Wythall sports groups see a route back after pitch closure

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-12 17:45 2 min read

Evening football match taking place on a local grass pitch in the UK.

Hundreds of weekly users of Woodrush Community Sports Centre could be a step closer to returning to their usual activities after a £12,000 funding package was agreed for repairs to its closed artificial turf pitch.

Worcestershire County Council’s Public Health team has awarded £7,000 towards essential work at the Woodrush sports pitch in Wythall. A further £5,000 will come from Councillor Adam Kent’s divisional fund, alongside support from local partners.

The funding is intended as a short-term repair solution while organisations involved in the site pursue longer-term investment for a full refurbishment.

Clubs and activity groups displaced by closure

The closure has affected groups that rely on the pitch for regular sport and exercise close to home. Youth football, walking football, walking hockey, girls’ rugby and community fitness sessions have all used the facility.

Some groups have moved their sessions outside the area, according to Worcestershire County Council News, while others have stopped altogether. Reopening the pitch would restore a local venue for children, young people and adults who use it for sport, physical activity and social contact.

Councillor Adam Kent, the county councillor for the Wythall Division and the council’s Deputy Leader, said the closure had had a “real impact” on clubs, groups and families that use the site each week.

£12,000 package supports essential repairs

The combined £12,000 package brings together public-health funding and local ward funding. The council has not set out a reopening date or detailed repair timetable in its announcement.

Wythall sports groups see a route back after pitch closure

That means community groups have confirmation that repair funding is in place, but not yet a confirmed date for returning to the artificial turf. The immediate work is designed to bring the pitch back into use rather than complete a full renewal of the facility.

The move follows wider interest in community sports funding, including support that helps athletes meet training and competition costs in other local sports funding programmes.

Long-term refurbishment plans being developed

A project group involving Worcestershire County Council, Woodrush School, Rush Active, local councillors and community representatives has been formed to plan the pitch’s future and seek external funding.

Lisa McNally, Director of Public Health at Worcestershire County Council, said reopening Woodrush would give local residents more opportunities to be active and spend time with others nearby.

For now, the confirmed next step is the essential repair work funded by the £7,000 public-health award and £5,000 divisional contribution, while partners explore how to secure the pitch’s longer-term future.

Source: Worcestershire County Council News

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This report is based on Worcestershire County Council’s published funding announcement and distinguishes confirmed funding from details not yet announced.

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