A sporting chance for new investment

A strategy aimed at improving provision, raising standards, and helping to direct future investment and funding for playing pitches and outdoor sports facilities is being recommended for adoption by Dover District Council. The Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Facility Strategy will be discussed at a meeting of DDC's Cabinet on Monday (2 February 2015).

DDC has been carrying out a wide ranging review of the district's outdoor spaces as part of its Core Strategy, which sets out the overall ambitions and priorities for the district to 2026. This included development of the Parks and Amenity Spaces Strategy (adopted 2013) and the Review of Play Area Provision 2012-2026 (adopted 2012).

A 12 week public consultation on the Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Facility Strategy ran from 17 July to 9 October 2014 with 101 representations from members of the public, local sports clubs, and national sport governing bodies. Changes were made to the strategy as a direct result of this input, such as an increased emphasis on exploring options to improve outdoor tennis provision.

Cllr Nigel Collor, Portfolio Holder for Access and Property Management, said: "We know that the provision of high quality outdoor sports facilities is important to encouraging greater participation in sport. We'd like to thank all those who took part in the consultation thereby helping us to shape the strategy.

"Once adopted, this new strategy will provide a strategic framework for investment and funding to improve provision of facilities for outdoor sport and to raise standards."