Hilton has grown significantly over recent years, but investment in sports and community facilities has not kept pace. This project seeks to create a venue capable of serving the village for generations.
Background
Hilton has a vibrant and flourishing football club. Hilton Harriers is based at The Mease Pavilion, it has 500 members, across 37 teams, covering a range of ages, for both males and females. However it does not have enough pitches. Some teams have home games outside Hilton and the football club spends around £40,000 pa on 3G facilities at Etwall Leisure Centre.
Hilton Cricket Club has a thriving Junior section for all ages from AllStars through to U17, plus competitive and friendly Senior teams and a Ladies softball team. The field in which they play is now earmarked for a solar farm which means that they will have to move.
Hilton has no substantial facilities for other sporting activities
The Sports Village project
Marston-on-Dove Estates has offered, for sale, a 32 acre field adjacent to the Mease football pitches. This would be sufficient for several additional football and cricket pitches, 3G Astro turf, club house, car park and facilities for other sports/indoor gym – a Sports Village.
The Sports Village project has attracted interest and support from a number of national sporting bodies, which may provide access to significant grant funding for its development. There is also enthusiastic support from South Derbyshire District Council.
The project is not just about sports. It will provide a community hub, rooms for ad-hoc activities that could benefit all ages and interest groups.
The first task is to buy the land.
The availability of this land presents a rare opportunity to secure sufficient space for future sporting and community facilities in Hilton.
The purchase price of the land remains subject to negotiation. The Parish Council will seek to secure the land at the best value and no commitment will be made until the financial implications have been fully assessed
The Parish Council is exploring a range of funding options, including the use of existing reserves, external grants, developer contributions and, if necessary, borrowing. Any borrowing proposal would be subject to further consideration of its impact on the parish precept ( the parish element of the Council Tax – currently each household pays around £54 per year ).
Consultation
This consultation seeks the views of Hilton residents on the principle of the Sports Village, possible usage and the financial impacts on the Parish Council
Summary
The project has the potential to be transformational and could ensure that we will have facilities that a village of this size needs. The whole project will take many years to deliver.
The project will only proceed if sufficient funding can be secured and the necessary approvals are obtained