Concern over plans to remove football pitches

A plan to remove football pitches from leisure centres in south Essex has drawn complaints from families and club leaders.

Rochford Council and its leisure centre operator, Everyone Active, was looking at replacing sports pitches with padel courts, with one councillor describing the move as "anti-football", the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Padel has risen in popularity in recent times and is described as a more accessible version of tennis which is played with stringless racquets on smaller courts.

Everyone Active said the decision pre-dated its appointment as leisure centre operator. The council has been approached for comment.

Several local football clubs were working on a petition against the plans.

Richard Southwood, who runs the Football Fun Factory in Rayleigh, Hockley and Southend, said that parents were concerned about the impact of removing pitches.

"This would have a massive impact on the children," he said.

"If they remove the pitches there will be nowhere for these children to go and play football.

"Rayleigh Leisure Centre is the only place children and people can play in the area. We are trying to inspire the next generation of football players."

Danielle Belton, leader of the Conservative group on Rochford Council, said: "The football community in the area is huge.

"It's not just about football. The parents get a lot out of it and can go shopping, to the gym or for a coffee. There is a feeling the council is anti-football."

However, Lisa Newport, chair of the council's communities, wellbeing and housing committee, said no decisions had been made about replacing the football pitches at Rayleigh Leisure Centre.

An Everyone Active spokesperson said: "Plans for the padel courts were in the council's original management tender when selecting a new operator and was not an Everyone Active decision."

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