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Q1: What will you do about Anti-Social behaviour?

 

There is no ‘silver bullet’ to resolve anti-social behaviour and it is naïve to think that we can unilaterally solve ASB around the area. We will work tenaciously with the authorities, police, council and residents to do what we can to be a part of the solution. We believe we can help in two main ways:

• People are less likely to congregate around the changing rooms/pitches if they are in use, so opening and operating the facility will naturally provide some resistance to anti-social behaviour.

• Anti-social behaviour is often a result of a lack of recreational activities. Hopefully ourselves (along with partners) can help give local children more productive things to do.

 

Please be respectful that we are volunteers and not vigilantes; whilst we stand with the community against anti-social behaviour, our powers as a football club do not extend to tackling crime. 

 

 

Q2: Will this affect the use of the facility as a public space.

 

The two fields will remain designated as a public space. We will not impose restrictions on dog walkers/local residents etc.  We ask that local residents respect the fact that we do want to maintain high quality surfaces for both youth and adult football, so we would ask people to refrain from activities that might damage the playing surfaces themselves and at some times of year we will ask residents to try and avoid areas that are being treated.

 

In due course we hope to be able to offer additional services which will actually help the area be used as a public space e.g. sale of teas/coffees, provision of picnic seating etc.

 

 

Q3: Will my child be able to play for Barnwood?

 

Historically we have been constrained by our facilities. The Sports Hub gives us the opportunity to change this, and also offer football to a far wider audience than we have ever managed before.

 

We will be onboarding some new age groups next year, and as things stand we expect to have the following at the start of the 2024/25 season: U13 boys, U10 boys, U7 girls, U6 girls.

 

We want to ensure that anyone who wants to play for Barnwood United has the opportunity, and this means bringing on more age groups, to do this we need coaches and volunteers. We appeal to anyone who is interested to please contact us to discuss how we can work together.

 

 

Q4: How can I hire facilities?

 

We have had a great deal of interest expressed, and it is clear that there are a number of sports clubs desperate for additional facilities. It is however key that the facility benefits residents, and not just sports clubs.

 

Following adoption of facilities, we will announce a two week application period where we will ask anyone and everyone who is interested in using the facilities to contact and register their interest, requirements and details of activities they would host. This will enable us to review applications and identify how we can best hire out facilities so that everyone’s needs are met, as far as possible.

 

Following this review period we will advertise available slots and a process by which to book these.

 

A further idea we have been exploring is having community periods, where the facilities are left open for public use. This would come with the caveat that if these saw the facilities disrespected and damaged, or paying hirers disturbed, then we would have to remove these periods.

 

 

Q5:  Will other sports be encouraged?

 

Yes, our vision is for a diverse programme of activities to be available of the Sports Hub. However, we are a football club, we will not run other sports personally! Anyone interested in setting up a sports club, or any existing sports club who would want to use the facility as a base are encouraged to reach out to us during the two week application window referenced in “Q4: How can I hire the facilities?”.

 

 

Q6: How will car parking be managed?

 

We are aware of the current parking situation.  The Council has advised that the field passed the gate is reserved for overflow parking. We will continually review the parking situation with the Council.

 

For larger events we will also reach out to other facilities (Pineholt, Glos Business Park etc), to mitigate the effects of parking on local residents.

 

 

Q7: What measures will you be taking to protect local houses from stray footballs etc?

 

We have been looking at options to help mitigate this issue.  One option is to fit large netting to stop balls (where possible) leaving the pitch area. This is likely to effective but could be viewed as unsightly. A further option is to grow the hedgerows taller; this will be less effective but more aesthetic. We would welcome the input of residents on this matter so that we can reach a solution that suits all parties.

 

 

Q8: What will the “Funfair” look like?

 

This is to be determined. However, want we can confirm is that this will not be a fairground. It will most likely take the form of a family fun day; small stalls, beat the keeper, youth and adult charity games, a barbecue and some music etc. 

 

All larger events will be planned with residents in mind, and will aim to be respectful of the local neighbourhood. With this in mind if any local residents/local organisations want to be involved in the planning we would welcome their input.

 

We are also looking into the possibility of outdoor viewings of major sporting events e.g. FA cup final, Euros etc.

 

 

Q9: Will you plan to sell alcohol and food on the facility?

 

We will be exploring these possibilities.  As people know there is no clubhouse, so this would most likely be limited to larger outdoor events for the foreseeable future.  Again, we would want to work with residents to ensure that this is done respectfully and without negatively impacting our surroundings.

 

 

Q10: How will you be spending the public funds received?

 

We are very aware that we are receiving taxpayer money. This brings with it a great deal of responsibility, a responsibility we take very seriously. We submitted a very detailed business plan to the council which set out our plans. We believe we presented a pragmatic, realistic and well thought out plan, which detailed our plans to both look after and improve the facilities on offer.

 

As such the single biggest category of expenditure throughout our 25 year business plan is upkeep and improvement of the facility. 

 

A key tenet of our business plan, and our general ethos, is the provision of high class facilities, and as such this is probably the key focus of our spending plans. It is important to us that should we only be custodians of Coopers Edge for 25 years, then what is handed back at that time is of the same, if not better, standard.

 

For example, in year 1 alone we are currently budgeting over £45k of expenditure on capital improvements and general upkeep. Ongoing maintenance year on year is likely to be in the region of £20-25k a year.  We also hope to take on key capital upgrade projects on a cyclical basis, assuming we can hit our key business plan objectives.

 

 

Q11: Can I become a sponsor of the club?

 

Yes! We hope to have a number of sponsorship opportunities please do talk to us if you are interested. More details of why you should consider sponsoring us, and the packages available, can be found on our website here: https://www.barnwoodunited.co.uk/sponsor-us

 

 

Q12: Why do you volunteer? Can I get involved? How do I get involved?

 

All of the people involved in the tender process, representing us at the Q&A and who will be operating the facility, are volunteers. This includes all of our coaches and committee members. We do this because we are passionate about local football and Barnwood United. Many of us joined as teenagers and are still turning out for the club into our 40s. Barnwood United has given us much over the years, and we are proud that we are now in a position to give something back to the club, and the fact that the club can now hopefully widen its reach and offer the experiences we have had to many more people than ever before.

 

We pride ourselves on being a community club, and our final game at Wall’s Club demonstrated this, with people who played for the club decades ago turning up to watch our last ever game at that facility because of what the club meant to them.

 

We can’t achieve everything we want to achieve without help though and we are always looking for more volunteers.  Whether that be sponsorship, coaches, social media volunteers, people looking to help with administrative roles etc.  We genuinely believe that being involved in Barnwood is a rewarding experience and we would absolutely love more people to be involved in our journey.

 

 

Q13: How do we get in contact?

 

See the flyer provided at the Q&A sessions, or go to our website: https://www.barnwoodunited.co.uk/

 

 

Q14: Is it true that the larger field will be a rugby pitch?

 

There was/is no mandatory requirement levied on us to make either field specifically for, or dedicated to, any sport.

 

As a football club, our knowledge of specifications and maintenance of fields to the regulations for which that sport is governed, is limited to football. Understandably then, our detailed plans which secured the contract award are centred on football. As such we do require use of both fields for football in order to meet our obligations.

 

We are not aware of any rugby club expressing an interest to tender during the invitation period, and to date whilst a number of rugby clubs have reached out to us regarding training facilities no one as yet has expressed any interest in hiring either of the grass pitches to play rugby.

 

We will happily enter into conversation with clubs from other sports, including rugby, and listen to any proposals to use the fields for multi-sports. So long as the club can convince us that use for their sports will not be detrimental to football, and won’t be required at times which entirely clash with football matches, then we will be most happy to host alternative sports on either field.

 

 

Q15: Are you employing a caretaker?

 

No, not initially and we will see how management of the site evolves.

 

The public funds allocated to managing the site are understandably not excessive; it equates to just 12.75% of the estimated running costs of the site for the 25 year duration of the lease. Therefore we have had to keep costs down wherever possible, and seek to bring in as much revenue as we can too.

 

Instead of employing a caretaker, we are relying on volunteers. As we settle in and analyse the actuals, we will consider opportunities such as bringing in a caretaker.

 

 

Q16: Will you have a tuck shop / café?

 

Yes! As best we can. Communal inside space is lacking at the facility, and we have no interest in taking business away from the Deli Café on the other side of Coopers Edge. We do however acknowledge the community benefits of snacks and beverages whilst enjoying sport so we will provide something small scale.

 

 

Q17: Will you build a clubhouse?

 

Accommodating a clubhouse at the facility is a grand ask. The pavilion lacks communal space, restricting how we serve the community. At just 19m2, use of the staff room as a lounge can only safely serve approximately 20 occupants.

 

We will conduct thorough assessments of options to utilise capital investment and won’t rule out some kind of expansion, not just considering the pavilion but other spaces within the boundaries that may include purpose built or pre-fabricated buildings. Funding would be a significant challenge for any of these things, but it could be supported by grant applications and fundraising.

 

If we were to investigate this as an option then the Council, residents and all stakeholders would have to be fully consulted, and obviously planning permissions sought where applicable. As such this is not a short term priority but is not something we would rule out in the future. Our intention would be for this to be undertaken with support of local residents and therefore if there were any significant objections to this course of action in the future these would be considered very carefully.

 

 

Q18: Will you be rebranding as Coopers Edge FC?

 

This question was asked tongue in cheek, and we loved the early rapport demonstrated with local residents to have some light hearted banter.

 

No, we will not be rebranding. A football club named Coopers Edge FC already exists so it would be disrespectful to think we could take their name. We are extremely proud of our heritage and are still coming to terms with the loss of our Wall’s Club home in Barnwood, where we were based for 40 years. The Sports Hub was a strategic expansion of the club and we never saw the closure of Wall’s Club coming, so emotions are still raw but we are still the same Barnwood United.

 

Regarding Coopers Edge FC, we are aware they have a veteran’s team which plays league games on artificial surfaces around the county. When we have a date for adopting the facility we will contact Coopers Edge FC to invite them to submit any requests to hire during the two week application window referenced in “Q4: How can I hire the facilities?”.

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If you have any further questions not asked above then please get in touch