News / Netham Park
Plans to breathe new life into Netham Park and Pavilion
The underused pavilion overlooking Netham Park could be transformed into a thriving multipurpose space as part of a new vision being proposed for the site.
A cohort of community groups have put together a bid for the pitches and building, which they hope will see it regenerated into an inclusive and accessible space that can be enjoyed by people of all generations in Barton Hill and beyond.
Bristol Pakistanis Cricket Club, which has been playing in the area for almost five decades, has joined forces with Bristol Co-operative Gym, Easton Cowboys & Cowgirls and Eastside Community Trust to lodge an expression of interest with site owners Bristol City Council for a community asset transfer.
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Their aspirations include reopening and refurbishing the pavilion building with a dedicated gym and cafe and upgrading the sports pitches to include cricket nets, a netball court, an all-weather football pitch and better lighting.
Located next to a Covid testing site, the pavilion currently stands empty, vast metal shutters down, on the platform that overlooks the flat, grassy sports pitches constructed on what was once an industrial and landfill site.
Bristol Co-operative Gym is part of a group with big plans for the site – photo courtesy of Bristol Co-operative Gym
“Like a lot of other people, we have been quite frustrated to see the lack of basic upkeep and community access to the facilities,” says Barry Parsons, chair of Bristol Co-operative Gym.
“We have big plans for improving the facilities there and we are looking to create structures to enable the community to have a real voice and ownership over the plans on site.”
The group wants to offer “straightforward, affordable pitch hire for training and play”; a range of physical health and fitness activities, including gym classes and walking groups; and is keen to help improve general health and wellbeing.
Bristol Pakistanis Cricket Club, which was formed in 1972, wants to see the facilities improved – photo courtesy of Bristol Pakistanis Cricket Club
Barry told Bristol24/7 they want to ensure everyone can use the space, even organisations with no funds to hire, and might look at a subsidy model to achieve this. The cohort is also in contact with other organisations in the area, including Wellspring Settlement and Friends of Netham Park.
Bristol City Council documents state the new lease and licence holder is expected to primarily encourage and develop the use of the park for formal sport, while being sensitive to its many other uses and users.
Because of the importance of the site to the local community, the park must be open and accessible and continue to provide a range of services for everyone in the neighbourhood.
The shutters are currently down on Netham Park Pavilion – photo by Ellie Pipe
Eastside Community Trust was commissioned to run a pilot project in Netham Park to encourage conversation about what people in the area liked about the park and how it could be improved.
From this, common themes and ideas emerged, including the need for improved safety and access, more play opportunities, signage and nature trails, park furniture, planting and more.
Rebecca Swist, chair of the Easton Cowgirls Women’s Football Team, said: “I am very excited for our club, the Easton Cowboys and Cowgirls Sports and Social Club, to be part of this amazing opportunity to create a space for inclusive and accessible sports.
“We’ve got strong roots in our local community and are looking forward to working with our partners and neighbours, bringing folks together and, of course, using the space and pitches.”
The partnership will be submitting an expression of interest to the council’s sports facilities transfer programme, which was launched last year in a bid to lease 12 sites to external operators to be run at no cost to the public purse in the city.
The deadline for expressions of interest is March 31 and it is expected an asset transfer will be completed by February 2022 at the latest. The partnership will host a public meeting to discuss the plans on Tuesday, March 16 from 7.30pm via Zoom. More information is available via www.eastsidecommunitytrust.org.uk/news/netham-park.
Read more: Hope disused Barton Hill building will be restored for community use
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