Multi Use Games Area Project Archive
M.U.G.A. Project Archive
What will it consist of?
In term of Business Case submission, we have indicated the potential provision of mixed football and basketball.
As this project progresses Todmorden High School will be involved in what should be included.
Buy way of example a Multi Use Games area could look like:
How big will this be?
This will depend upon a combination of price and what can be fitted into the specific location .It is likely to be around 25m by 18m
Where will the Multi Use Games area be located?
The initial proposal was to consider placing this within the Old Coach Yard. Having reviewed this option, it would require substantive ground works, including removing cobbled sets of historic interest, as well as running in new power supplies.
In addition, floodlighting columns would not be an option and if we did use this space for a MUGA, it would no longer be available for occasional performance and or event space as a part of possibly a future wider offer for park event use.
As it stands at the moment the likely location will be as indicated below. This is in a wildlife network and will need to fit within an agreed envelope and the diagram below therefore is for indication purposes only.
How will use be decided?
This will be accessible for all to use and no booking system in place. Operating on a first come first served basis we would however expect co-operation between different age groups to ensure fair use.
What times is this likely to be open to use?
If floodlit during the winter months, then we would expect timers to be set to shut down at 8pm at the latest. This will depend upon proper and acceptable behaviour in not only using the facilities at this time but also movement in and out of the park in a quiet and respectful manner.
What is the proposal under the Town Deals Fund?
To build a new recreational/sporting facility for users to be able to carry out a range of different sporting activities on a multi-use surface that is suitable for all year round use.
Further consultation will be carried out with Todmorden High School for defining such use and Friends of Centre Vale Park for location before a final version is agreed upon and submitted for planning approval.
Is this fully funded under Town Deal?
No. As with all of the Centre Vale Park Projects under the Town Deal there is a gap in funding.
The projected cost for providing an new MUGA including floodlighting has been priced at c £191k of which £111k has initially allocated towards this from the Town Deal Fund leaving a shortfall of c£100k to be found from other grants.
The reality is that this scheme is either likely to be reduced to minimum size size and or have no floodlighting element should the original scheme not attract additional funding.
What else will the project involve?
As with all of the Centre Vale Park Projects it is not just about delivering an element of physical new construction , but how it will be sustained in the future, how it will be managed and what outputs are expected to be delivered that will benefit Todmorden residents.
Who will own the Multi Use Games Area ?
Todmorden Town Council has agreed “in principle” to assume ownership on completion of building works when it is anticipated that a 25 year lease will granted from Calderdale MBC by way of Community Asset Transfer.
Who will manage the Multi use Games Area and all of its activities?
The Town Council in offering its support by way of delivering the construction nature of this project, and on completion, will assume property ownership but through a “back to back” agreement with Calderdale MBC will pass on operational and financial responsibility to Calderdale MBC.
Ideally a new community based user group (adult and youngsters) would be established to take forward management of this to provide an interface between users, Calderdale MBC and /Todmorden Town Council.
Will Todmorden Town Council help to meet the Multi Use Games Area running costs?
It is not intended that the Town Council will pick up operational costs other than on a recharge basis to Calderdale MBC.
Why will Todmorden Town Council not run the Multi Use Games area ?
Todmorden Town Council does not run services direct that are usually provided by Calderdale MBC unless can done so at minimum risk and cost e.g the Wheelspark
It does not have expertise to do so and the cost of employing this resource and additional administration cost, plus providing cover within a small team would be substantial and require funding through an increase in taxpayers Precept charge.
In this instance Todmorden Town Council is acting as the bridge between Calderdale MBC and the community and users of the Multi Use Games area . This “private and or community” sector bid was made for funding on the basis of voluntary ongoing management arrangements and the role of Todmorden Town Council is to try to make this all happen and then handover day to day responsibility.
The same approach will apply to all of the Centre Vale Project Groups in that Todmorden Town Council will only act in this facilitating and enabling role, not post construction delivery of services.
When will grant applications be made?
Todmorden Town Council has agreed to act as the grant applicant for this project.
Grant funders often apply specific conditions some of which could be that certain permissions must be in place already, formal designs completed, land already owned and other matched funding in place. Others are less restrictive.
Each Grant application will need to be considered on its qualifying criteria at the time of submission.
In this instance it is likely that any formal grant application will need to be made once a revised reduced cost scheme has been decided upon and possibly when proceeded at risk to obtain formal planning approval.
What are the next stages for the Multi Use Games Area project?
Approval of the Overall Business Case for Centre Vale Park Projects will trigger the formal next steps and start to determine the extent of Town Deals Funding available for this project.
Pending approval there are key areas to be progressed apart from seeking grant funding and they relate to:
Agreement with Calderdale MBC of lease terms for Community Asset Transfer
Understanding the need or not to obtain /Environment Agency agreement.
Seek Deed of Covenant approval from Environment agency
Obtain Fields in Trust “In Principle” approval
Formalising Management Agreements to take on operational and financial responsibility.
When will detailed drawings be prepared and Planning Permission applied for?
One of the major grant opportunities identified for funding of up to £100k requires the project to be “shovel ready” with all permissions in place.
Without funding agreed there is risk in taking the project to this stage given further costs that will be involved.
Timing will depend upon when the Business Case approval from Government is received but it is anticipated to commission these works by the end of January 2023 at the latest with then further grant funding sought once Planning Permission and all other permissions/agreements are in place.
When would construction start?
We need to be realistic that just grant applications on their own can take several months to be processed and approved and even applied for only at certain times of the year. Whilst we are aiming to have grant support by March 2023 there are no guarantees on this.
Other permissions will also take time to be obtained and hence why we are starting on several of these already ahead of the formal Business Case approval.
In terms of construction the ambition is to be in a position to start construction by Feb 2024 .To do so we will need to be in a position to issue tenders for potential contractors to respond to by Sept/Oct 2023.
Is there a group in place to take this forward once the Multi Use Games Area has been built. ?
We are fortunate that the Tennis Club have been established for over 100 years and have an active existing membership and plans to grow such membership.
In the event that the Tennis Club were not involved, then ahead of construction completion a “back to back” agreement would be put in place to in practice pass back operational and financial responsibility to Calderdale MBC
What are the project timelines?
These are all subject to funding availability and permissions where and as require but the Outline Project Plan is as detailed below:
