-design of the existing pavilion could only accommodate 2 changing rooms, and would not meet the minimum requirements.

Tracey Francis, of Nottinghamshire Cricket Club, presented further information on behalf of the English Cricket Board (ECB):

(d)  Mabers, a local architect firm, offered free design services for a heritage project, and have put together a plan for a new cricket pavilion on Victoria Embankment.

(e)  Potential funding for the project would come from the Trent Bridge Community Trust, a registered charity of the ECB and Trent Bridge. However, funds will not be released unless the project meets the ECBs minimum requirements. It is not possible to meet these requirements and to retain the old building.

(f)  One of the entrances to an old school building within the Meadows has been salvaged, and worked into the proposed design for the new building, to retain some heritage from the area. The pitch of the roof has also been changed to closer match the old building.

A representative of Friends of Victoria Embankment expressed his views against the proposals:

(g)  A covenant is in place to protect the recreation ground, and to ensure that no businesses can operate there. One of the proposed activities to be run from the new pavilion will be “Last Man Stands” which is a business venture, resulting in someone making a profit. The Meadows’ Cricket Club has so far not joined Last Man Stands on principle.

(h)  The pavilion could be dismantled completely, and restored properly, with additional space dug out in a basement space for the extra changing rooms to meet the ECBs needs.

(i)  There has been insufficient consultation on the proposals to date.  The old school entrance was salvaged to be placed in the memorial gardens, as the school was used as a military hospital during World War 1, not to be used as the entrance to the new pavilion.

(j)  There is a need to retain the heritage of the existing building.

Following questions and comments from the Committee, the following additional information and views were provided:

(k)  The final plans have been available for less than a week, which is why extensive consultation on them has not yet taken place. Bringing the plans to the meeting so quickly is a gesture of goodwill, and an attempt to include the community in the design process.

(l)  The old school entrance was included in the designs as a good will gesture to the Friends of Victoria Embankment group, but will not be included without their approval, as it was salvaged by them and they retain ownership. However, to have a standalone doorway as a sculpture in the memorial gardens would not be suitable as a memorial.

(m)  The ECB are experienced in providing first class cricketing equipment and facilities, and they want to help to provide an excellent pavilion for the community. There are not any other viable or affordable options.

(n)  The Meadows Tenants and Residents Association first raised the issue of the pavilion over 10 years ago. Proposals were made for refurbishment, but the Association would have had to raise tens of thousands of pounds in match funding, which was not possible. The Association is now very pleased with the new proposals, and all residents they have spoken to are supportive. The current pavilion is considered to be beyond repair.

(o)  The current pavilion is not being used, and has stood empty for years. If a complete rebuild will see it brought back into community use, then that can only be a positive step.

(p)  There is agreement that the pavilion can be used for 2 nights per week for Last Man Stands, which regenerates cricket. The ECB would like to install a 4^th wicket at some point for use by schools, holiday schemes, and cricketing festivals. They would like cricket to be the sport of choice for the Meadows.

(q)  Councillor Edwards suggested that the wording of the resolution be changed from “Note the proposals for the cricket pavilion” to “Support the principles for the new cricket pavilion”, which the Committee agreed to. This is reflected in the resolutions below.

RESOLVED to:

(1)  support the principles for the new cricket pavilion;

(2)  approve the contribution of £10,000 Area Capital funding towards the funding bids for the project.