Plans for a £10m sport and health scheme at Jackey Bakers Recreation Ground in Ramsgate will be on show at an event next week.
The development, backed with 60% investment from the Football Foundation’s Hubs Programme, could also provide covered tennis courts and padel courts if funding is gained from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and a pump track and walking/cycling route with potential British Cycling funding.
There are also plans for a car park, new floodlit 3G pitches and a new community pavilion with changing rooms as well as play areas and walking routes.
A drop-in event at The Northwood Clun will be held on Tuesday 26 May from 6.30pm to 8pm and officers will be on hand to answer questions.,
They will also talk about the aim to keep the vast majority of the Jackey Bakers Recreation Ground open for everyone to enjoy and discuss work to unlock the £10 million in funding.
Supporting physical and mental health
A letter to residents says: “This project is about more than just pitches; it’s about creating a sustainable, high-quality environment that supports the physical and mental health of our community for generations to come.
“We believe that securing national investment is a huge positive for Ramsgate and Thanet, and we are keen to work with you to make it a success.”
Potential investment
A report to Thanet council Cabinet members last month said options for the hub to be either on the south or north side were explored.
The north option would mean no land agreements would be needed but would result in less full-size grass pitches, wouldn’t include the athletics track at Royal Harbour Academy and is close to housing.
The south option does mean the council will have to enter into land agreements but will result in a greater number of grass pitches, will secure the RHA athletics track for community use, has a wider gap from housing and means more of the Rec land can be retained.
Council officers also said there is an LTA bid for potential investment of £1.7m from government funding for three covered tennis courts and three covered padel courts to be installed at the rec.
British Cycling also wants to develop an ‘active track’ round the outside of Jackey Bakers to encourage cycling, running, walking, as well as a BMX ‘pump track’, but have no capital funding to provide for this yet. This addition would be a possible ‘phase 2’ to the hubs programme.
The report added that a new fully inclusive play area could be built closer to the multi-sports hub café following a £270,000 award for Thanet for three new playgrounds in the district. The money comes from an extension of the government’s Pride in Place funding.
Only 10 years too late !
Forget playgrounds… why doesn’t Thanet ever have new parks anymore?
What people must think all these things are going to cost to use while at the min any one can use the grass its FREE, this is the last big open space in Ramsgate why fill it with things locals are going to find it hard to pay for sound great for local football teams but lets have a bigger picture for All, (Council officers also said there is an LTA bid for potential investment of £1.7m from government funding for three covered tennis courts and three covered padel courts to be installed at the rec.) more land lost and people making money out of land left for the people.
Mr P off i agree with you on that. These fields were left to the people to use at no charge .like you say if its built on then there’s a charge to the people. Most of the surrounding fields have become houses .
So yes upgrade the pavilion area and park area for local kids .
Then use the old Warre rec ground for tennis courts and sports centre etc .why not build a better football ground for Ramsgate fc up jackie bakers .those guys do a wonderful job from youth teams up to our progressive adult team .and deserve a up to date modern facilities.charges to watch to matches i agree with .Then the old Ramsgate ground can be built. Ramsgate has so much potential yet nothing happens unless tge council can take from the poor .