The new family orientated facilities will play host to Orrell RUFC, who will finally find a permanent home after leaving their Edgehall Road ground ten years ago. The new buildings will also enable the cricket club to continue to meet the requirements for affiliation to the Southport and District League.

The facility will also support the general sports continuum in Wigan by providing a local hub for cricket and rugby on the doorstep of Winstanley College, home to 1900 students and will play a key role in the local community.

The facility will be available to other community groups, with a particular focus on providing a sporting outlet for children which will help create a more cohesive and sustainable community.

The plan is to implement the development in phases, as funds allow, beginning with the preparation and seeding of the land, allowing the pitches to be used as soon as possible.

Facilities
The proposed facility includes two rugby pitches, a cricket pitch, a sports pavilion and a 100-space carpark on 13 acres of farmland next to Winstanley College, off Winstanley Road.

It is hoped that the car parking facilities will replace the informal ad hoc parking arrangements along Winstanley Road on match day; when the Winstanley Park cricketers who play about half a mile away on the Eastern side of the M6 motorway, park their vehicles (along with spectators) on land at the side of the cricket field and, on occasion, around the perimeter of the field itself.

Even if you don’t like sport, the Joint Venture is also looking at what other community facilities the development could offer to the local communities. Ideas include:

• Keep-fit, step and aerobics classes;
• Martial arts, yoga and Pilates;
• Activities for cubs and brownies;
• Parties and functions;
• A venue for walkers and conservation classes;
• External activities for pupils at nearby schools

Both the English Cricket Board (ECB) The English Cricket Board (ECB) and the Rugby Football Union (RFU have approved the site and the Clubhouse/Pavilion plans; which have been designed to Governing Body specifications of both sports. The development has also gained support from the Local Authority & Ward Councillors.

History
The Black and Ambers left Edge Hall Road in 2007 after a failed promotion bid to the top-flight. Since then, we have been playing as a nomadic amateur club on pitches at St John Rigby College on Gathurst Road, while searching for a site to put down roots.

The Cricket Club were asked to relocate as the current landlord wants to return the land to estate use. In return, the Cricket Club has been offered a 13 acre site at Swiftgate Farm in return for vacating their current site. As the 13 acre site is big enough to replace the current cricket ground and provide further sports pitches; we went into partnership!

We are also happy to make the sports facilities available to all and will consider any approach made to us by other sporting organisations.

Planning Application
Our planning application was validated on 4th October 2016 and Wigan MBC approved our application on 14th February 2017.

Now that we have the decision from the Planning Committee, we will engage with the local community to find out what facilities they think should be provided and their general opinions on the development.

A public survey/questionnaire will also be circulated.

We will continue to meet with people face to face - to discuss the development in more detail and/or provide any answers to questions.

Fundraising
We have significant funds to raise and we will be looking at various fundraising options that will include:

• Grant Agencies
• Sporting Authorities
• Big Lottery
• Sponsorship

We will also be launching our “Field of Dreams” campaign in the very near future. We are hoping that Club Members and Supporters will want to become a Community Fund member by making a donation to the Trust Fund.

Any donation - big or small, will mean that you will help to plant the seeds of our Proud History – Bright Future; with a unique opportunity for you to play a part in not just the regeneration of our club but to become part of the fabric of this new and exciting community hub.
We recognise there’s a long way to go and there’s a lot of fundraising which needs to be done, but we’re ready for the hard work which will lie ahead

Further information can be obtained from Tony Havlin, Club Chairman (email adhavlin@gmail.com).

The planning application can be viewed on the Wigan MBC website.