Durham County Council is negotiating to transfer ownership of playing fields to Consett AFC to enhance community football opportunities
Consett: The local football club, Consett AFC, has been using council-owned fields for their junior teams. These fields are crucial for the kids in the community.
Recently, though, the club faced some serious issues. A wave of vandalism in December left the pitches in bad shape. It seems some vehicles have been tearing up the grass.
They shared their concerns on social media, highlighting how important these pitches are for local kids to play football. It’s frustrating when people don’t respect shared spaces.
Consett AFC is now looking to take ownership of these fields. They want to put up a fence to prevent any more damage. A meeting is scheduled for mid-January to discuss how to move forward.
Frank Bell, the club owner, is hopeful about the talks with the council. He believes they can get the fields back in shape soon.
He mentioned that they need to fence the area behind the stadium to keep the pitches usable. The goal is to protect these fields while still keeping them open for the community.
They also plan to invest in better equipment and improve the drainage system. Frank isn’t worried about the planning process, even if it takes time.
Susan Robinson from the council emphasized the importance of these fields for grassroots sports. She noted that they’re working closely with Consett AFC to finalize the transfer.
She also reminded everyone to report any vehicle-related issues to the police, as anti-social behavior can really hurt the community.
