Page 20 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.16 2020-21

Bridgwater United Football Club together
with Bridgwater United Community Sports
Trust, are delighted to reveal plans in
conjunction with Sedgemoor District
Council, for the renewal and rejuvenation of
the under used land located off Bristol Road.
The pioneering project at Bristol
Road Playing Fields, will be the first of its
kind providing a joint community and
sports trust complex that will be the central
location for Bridgwater United Community
Sports Trust delivery programmes. The development will also establish a dedicated stadium
and training facility for the Women’s First Team of Bridgwater United FC, and joint Youth
Academies.
The land is currently maintained by Sedgemoor District Council, with the main activity
being a dog walking spot and is surrounded by housing on two sides. The other two sides
enveloping the land are a railway line and a cemetery. At nearly 11 acres, the site once held
multiple 11-a-side pitches for recreational sport and all parties involved are determined to
deliver a valued community asset that will once again see sporting activity return to the site to
address the current shortfall of football and sports related facilities within the town of
Bridgwater.
As part of a wider overview of the project, improved footpaths and cycle ways along
Bristol Road are planned to provide improved pedestrian access to the proposed development,
reducing the reliance on motor vehicles. Once inside the complex, people will be greeted by a
community park with children’s play areas, activity areas, enjoyable walking and dog walking
routes, picnic areas, provision of an outdoor gym and a mixture of 5-a-side 3G and multi-sport
hard-court playing surfaces and community football pitches. The newly built pavilion will
service the park with toilets, changing rooms, classrooms and a café, providing a safe
destination to enjoy leisure and recreational activities for all to enjoy.
These extraordinary plans will incorporate a state-of-the-art Women’s Stadium for
Bridgwater United FC Women that will be able to accommodate up to 3,000 spectators with a
more than adequate parking provision. Having a dedicated stadium reaffirms the Club’s
ambition of competing in the top flight of the Women’s Football Pyramid, The Barclay’s FA
Women’s Super League (FAWSL) and it will become a destination point for football across the
region. The stadium will also be constructed to allow for expansion should the need arise in the
future with all scheduled maintenance of the entire self-sustaining complex met by Bridgwater
United Football Club and its Community Sports Trust.
Both Bridgwater United Community Sports Trust and Bridgwater United Football Club
are currently working towards a public consultation in partnership with Sedgemoor District
Council with further details to be communicated at the appropriate time.
Commenting on this exciting announcement, newly appointed Bridgwater United
Community Development Manager Oli Moore said: “All partners involved within this project
believe that Bridgwater and the county of Somerset is a fantastic place to live and work. Our
vision for Bristol Road Fields will showcase the pride we all have in our area by investing in our
community. It will be a hub for all to enjoy and will bring health and wellbeing benefits with it.”
Adam Murry, CEO of Bridgwater United FC commented: “Sport has this amazing,
unique way of making a positive impact in society. Whether it's helping children, communities
or even nations, sport makes a difference on a daily basis. Sport and recreation is about helping
build stronger, healthier, happier, and safer communities.
Issue no. 16 - 6 May 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk