Question
CEF 20 2024 Georgetown Football Pitch
Question:
Could an effort please be made to make ready the Long Beach football pitch as soon as possible?
A relatively large number of participants (approx. 60) are ready and eager to start a proposed football league at the pitch, but are being forced to wait until AIG are able to grade and water the field.
Football is an activity which contributes greatly to the mental and physical wellbeing of several island residents, as well as uniting the wider community who enjoy spectating.
Please could this be pushed up the list of AIG’s priorities.
Answer:
Dear Councillor Benjamin,
Thank you for contacting us about this matter – we are happy to help.
Preparing the pitch has taken longer than we would want due to a lot of conflicting high priority projects (such as the ongoing work to complete the two waste water work plants ready for commissioning late next month), however early last week we gave an undertaking about this pitch that we fully intend to meet. We have been consistently asking the organiser for information on tournament dates and the number of games for some time.
On 8 October we gave an undertaking to the person liaising with us on this matter that the pitch would be prepared after the bonfire night celebrations, (which are now just 12 working days away). At the same time we also reassured them that AIG fully understands how much football is an important part of our community.
When giving these undertakings, we requested possible game dates after bonfire night and information on how many games were envisaged in order for us to plan the work needed properly.
The question of the number of games went unanswered, until Monday (11 October) when we were told there would be an upcoming tournament starting on Friday 18 October. Clearly that was an impossible target to meet, especially as we had already indicated that the work would be done after bonfire night.
As the work start date is so close (the team are scheduled to start immediately after the bonfire night celebrations), it is unlikely we will be able to bring it forward, but if circumstances change - we will (team resources allowing, as preparing this pitch takes at least two operatives several days to complete).
Looking forward to 2025, I wonder if via your contacts we could identify possible provisional dates for football in 2025? That way we can programme the work into our annual plan, thus helping us to schedule the work more efficiently and helping the football community to have more certainty.
I hope this helps both reassure and clarify matters, but if not I am more than happy to answer further queries.
David Mills
Director of Facilities & Operations
Late update: We have today (18/10/24) been told that between 36 & 54 games are planned.
Councillor Kerry Benjamin
Submitted: 16 October 2024
Response: 18 October 2024
