As many of you will know we have been in discussion with Alton Town Council about the possibility of levelling one or two of our pitches and playing on a flat surface! Most recently, we have also been discussing replacing grass with an Artificial Grass Pitch playing surface.

As we move towards our 100 year centenary (50 years in Anstey Park), we hope to take a step closer to this on Wednesday 3rd September. This is the date of the next Alton Town Council meeting where they will take a vote to “To carry out public consultation on whether to take forward assessment of any ATC site as the potential/preferred site for the new facility.”. You can read the full agenda item at the end of this note.

We will be attending the council meeting on the 3rd September to reinforce the need for the multipurpose pitch in Alton and the need for them to take forward to public consultation.

Provided we get a positive vote on Wednesday, the next step will be a public meeting
Wednesday 17th September 2025 and this is where we need your support.

We need to show the strength of feeling that the town has and that Alton needs this type of facility. The logical site being Anstey Park, at the centre of a Sports Hub that provides facilities for a growing town. The Rugby club can continue to develop taking advantage of the new facility and securing our future for the next 100 years.

Please review the club strategy as presented last season (power point available on Club website: Information/Documents/AGM information and documents/ATC Pitch Presentation).

Please put Wednesday 17th in your diary and I will update you following the meeting on the 3rd September.

Malcom Osborne
President

Agenda Item for 3rd September

ITEM 6: SPORTS STRATEGY AND 3G PITCH IN ALTON FOR DECISION East Hampshire District Council’s Playing Pitch and Sports Facility Strategy 2024-40 highlighted that investment is needed in at least 3.5 additional full-sized FA-registered 3G pitches to cater for current and future demand and the population growth of East Hampshire. There are already plans for a 3G at Bohunt School and at the Land East of Horndean development and assuming these can be delivered, an additional 1.5 pitches are needed. Due to the current number of teams in the area and their accessibility, an additional full-sized pitch should be delivered in the Petersfield area, with a youth 11v11 3G in the North of the district to support the growth in population and demand from youth clubs. Since the publishing of the strategy, the Football Foundation has completed further work as part of the update to the Local Football Facility Plan 2025 to look at team numbers and expected growth; it has been identified that Alton is the most suitable location to meet the strategic need. The Football Foundation has committed to delivering 40% of their investment into multi-sport facilities. Working with the Rugby Football Union (RFU), it was agreed that The Petersfield School and Alton 3G pitch will provide multi-sport offers within East Hampshire District. Several sites in the Alton parish have undergone an initial feasibility assessment and Alton Town Council needs to take a decision whether to take forward any of their sites as the preferred site. At a councillor workshop on 23rd July 2025, councillors identified the importance of engaging and informing the public, so that there is complete openness and transparency. It was suggested that some level of public engagement be undertaken prior to decision on whether to include any ATC sites and whether ATC would then lead the project, with the support of the Football Foundation. It is proposed that a public meeting be held on Wednesday 17th September in the Assembly Rooms and to publicise the project and encourage public responses through other media and social media. The item would then be added to the agenda of 8th October Council meeting to resolve which site to take forward for full feasibility studies. It is anticipated that the feasibility work, which includes full public consultation, would take around 18 months.RECOMMENDATION: To carry out public consultation on whether to take forward assessment of any ATC site as the potential/preferred site for the new facility.