A certain amount of speculation has been aroused between Wallasey Corporation officials concerning that use of Lingham Park Sports Ground, Moreton.
The ground facilitates a football pitch and a cricket square, a bowling green and putting green, tennis courts and a running track. Work for these was completed in 1957 at a cost, to the Corporation of £32,000,
The three football pitches are being used to the maximum, but the cricket, tennis and running sites are losing their attraction.
In 1963 a £12,000 pavilion was built providing changing rooms and a communal room. Recently this building has been used very little and Corporations now let a room to the 18-plus group,
Until a year ago the cricket pitch was greatly used by Moreton C.C., but since their disbandment no-one has shown an interest in it.
The athletic arena is at present used by they Wallasey Athletic Club and to a lesser extent by Moreton Athletic Club, but is still not proving its full value.
Chairman of the Wallasey committee, Alderman Noel Owens, commented 'Lingham Park is in the wrong place. Although it is a recreational ground for the people of Moreton, they complain because there's nothing there'.
'People ride bicycles on the running track, and although the facilities are up to county standards for athletics, the only events are those held during the Festival Sports Week', he went on.
Alderman Owens said that certain alterations had been made to keep the arena up to the required standards.
A joint meeting is planned with the Education Committee so that more schools might make better use of the ground.
Recently senior athletes from Wallasey Athletic Club have complained about the surface of the track criticising it as being dangerous to run on at high speeds.
The club coach, Mr. Carl Gee, explained that once a cinder track is underwatered, the top surface will break up and it becomes just like running on sand. Despite the restrictions on the use of hosepipes, as a local authority the Recreation Committee are permitted to water the track, But Alderman Owens said; 'As local residents were not allowed to use water, we thought it might be considered unfair to use a lot of water on the track'.
A spokesman for the Corporation department of Borough Engineers and Surveyors stated that the present expenditure was around £700 with an income of £30.
He also said that with increasing, popularity for five-a-side football and volleyball, consideration is being given to converting one half of the tennis courts into a relevant pitch.
Ends
Source - Wallasey News - Saturday, 11/10/1969 by Roy Hill
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