Landscape & Amenity
July 2019 Adapting to the seasonal challenges
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Product News
Budget cuts leads to the sale of 710 local pitches The GMB union has revealed the significant impact of 10 years of local authority budget cuts have caused for grassroots and schools football in the UK. Data released under the Freedom of Information Act reveals that more than 700 council football pitches have been lost since 2010. The figures show that there were 710 fewer local-authority owned or operated football pitches in the financial year 2017/18 than there were in 2009/10 – before the Conservatives’ austerity project began.
The worst-hit region was the north-west, which lost 164 pitches during that period. Other heavily affected regions included Yorkshire, which lost 76, London which lost 54 and the West Midlands, which lost 84. Scotland lost 129 pitches and Wales 82.
In 2009 Jeremy Hunt, then shadow culture, media and sport secretary, criticised Labour for overseeing a period when 200 pitches were lost.
Much of the land is being sold to property developers. The sell-off is in addition to land disposed of by schools.
“Losing these council pitches shows what the government’s slash-and-burn approach to local government means in reality,” said Tim Roache, general secretary of the GMB union, which obtained the figures before its annual congress next Sunday 9 June.
Earlier researchby the GMB revealed some 215 school pitches had been sold since 2010, similar to the number sold under Labour.
“Councils have had their funding cut in half since 2010 – they’re struggling to fund the basics and keep the show on the road.”
BBC’s Dan Walker to host 2019 IOG Industry Awards Tickets are now available for this year’s Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) Industry Awards, so book now to secure your place at the industry’s biggest celebratory event - hosted by the BBC’s Dan Walker on Wednesday October 30 at The Vox, located in Resorts World at the Birmingham NEC, on the evening of the first day of the SALTEX exhibition. The awards – now in their 11th year - have continually grown in status for acknowledging the achievements of volunteer and professional grounds teams, as well as community clubs and national stadia.
They recognise the passion, dedication and challenges faced by grounds staff at clubs of every size and from all corners of the UK. BBC sports presenter and BBC Breakfast anchor Dan Walker will bring a new dimension to this year’s event as the 20 award categories are presented. • To secure your seat – which cost £95 each for IOG members and £190 each for non-members please contact the IOG by email (awards@iog.org) or call 01908 312 511 where you can also gain details of how to become an IOG member. IOG
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In addition to raising money from the sale of the land, councils save cash by no longer having to maintain the pitches. But as the sales continue there are concerns that they are becoming a factor in Britain’s mounting obesity crisis. “ C ounc il-ow ne d f oot bal l pitches are a cherished local service and we have long made the case for the importance of leisure facilities and outdoor spaces for people’s health and wellbeing,” said councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, chair of the Local Government Association’s culture, tourism and sport board.
“In the face of the current childhood obesity epidemic, football pitches are a key resource. We know pitches are enjoyed by children and young people across the country, and sit at the heart of local communities. Since 2010, councils have lost 60p out of every £1 they had from central government to spend on services. At the same time, pressures are growing in children’s services, adult social care, and efforts to tackle homelessness. This is leaving increasingly less money for councils to fund other services, like sports and leisure facilities.”
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Turf Maintenance Jane Carley on staying green this summer
GMB
Annual research open days launched by STRI STRI Group has announced that its annual research open days will take place on 25 and 26 September 2019. The event, which takes place at STRI’s UK research and development facility in Bingley, West Yorkshire, offers an opportunity for sport facility managers, owners, groundstaff and greenkeepers to learn about and discuss the development of the latest products and technology for the sportsturf industry. Dr Christian Spring, research operations manager, said: “STRI Research Days are an excellent way to gain insight into the latest developments and thinking on
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tackling current and future turf management issues. “STRI Research Days offer turf managers a unique opportunity to network with, not only fellow turf managers, but to view and discuss the latest developments in turf maintenance with turfgrass scientists and industry professionals. “This is reflected in feedback from previous events, where those attending have valued learning about what is new and upcoming in our industry and to have an opportunity to discuss these ideas.”
Line Marking How technology is shaping the product sector
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