Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead Hockey Club's bid for new multi-use games area in Tring

Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead Hockey Club have submitted plans to Dacorum Borough Council for an artificial games pitch/multi use games area with fencing and floodlighting.

The club has applied for planning for an astroturf games pitch at Cow Roast, Tring, which the club believes would put Dacorum and this corner of Hertfordshire on the hockey map.

In the planning document submitted to the council it says: "This is a Planning Application for a new Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) also known as an Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) at Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead Hockey Club.

"The pitch will be accompanied LED lighting and will be fenced all described in detail within the enclosed documents and to comply with league rules.

"Hockey has been played on the proposed surface for 110 years and a consent was granted for a MUGA in 1998. This application differs in that the pitch is further away from the Scheduled Ancient Monument."

The main object for which Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead Hockey Club was established is to provide facilities for and actively encourage, promote and develop amateur hockey in Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and the surrounding area.

The club is calling for the council to support the application and help more people play the game.

Roger Payton has been a member of the club for over 50 years and his wife and children are also members.

He said: "Hemel has no pitch and Tring’s is on its last legs and can’t meet a tenth of the match day/training days demands.

"All of my ‘home’ games were played miles out of the borough and county last season as Halton and Meadowcroft are the nearest available and suitable Astro’s.

"We have a great space (11 acres), a unique opportunity and we could do with some real support to get this over the line and to actually address the critical Hockey Astro shortage highlighted in Dacorum sports pitch provisioning plan.

"This corner of Hertfordshire has been very poorly served for many years and it’s about time Hockey was recognised and supported as the fantastic family orientated and inclusive sport that it is.

"I have been a member for 55 years and my wife and children play as well. Dacorum want to support sport for all but that means we need the facilities.

"When it comes to planning permission they have to step back and listen to everyone's concerns, which I do get but we want them to support the plans for a hockey pitch for the borough.

"We can not have sport for all when we do not have anywhere to play.

"We own the land, and where we have applied for planning permission, it is out of the way, so won't affect anyone else. We are not asking for any financial help.

"There is no where in this area for hockey teams to play, there is no astroturf.

"Dacorum have a provision for sport and we now want them to follow through with that and support this application. We have great players at the club and they need somewhere to play."

Roger Macklin, club chairman, said: "At our club ‘home’ in Cow Roast, with 11 acres at our disposal, we provide a venue for our playing teams to return to after matches on a Saturday.

"With a newly-refurbished clubhouse, also we support many other community activities including rugby (Berkhamsted Rugby Club), football (Raiders, Maclay and Berkhamsted Football Club), dance (Allstars Dance Academy), archery (Berkhamsted Bowmen) and even dog training; We are a multisport community asset.

"We would like to install an AGP with floodlights at the Cow Roast site. The installation of such a pitch would transform the experience of our members and would provide more sporting facilities for the community, facilities which are sadly lacking especially given the extensive development of the borough with 13,000 new dwellings expected in Hemel Hempstead alone.

"Temporary floodlights are currently in use at the site to support Berkhamsted Rugby Club.

"Our proposals would use the latest LED technology that will significantly reduce the light spill and glare that currently occurs while improving the lighting for all sports.

"This is a critical part of our proposal as it would allow us to optimize the use of the facility.

"We want this to be an asset for the community, not just the club.

"We understand the objections and we anticipate their to be a few to the plans, but we also think there will be a lot of people who support these plans."

A spokesperson for Dacorum Borough Council said: “DBC does not wish to make any comment at this stage."

The club has provided a link to a video of the floodlighting and the affect on the area surrounding it, visit: www.dropbox.com/s/5pc5grrhj0ctmwa/Lancing%20College%.