Calls to upgrade football kickabout area in Beggarwood Park

Cllr Dan Putty, who has represented the Hatch Warren and Beggarwood ward for decades and served as Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane in 2024, says residents have been left with nothing more than a wooden fence in place of a proper football space.

He is demanding a fully-equipped space be delivered in Beggarwood Park for the community, and says what currently exists is a "betrayal" of what residents were promised.

"I feel shortchanged and deceived," he said.

Standing at the site, Cllr Putty said the space fell far short of what a functioning sports area should look like. "There is nothing to suggest that it is a kickabout area. There is no signage, and nobody knows it is there.

Cllr Dan Putty in the 'Kickabout area' (Image: Newsquest)

"They have not even tried to paint on a goal post.

"All there is, is a fence. A broken wooden fence and the ground is quite uneven as well, which isn't safe to play football on."

A resident walking past, who did not wish to be named, agreed. "If it's supposed to be a football area, it needs to look like one," she said. "I had no idea that's what it was, it just looks like a fence."

The Beggarwood Park and Local Nature Reserve Management Plan, an official Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council document, explicitly acknowledges the kickabout area and its shortcomings.

The 'kickabout area' in all its glory (Image: Newsquest)

The plan states that "the kickabout area includes a very basic wooden rebound wall" and notes that "enhancement of this area should be considered" - wording that appears to validate Cllr Putty's long-standing concerns.

Cllr Putty added: "People walk here and they have even made footpaths, you see, everywhere." These informal routes worn by pedestrians cutting across the space are known as 'desire paths', a term used in urban planning to describe unofficial shortcuts created by repeated foot traffic.

The councillor also raised serious concerns about how developer contributions, known as Section 106 money, had been spent in the area. He said he had personally secured £750,000 for the ward but was unhappy with how it had been allocated, alleging contributions from housing developers had not been properly collected.

He also claimed that some S106 funding had been diverted to a separate area rather than spent entirely in Hatch Warren and Beggarwood. "I am utterly disappointed," he said.

'Desire paths' have been formed by people cutting across the so-called kickabout area (Image: Newsquest)

Cllr Putty, who has served the borough since 1995, says he walks in Beggarwood Park regularly, and described years of pushing for the kickabout area to be properly delivered alongside other park improvements.

He said he felt council officers, rather than elected members, were driving decisions, and that "residents deserved better."

"I feel that the people of Beggarwood and Hatch Warren have been let down badly," he said.

"It's no good whatsoever what they have done. Let's highlight it and see how people are going to react."

The councillor is calling for the area to be levelled, properly enclosed, and marked with goal posts (Image: Newsquest)

He is calling for the site to be levelled, properly enclosed, and marked with goalposts, in line with what he says is already recorded in the planning documents as a designated kickabout space.

A spokesperson for Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council confirmed: "It is estimated that over the last three decades, the amount of contributions from developments in the ward would be in the region of £5m. Of this, £4.3m has been spent, in accordance with the individual section 106 agreements, and about £2 million of this has been for facilities in or related to Beggarwood Park, including the community centre and woodland.

"Some of the approximately £721,000 unspent money is earmarked to be spent in 2026/27, in line with relevant section 106 agreements, on Beggarwood Park and Old Down Woodland Park.

Cabinet member responsible for play areas and parks, Cllr Laura James, said: "The kickabout area was installed some years ago and is well used. We are currently looking at how it can be updated and improved using money available from developer contributions for open space enhancements.

"Ward councillors will be involved in developing the proposals, with work scheduled for this financial year. Beggarwood Park was created in 2000, and over the years its facilities have been developed with significant investment, including a new play area, pump track, outdoor gym, wild activity zone, allotments, paths, seating, signage and litter bins."

The spokesperson added: "Rules about section 106 contributions are that they should be directly related to the development and proportionate to its impact.

"Projects don't need to be in the same ward, as the nearest suitable sports facility may be over the ward boundary or a park serving the development may be in a neighbouring ward. Payments are related to who uses the facility, not ward boundaries.

"In all section 106 agreements, the contributions secured from developers would be allocated and spent in accordance with the requirements set out in that agreement, which ensures the funds are used to mitigate the additional infrastructure needs arising from the new development."

• Did you know this area is supposed to be used to play football? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.