Consultation Results
Sefton Council has published results of the recent public consultation into the Orrell Mount Park master plan.
Working with an independent consultant, Sefton Council drew up a detailed master plan of proposed improvements to Orrell Mount Park.
These proposals included the creation of a 3G football pitch facility.
Keen to make sure it was reflecting local people’s views, the Council undertook a two-month consultation on the master plan, which started on May 30th.
Almost 1,000 people provided feedback on the proposals through the consultation, which was managed by independent consultation company FMG Consulting.
Forty nine percent of respondents supported the creation of a 3G pitch, while 49% of respondents said they were against the plan. The remaining 2% said they neither supported nor opposed the 3G pitch proposal.
With the lack of majority support for the proposal, Sefton Council Leader Cllr Ian Maher has decided the 3G pitch element of the proposals will not go ahead.
Cllr Maher said: “I understand this will be a huge disappointment to those who were in support of the scheme, especially our young people and boys and girls who clearly need high-quality training and playing facilities like this.
“But, throughout the process, we have promised to listen to the public’s views and act accordingly and that’s a promise we are keeping.
“Which means that as there is evidently no clear outcome on the 3G pitch aspect of the consultation, I have taken the decision not to proceed with the proposed development.”
Throughout the development of the master plan and the consultation the Council has taken every opportunity to speak at length with key stakeholders to ensure as many views as possible were heard.
While the plans for the new football facilities were not supported, the consultation showed a clear desire for the wider improvements to the park.
Cllr Maher said: “The consultation showed there is support for the wider master plan for Orrell Mount Park, which would bring considerable improvements to this space for communities and future generations, and I will ensure that, should resources become available, the Council will progress with these developments.”
He continued: “Through our Playing Pitch strategy, Sefton Council recognises there is a clear need for more training and playing facilities in the Borough and I want to reassure our communities and our young people who will be our future sporting stars that we remain committed to creating much needed 3G playing pitch developments.
“We will continue to work with the Football Foundation to identify sites for future development and we have recently entered into a partnership with the Football Foundation to create a dedicated project management role to oversee and develop such schemes.”
Cllr Maher went on to thank the JC23 Foundation for their support of Sefton Council in these endeavours and we look forward to any opportunity to work with them on any future suitable developments.
Cllr Maher added: “I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in this process including those people who took time to provide feedback.
“While it may not have been the decision many wanted to see, this process has shown that Sefton Council is committed to open and transparent consultation and to making decisions guided by local people’s views.”
Background to the Consultation
We asked residents and members of the community to give their views on the potential major redevelopment of Orrell Mount Park in Bootle.
Sefton Council invited residents, community groups and stakeholders in South Sefton to take part in a consultation exercise regarding the proposed re-development of Orrell Mount Park.
This consultation, which was hosted by FMG Consulting on behalf of the Council, was an opportunity for people to ask questions, share feedback on the proposals and gain a better understanding of the design proposals, timescales, and the benefits to the local community that the development could provide.
The consultation ran from Monday 30th May to Friday 22nd July.
What is the Masterplan?
The Orrell Mount Park Masterplan proposes to introduce a new 3G football pitch for which funding is available. The overall masterplan and park improvements would form a second phase of development and be subject to the identification of the necessary resources.
Vehicle entrance & parking: The masterplan includes the additional carparking would be introduced along the main driveway which will include disabled parking and charging points for electric vehicles by the front of the building.
Pedestrians: Removing the old bowling green fencing and overgrown hedge would release this area of land for a new use, to include dog exercise/ agility area and would also enable a new path/circular route.
Play Features: To remain on site is the outdoor gym, the toddler/junior age play area with older children facilities including the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA). To the side of the new 3G pitch, there remains open green space for recreational use, including goal posts for informal football and school sports days.
Extra Features: The new design includes a dog exercise/agility area as well as a fenced off area where the original bowling green area was located to enable dogs to be safely let off the lead.
Future Use: The site will remain a Neighbourhood Scale Park and so the provision of new community based events and activities would be welcomed. These can include simple fun days, sports days, educational activities, nature walks to engage the community and encourage use of the site.
To find out more about the Masterplan and to discover more proposals and suggestions, download our helpful leaflet below.
| Orrell Mount Masterplan Visual |  (jpg 18.23MB) |
| Orrell Mount Consultation Easy Read |  (pdf 898KB) |
| Orrell Park 3G Booklet 1.01 Accessible | (pdf 262KB) |
Proposed 3G Pitch & Changing Rooms
Currently there are 3 full-sized 3G football pitches in Sefton. The Council’s Playing Pitch Strategy identified a need for 11 AGPs (artificial grass pitches) to meet demand for football in the area in 2016.
A more-recent review has shown that this requirement has increased the need to 12 full-sized pitches. Given the substantial level of need identified, the Orrell Mount Park proposals are important in starting to meet this demand.
3G Pitch Benefits: Sport England states that 3G artificial grass pitches are durable, safe, year-round playing surfaces, able to withstand intensive use and all kinds of weather.
They mean more people can benefit from all the associated social and health benefits of physical activity.
Facility Management: It is proposed that the site would be managed by the Jamie Carragher Foundation, a not-for-profit social enterprise which aims to provide a safe place for young and disadvantaged people and other members of the community to play and learn.
Some priorities of the foundation with regards to Orrell Mount Park are to provide opportunities for underrepresented groups such as creating new women and girls football teams, walking football, veteran football, affordable holiday camps for local children, sessions for disabled people, crime prevention schemes and providing facilities for local schools’ use.
Benefits for Others: Use of a Sefton-owned facility would work out cheaper for clubs than alternatives. A full-sized 3G pitch is larger, allowing more teams to train at the same time and will also allow teams to train more frequently in times of bad weather.
Costs & Affordability: The pitch would have an affordable pricing policy to ensure it is accessible to all users. It is also benchmarked against similar facilities.
Local Schools & Clubs: St Robert Bellarmine’s School have been contacted and offered free use of the pitch. Other local schools already have access to pitches for their sports days, but should they wish to use the 3G pitch this can be discussed.
The School Games Organiser for South Sefton is a committed community partner and will be working with other local primary schools so they can also have access to the proposed site.
The groups currently using the site on an informal basis have been offered the use of the 3G pitch and the development is wholly supported by Silcox Villa FC and Northfield FC as well as other local football groups.
Noise Impact: A Noise Impact Assessment has been completed. In line with this, and comments from the Environmental Health Officer, an acoustic barrier would be installed along the southern and part of the eastern elevation of the proposed pitch. This will significantly reduce the impact of any noise from the proposed development.
Floodlighting: The lighting system would be fitted with a smart control unit which automatically changes with summer/winter times and allows switching of individual pitches to ensure over lighting is minimised.
This system would ensure that the curfew time of 08:00-22:00 (Monday to Friday) and 08:00-20:00 hours (weekends and Bank Holidays) is adhered to.
Tackling Anti Social Behaviour: More frequent use, combined with the new floodlighting, would result in a natural increase in surveillance.
By allowing funding to maintain and secure the site properly, the proposed facility should provide a long-term solution to issues of antisocial behaviour.
Reported Health Concerns: There is no scientific evidence to support claims that 3G pitches pose any health risks. Sport England recognise that concerns have been raised about the safety of 3G pitches, but numerous independent scientific studies have reported an extremely low level of concern for human health.
Environmental Impact: The modular building would be constructed with renewable timber cladding and four electric charging points would be added to the carparks to facilitate the use of electric vehicles.
3G pitches do not require watering or fertilisation and the 3G pitch itself is comprised of sustainable materials such as the sand/rubber infill which is made from recycled rubber tyres. Significant additional planting of trees would form part of the scheme