Councillors have backed an ambitious strategy to bring extra sports and leisure facilities to Gillingham in the coming years.

The plans include a Parkrun course, a multi-use games area – with four tennis courts, four netball courts and two five-a-side football pitches – a pump track, a junior pedal track and Gillingham’s very own cricket pitch and pavilion.

All these proposed schemes would need the direct involvement and in some cases funding from Gillingham Town Council.

In addition, councillors have also backed the idea that the town should have a 3G sports pitch, and have supported North Dorset Rugby Football Club’s plans to develop an ‘events centre’.

However, neither of these projects would receive money or direct involvement from the town council.

Gillingham’s ambitious sports and leisure strategy was approved at a full council meeting last Monday.

Councillors were voting on a strategy report compiled by town clerk Julie Hawkins for the council’s sports and leisure sub-committee, which recommended ‘priorities for future sports and leisure development and investment in Gillingham’.

The report notes that in a recent survey of local residents a Parkrun in Gillingham was the community’s ‘top priority’ outside of improving Hardings Park. It says that the area close to RiversMeet leisure centre is ‘well suited’ as a ‘host location’ for these runs.

Councillors agreed that, subject to agreement by the landowner, the Hardings Lane/Woodwater Farm site was the best place to establish a Parkrun and that this idea will be included in the Gillingham Neighbourhood Plan and Town Strategy.

The strategy report also stated that there was ‘significant’ local interest in new facilities at Hardings Park and in particular for a multi-use games area (MUGA) for tennis, basketball, five-a-side football and netball, a junior cycling track, a pump/BMX track and an open space for ‘informal recreation’.

The town council agreed to ask for tenders from interested companies to build the MUGA at Hardings Park, and to get pre-planning application advice on the project from Dorset Council. If it goes ahead this project could be completed by early 2027.

There was also agreement to provide the pump track for cycling, described in the report as a ‘low-impact, family-friendly facility suitable for a wide range of ages and abilities’. This could be built by the second half of 2027.

Similarly, councillors approved plans for the junior pedal track for learner cyclists to provide a ‘safe, well-designed space for younger and less experienced cyclists to develop their skills without conflicting with advanced users of the skate park and proposed pump track’. The timetable for this is for construction by the late summer of 2028.

The projected cost for the MUGA is £278,000, for the pump track it is £200,000 and for the junior pedal track the figure is £100,000. With planning fees on top, the total cost of what is termed the ‘Hardings Park Project’ is £582,000, of which £355,750.79 is available from funds supplied by developers of the town’s Southern Extension and other development projects in the area.

The council says that it will have to consider how to raise the shortfall of £227,000. This could be done through grant applications, local fund raising, the town’s precept or through a public works loan.

At the same time councillors agreed to continue working with housebuilders CG Fry and Son Ltd on the development of a ‘recreation ground/cricket pitch and sports pavilion’ within the Southern Extension Eastern Area, whose ownership and management would then be transferred to Gillingham Town Council.

In its report the sub-committee notes: ‘There is currently no cricket pitch in Gillingham and the recent public consultation identified this as the second most requested facility outside of Hardings Park.’

It points out that the the developer will provide the necessary capital funding for the initial facilities but that the long-term maintenance and management of this area will be the responsiblity of the council.

Councillors also backed the creation of a 3G pitch within the Hardings Lane/Woodwater Farm area and this will be included in the Gillingham Neighbourhood Plan and Town Strategy.

However, the strategy report makes clear: ‘…[W]hile the Town Council may be willing to offer its support for a 3G pitch in this area, it is not in a financial position to fund or manage such a facility. The development, operation and future maintenance of a 3G pitch would therefore need to be led and resourced by suitable external partners, with the Town Council acting in a supportive and enabling capacity only.’

The council has also agreed to support ‘in principle’ plans by North Dorset RFC to expand its clubhouse to create an events centre.

The strategy report notes: ‘This project will be led and resourced by North Dorset Rugby Football Club with no financial implications to the Town Council.’