Brightling Road Leisure Ground Improvements

Polegate Town Council resolved to make a number of improvements to Brightling Road Leisure Ground and submitted a planning application in 2023. Although the town council have permitted development rights on the majority of additions, planning permission enables more flexibility with the tenders. Following a lengthy process planning permission was granted in July 2025.

During the interim time, some developer funds through S106 and CIL were set aside for the improvements, along with underspends for some budgets. The Town Council intend to apply for grants in order that as many of the planned facilities are delivered within a short timescale. This enables the town council to make the improvements without increasing the budget and precept (which affect the town council portion of your council tax)

Header image plan of the Brightling Road Leisure Ground improvements

Initial Stages

The Town Council consulted various user groups to understand what residents and current users wanted from the facilities.

Completed

  • The old skate park which was beginning to fail and required vast sums of investment for repairs was removed and a new beginners skate park replaced the old one.
  • An outdoor gym was requested and following consultation a new gym was selected and installed.
  • The basketball court was resurfaced and repainted, hoop nets replaced.
  • Football goals and nets were repainted and new nets installed and a new pitch was investigated along with drainage improvements.
  • A new roadway/accessible footway and parking area was requested for better and “all year” access to the mini railway (PADMEC) allowing more events to be held by them.
  • A new youth shelter was installed to replace the failing shelter.
  • Picnic benches were installed and more benches are planned once the ground work is completed.

Underway initial consultations completed

  • Skatepark users stated that they wished to have a concrete skate park with various elements to it and this was included in the planning permission.
  • BMX track users asked for a pump track and told us which they preferred in the area, assisting with the outline requirements to contractors.
  • An inclusive park was requested and a small user group submitted ideas on what should go into the new park.
  • A car parking area for groups using the field formally was requested.
  • A planned extended pathway was agreed to enable people to move around the field on mobility scooters, pushchairs etc.
  • A climbing wall (boulder) was agreed subject to grant funding.
  • A metered power supply was agreed and the possibility of having CCTV in the area, possibly monitored by the police.
  • Solar lighting was requested to make it feel safer in the autumn and winter months.
  • A hedgerow was agreed, to keep the area more like an urban park area and avoid any issues should the neighbouring landowner wish to use the access. (Keeps vehicles separate from the rest of the area and along the access route only).  Small fruit trees (orchard area) were installed and some specimen trees reflecting the local area and making shade and a park like environment.
  • A late addition to the plan was a tennis court, and as part of the planning process Sport England and the lawn tennis association requested two for sustainability.
  • Following requests from youth football clubs, it is planned for a local club to use the new pitch regularly and for a toilet/café/changing facility to be placed on the land to improve its overall use and footfall.
  • More events will be held on the field, building on these year by year as family events with something for everyone.

September 2025 Update

Quotes and tenders are being sought for the majority of the improvements and little by little each improvement will be agreed and delivered, delivery will be subject to funding being available and within the planning permissions granted.

As each improvement progresses updates will appear on this page along with consultations with residents. Please do respond to these which will appear here, on our news section of the website social media and we will be approaching different groups locally for input as well.

March 2026 Update

We are currently working on securing major grant funding to deliver a wide range of new and improved facilities at Brightling Road Leisure Ground. These plans include:

  • A new football pitch for Polegate Grasshoppers’ home ground
  • Catering facilities and a toilet block
  • A new children’s cycle track
  • New tennis courts
  • A new basketball court
  • Resurfacing of the beginners’ skate park
  • A brand‑new concrete skate park
  • A potential climbing boulder
  • An accessible track around the field
  • A new bridge with higher load capacity
  • Event car‑parking and a small access road
  • A fully inclusive playground with a wide range of accessible features
  • New CCTV and low‑level solar lighting
  • New tree planting for biodiversity and flood‑management
  • A new power supply
  • A new pump track and refreshed BMX track
  • Additional benches and durable grass areas for the annual festival and mini‑railway events

Unfortunately, some further delays have arisen due to planning condition discharge requirements and the timescales of our potential funders. While the original aim was to complete the works by Christmas 2026, this may now extend slightly into 2027 as we await funding decisions.

Grant funding is essential to allow the project to be delivered as a complete package rather than in smaller stages over several years. We will continue to update you as we progress through the required paperwork and legal processes. If funding is not secured, some elements may need to be postponed, though we will actively explore alternative funding sources.

We are working closely with the Grounds Management Association (GMA) and other specialist bodies as we prepare the tender specification documents. The archaeological survey is expected to take place toward the end of March, following earlier delays caused by poor ground conditions.

Consultations: