USE OF THE SPORTS FIELDS
It has become apparent that some parishioners are not aware of the situation with regard to ownership of the two sports fields located adjacent to the Memorial Hall.
Neither of these fields are common land, they are both privately owned and leased as follows:
The Centenary Field to the left of the Memorial Hall is leased from the owner by Chadlington Sports Club for sporting activity only, there is no public footpath through this field.
The sports field to the right of the Memorial Hall is leased from the owner by Chadlington Parish Council for the use of games and sports (both practice and matches) organised by and through the Sports Club. There are public rights of way through this field as signposted.
The Sports Club are happy for people to access the fields provided they behave appropriately with due consideration to the people living nearby and when the groundsman (who gives his time freely) is at work. Anyone found behaving inappropriately should expect to be asked to leave.
There is no blanket law requiring dogs to be kept on a lead in all public spaces, however there are a series of orders that mean dogs should be leashed in certain places and sports pitches come into this category. Hence there is a large blue sign on the side of the pavilion advising that dogs should be kept on a lead at all times.
Unfortunately, some of the smaller signage around the field has disappeared and arrangements are in place for this to be replaced in the near future.
A big thank you to the conscientious owners who clear up after their dogs but fouling has been a problem in the grounds whereby some owners have not picked up dog poo and others who have thought it appropriate to either throw their poo/poo bags into the long grass or leave the bag on a patio table outside the clubhouse for someone else to dispose of. Unfortunately, the groundsman has had the misfortune to catch said bags with the strimmer and then ends up covered in head to toe with the contents. This is of course, totally unacceptable especially when there are bins located at each gate in Chapel Road.
The public rights of way through the sports field are from the two gates in Chapel Road up to the top left-hand corner of the field. The path then goes through the adjoining field and exits in West End. There are no exits into Church Road. As a courtesy to the farmer who leases the field and the allotment tenants dogs should not be allowed to run amok in the field or into the allotments where dogs are not allowed.
We trust this now clarifies the situation.