Tonbridge Farm Sportsground - Tonbridge and Malling Borough ...

Tonbridge Farm Sportsground 

Management Plan 

2011 - 2015 

www.tmbc.gov.uk

GUIDANCE NOTES 

The following notes have been prepared to help guide you through and understand 

the Management Plan. Section headings are highlighted below along with 

descriptions of their relevance within the overall plan. 

Part 1 – Where are we now 

The first section of the plan describes the current situation at the 

time it was written. It is an introduction to Tonbridge Farm 

Sportsground (TFS) and advises on the current facilities and 

their management. 

Part 2 – Where do we want to get to 

This section of the plan describes our vision for TFS and sets out 

our management aims and objectives. 

Part 3 – How will we get there 

This section sets out how we are going to achieve our aims 

and objectives. A Five Year Work Programme sets our longterm 

targets and Annual Action Plans focusing on each year, 

will flow from this. 

Part 4 – How will we know when we have arrived 

The final section of the Plan looks at how we will track progress 

and how the Plan might be updated. 

Tonbridge Farm Sportsground Management Plan 2011-2015 1

Tonbridge Farm Sportsground Management Plan 2011-2015 


Contents 

Page No. 

1.0 Introduction/Background to Tonbridge Farm Sportsground 8 

The Role of the Management Plan 

Policy Context 

2.0 A Welcoming Place 10 

Location 

Entrances 

Land Use 

Accessibility 

Formal Recreation 

Informal Recreation 

Toilets 

Pavilion/ Maintenance Building 

Seating 

3.0 Healthy, Safe and Secure 15 

Health and Safety 

Risk Assessment 

Workplace Health and Safety Inspection 

Site Monitoring 

Site Staffing 

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) 

Water Safety Policy 

Children’s Play Area 

Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) 

Tree Safety Inspections 

4.0 Clean and Well Maintained 16 

Grounds Maintenance 

Building Maintenance 

Equipment Maintenance 

Tree Management 

Land Drainage and Flooding 

5.0 Sustainability 19 

Corporate Policy 

Chemical Use 

Peat Use 

Travel 


Energy Efficiency 

ISO 14001 

Recycling 

Safety Tiles 

6.0 Conservation and Heritage 20 

Site History 

Habitat and Landscape Structure 

Topography Features and Soils 

7.0 Community Involvement 22 

Customer Survey 

Tonbridge Sports Association 

Public Engagement 

Tonbridge Bowling Club 

Volunteering 

Tonbridge and Malling Access Group 

Local Educational Establishments 

Consultation on the Management Plan 

8.0 Marketing 25 

Publications 

Events 

9.0 Management 26 

Management Structure 

Out of hours 

Staff and Volunteer Training 

Stakeholders 

Sportsground Budget 

Rules 

Compartments 

10.0 Constraint Factors and SWOT Analysis 30 

Conclusion 

Part 2 – Where do we want to get to 34 

11.0 Management Plan Overall Aim and 

Objectives 

Part 3 – How will we get there 37 

12.0 Five Year Work Programme 

13.0 Annual Action Plans 


Part 4 – How will we know when we have arrived 45 

14.0 Green Flag Award 

15.0 Monitoring Progress 

16.0 Annual Management Plan Review 

17.0 End of Plan Review 


Tables 

Page 

Table 1 - List of Policy Guidance 9 

Table 2 - List of User Clubs 12 

Table 3 - Pitch Provision and Extent of the Playing 13 

Season 

Table 4 - Grounds Maintenance 16 

Table 5 - Key Habitat Types Present 21 

Table 6 - Timetable for Consultation 24 

Table 7 - Typical Annual Events held 25 

Table 8 - List of Stakeholders 27 

Table 9 - SWOT Analysis 32 

Table 10 - Five Year Work Programme 38 

Appendices 

Appendix 1 - Location Map 

Appendix 2 - Master Plan 

Appendix 3 - Access Audit 

Appendix 4 - Map of Legal Aspects 

Appendix 5 - Example Risk Assessments 

Appendix 6 - Asset List 

Appendix 7 - Chemicals Used 

Appendix 8 - Species List 

Appendix 9 - Sportsground Budget 

Appendix 10 - Annual Action Plan 

Acknowledgements 

Robert Styles, Chief Leisure Officer 

Darren Lanes, Leisure Services Manager (Outdoor) 

John Dicker, Senior Parks Officer 

Chris Fox, Leisure Services Officer (Outdoor) 

Michael Harris, Senior Leisure Services Officer 

TMBC 

Alan Nicholl, Chairman, Tonbridge Sports Association 

Pat Mortlock, Tonbridge Historical Society 

And all others consulted on the plan. 

Photographic credits: 

TMBC 

David Hodgkinson 


For further information please contact: 

Leisure Services, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, Council Offices, 

Gibson Building, Gibson Drive, Kings Hill, West Malling, ME19 4LZ 

Tel. 01732 876166 

Email: leisure.services@tmbc.gov.uk Website: www.tmbc.gov.uk 

Copyright © TMBC 2010 version 1 

If the reader is using an internet enabled computer to view this document the 

document contains a number of website and email hyperlinks (words in blue 

text and underlined) which can be used to find out more about the subjects by 

linking to other documents or to email. The Council is not responsible for the 

content of external internet sites. 


Acronyms and abbreviations used in this Plan 

CCTV 

CPM 

CLO 

DDA 

GFA 

GMC 

KCC 

LSO 

LSMD 

LSMO 

LSBU 

MUGA 

MVCP 

PPS 

RAs 

RoSPA 

SDO 

SLSO 

TMBC 

TFS 

TRS 

TSA 

WMO 

Close Circuit Television 

Community Partnerships Manager 

Chief Leisure Officer 

Disability Discrimination Act 

Green Flag Award 

Grounds Maintenance Contract 

Kent County Council 

Leisure Services Officer 

Leisure Services Manager Development 

Leisure Services Manager Outdoor 

Leisure Business Unit 

Multi Use Games Area 

Medway Valley Countryside Partnership 

Playing Pitch Strategy 

Risk Assessments 

Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents 

Sports Development Officer 

Senior Leisure Services Officer 

Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council 


Tonbridge Racecourse Sportsground 

Tonbridge Sports Association 

Waste Management Officer 

Other documents referred to in this plan 

Tonbridge Farm Sportsground Market Survey 2006 


Tonbridge Farm Sportsground - Management Plan 2011-2015 


The first section of the Plan describes the current situation at the time 

the Plan was written. It is an introduction to Tonbridge Farm 

Sportsground (TFS) and provides details of the current facilities and their 

management. 

1.0 – Introduction/ Background to Tonbridge Farm Sportsground 

TFS covers an area of approximately 24 Hectares (59 Acres) and is located to the 

north of Tonbridge town centre. The Sportsground provides a range of outdoor 

sports facilities including cricket squares, adult football pitches, lawn bowling green, 

floodlit all weather training area, sports pavilions and a private football stadium, 

home to Tonbridge Angels Football Club. In addition there is a multi use ballcourt, 

basketball nets, skate park, five-a-side football area and children’s play area. The 

Sportsground has a network of paths, with seats, many of which are lined with 

hedgerows and inter-planted with trees. The area is well used by the local 

community to sit and relax, walk the dog, visit the play area and play sports. 

The Role of the Management Plan 

This Plan has been developed to give guidance on the management of TFS. The 

site includes the land leased to Tonbridge Angels Football Club, Tonbridge Bowling 

Club and Tonbridge Cricket Club, but the main focus of this Plan will be the other 

areas, those that allow free public access. It is intended that this document is used 

as a management tool and will provide the basis for the maintenance and 

development of the site. It will be used to guide current site management and play 

an integral role in the development of future projects and decisions relating to the 

Sportsground. 

Policy Context 

The Plan has also been developed to take into account the local policy/guidance 

listed in Table 1. This includes a number of Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council’s 

‘Key Priorities for 2010/11’ (i) managing the Council’s financial resources and 

performance to meet the challenges of the recession and the impact on public 

finances’; (ii)‘achieving a cleaner, smarter and better…open space environment’; (iii) 

involve, safeguard and meet the needs of children and young people’; work with 

partners to: (iv) ‘reduce crime, anti social behaviour and the fear of crime’; (v) 

‘promote, encourage and provide opportunities for healthy living’ and (vi)‘make a 

positive local contribution to tackling the causes and effects of climate change’. This 

is a summary of the Key Priorities more details can be found in Spotlight the 

Council’s annual Corporate Performance Plan. 


Table 1: List of Policy Guidance 

TMBC Policy or Guidance Documentation 

Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council Local Development Framework 

‘Key Issues’ within the Leisure and Arts Strategy 2008-2013 

Key Priorities (see Spotlight published annually) 

Playing Pitch Strategy 

Local Play Strategy 

Standards of the Green Flag Award Scheme 

Tree Safety Strategy 

Open Space Strategy 

Outdoor Leisure Performance Plan 

Water Safety Policy 

The Council also intends to manage the site in accordance with the standards of the 

GFA. This is a national award scheme now organised by the Green Flag Award 

Consortium setting high standards of quality for greenspaces of all types. To find out 

more see the website www.greenflagaward.co.uk The Plan has been written using 

the GFA criteria (below) used to judge the award. 

A welcoming place 

Healthy safe and secure 

Clean and well maintained 

Sustainable 

Conservation and heritage 

Community involvement 

Marketing 

Management 


2.0 – A Welcoming Place 

Location – TFS is located in Darenth Avenue off the A227 Shipbourne Road in the 

north of Tonbridge, Kent (Appendix 1). 

Ordnance Survey National Grid Reference TQ585482 

Grid Reference Easting 51.211014 Northing 0.267800 

Nearest Postcode TN10 3JF 

Entrances – All vehicular and pedestrian access points have 

been highlighted on the Master Plan (Appendix 2). 

Land Use – The present internal land uses can be found within 

the compartment descriptions or alternatively, on the Master 

Plan (Appendix 2). Externally the site is surrounded 

predominantly by residential properties and farmland to the 

north. 

Accessibility – A Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) Audit 

was carried out at the Sportsground by a sub group of the 

Tonbridge and Malling Access Group. The resulting Improvement Action Plan 

(Appendix 3) is currently being implemented. 

Access By Bus – Bus stops are located in Darenth Avenue by the Baptist Church 

or from the opposite direction by Frome Court, these bus stops are on the main town 

centre bus routes 218/ 219 and within a short walking distance of TFS. 

Access By Rail – 1½ miles from Tonbridge Station, this offers direct connections to 

London Charing Cross, London Cannon Street, Ashford and Hastings. 

Access By Road – The Sportsground is well signposted from the A227 Shipbourne 

Road. There is a large car park located within the Sportsground catering for around 

260 cars and 8 coaches on average. The car park has shared use with the users of 

Tonbridge Angels Football Club. (see Master Plan - Appendix 2 for detailed 

locations). A height barrier set at two metres is located at the entrance to the car 

park. The car park is divided into a number of bays and is inter-planted with trees. 


Access By Foot – The main pedestrian entrance is signposted from Shipbourne 

Road, there are also two other entrances into the Sportsground, from the Cricket 

Club side and these have been identified on the Master Plan (Appendix 2). 

Access By Bicycle – Cycle routes provide access to the Sportsground via 

Shipbourne Road and the Darenth Avenue main entrance, cycling is not permitted 

within the site, accept in the skate park; cycle stands are provided by the ballcourt 

and five-a-side football area. 

Formal Recreation – The site is used for a number of sports including Football, 

Cricket, and Lawn Bowling. 

For sports such as football, and cricket, pitch tenancy agreements are agreed on an 

annual basis in liaison with the Tonbridge Sports Association (TSA). The tenancy 

agreements are between TMBC and the individual clubs who participate in local 

leagues. This aspect and the hire of the All Weather Training Area are managed by 

the TMBC Leisure Service Business Unit (LSBU) at the Angel Leisure Centre, 

Tonbridge. These agreements enable clubs to use their allocated pitches according 

to fixtures agreed by the respective Leagues. 

Fourteen different sports clubs currently (2010/11 season) use the Sportsground on 

a regular basis, see Table 2. 


Table 2: List of User Clubs 

Club 

Artois Utd Football Club 

Cowdrey Cricket Club 

Dowgate Football Club 

Foresters Cricket Club 

Hildenborough Athletic Football Club 

Hildenborough Juniors 

Six in One Football Club 

Tonbridge Angels Football Club 

Tonbridge Baptist Football Club 


Tonbridge Cricket Club 

Tonbridge Invicta Junior Football Club 

Tonbridge Post Office Football Club 

West Kent College (football) 

Tonbridge Angels Football Club – The 

Tonbridge Angels Football Club was 

founded in 1947 and moved to TFS in 1980. 

The Longmead Stadium is a 2500 capacity 

football ground with stands, floodlighting, 

and associated buildings. This area is 

owned by the Council and leased to the 

Club; Appendix 4 shows the location. The 

club have a website at 

www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk 

Tonbridge Bowling Club – The Club 

was founded in 1906 and re-located in 

1994 to TFS. The facilities are owned by 

the Council and leased to the Club who 

have a management agreement. The 

location is shown in Appendix 4. With 

the purpose built Clubhouse, the self 

sufficient Club has a membership of 

around 142 people and is run by 

volunteers. The Club website can be 

found at: www.tbc.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk 


Tonbridge Cricket Club – Poplar Meadow the southern area of TFS is leased to 

Tonbridge Cricket Club, who have a lease to use this land and the pavilion shown in 

Appendix 4. The Club was founded in 1837, (and was merged for a time with the 

Town’s Hockey Club until 2003). The club have a website at 

http://www.tonbridgecc.co.uk/02theclub.htm 

The formal playing pitch provision (2010/11 season) for public use has been 

summarised in Table 3, and also highlights the normal extent of the playing season. 

The number of football pitches and layout can vary from year to year, depending on 

demand. 

Table 3: Pitch Provision and Extent of Playing Season 

Sports Number Season Starts Season Ends 

Cricket 2 Pitches June September 

Bowling 1 Green May September 

Football 7 Pitches September April 

All weather surface 

(floodlit) 

2 five-a-side 

pitches 

All year round – 

Informal Recreation – The following facilities are also provided at the TFS for 

casual public use: 

• A large equipped children’s play area provides for a wide range of ages from 

toddlers to teenagers 

• Skate park with ramps, grind rails, and jumps (floodlit for evening use) 

• Ballcourt for basketball and football (floodlit for evening use) 

• Five-a-side football area 


Toilets –The pavilion contains toilets for sport users. The nearest public toilets are 

located on The Ridgeway opposite the Pinnacles Public House around 400 metres 

from the entrance to the Sportsground. 

Pavilion/ Maintenance Building – The spacious pavilion contains eight changing 

rooms with showers, a kitchen area, male, female and disabled toilets, referee 

changing area, first aid room and boiler house. Attached to the pavilion is a 

groundsman’s maintenance building. The pavilion is currently being refurbished both 

externally and internally. 

Seating – The Sportsground contains a number of seats and picnic benches. 

Members of the public are able to sponsor a seat. A leaflet has been published 

which advises the public on how to sponsor a seat and is available from the Council 

offices and from the website www.tmbc.gov.uk. 

NB: For the location of facilities and services highlighted above please see 

Appendix 2 the Master Plan. 


3.0 – Healthy, Safe And Secure 

Health and Safety –The Council has an overall health and safety policy statement 

and policies are also sought from all major contractors and event organisers working 

at the Sportsground. 

Risk Assessment –The Council also has a suite of generic Risk Assessments 

(RAs) and again specific RAs are sought from individual contractors. RAs are also 

required for all events that take place on site. See the examples in Appendix 5. 

Workplace Health and Safety Inspection – The Sportsground has routine 

inspections carried out by the Council’s Health and Safety Officer to check on 

aspects of health and safety. 

Site Monitoring – As part of the management of contractors Council officers 

monitor health and safety aspects and routinely visit the site to inspect work and the 

condition of the Sportsground. Officers are empowered to stop unsafe work, fence 

off areas and take other remedial actions to keep the public safe. 

Site Staffing – A Ranger patrols the site on a part-time basis to enforce aspects 

such as dog and litter control; liaise with the public and assists with events. The 

Council’s Grounds Maintenance Contractor has both a depot and maintenance team 

based within the Sportsground. A gatekeeper opens the pavilion and All Weather 

Training Area when these facilities are hired. Staff wear uniforms or badges so that 

they can easily be indentified by the public. The Council’s Senior Parks Officer 

monitors site maintenance and oversees its management. 

Close Circuit Television (CCTV) – CCTV with infrared lighting is present at the 

Sportsground and linked into the Town Centre system. The control centre is staffed 

24 hours a day and operators have links with the Ranger, Officers at the Council 

and the Police. 

Water Safety Policy – The Council has an overall Water Safety Policy written with 

the assistance of RoSPA, to address the issue of public safety around inland water 

bodies at/adjacent to its outdoor leisure sites. 

Children’s Play Area – see Table 4. 

Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) – The 

Ranger has developed links with the Police and 

PCSOs in order that they can offer assistance on 

demand and carry out independent patrols of the 

site. 

Tree Safety Inspections – 

See Table 4 for details. 

Inspecting play standards 


4.0 – Clean and Well Maintained 

Grounds Maintenance – Maintenance tasks at the Sportsground are, with only a 

few exceptions, specified within the Council’s Ground Maintenance Contract (GMC). 

The contract details all tasks that are to be carried out highlighting both frequency 

and quality requirements. Due to the scale of the GMC it would be inappropriate to 

incorporate this into this plan in any great detail, however, some of the key tasks 

have been summarised in Table 4. Weekly meetings are held between the Senior 

Parks Officer and the contractor’s foreman, to review progress and plan for the week 

ahead. A wide range of assets are found in the Sportsground and these are listed in 

Appendix 6. 

Table 4: Grounds Maintenance 

Maintenance Area 

Description of Operations 

Litter Control 

Dog Control 

Children’s Play Area 

Sports Pitches (grass) 

All litter bins are checked and emptied and the site 

cleared of litter daily. Litter bins are washed monthly. 

Litter is also monitored through NPI 195 standard by 

officers (results from these surveys show good levels of 

control). Enforcement fines for littering can be issued by 

various officers. 

Dog bins are emptied once a week. Enforcement fines for 

fouling can be issued by various officers at anytime. The 

Dog Warden, Litter Warden, Civic Enforcement Officers 

and Ranger are all able to carry out enforcement. 

Clearance of fouling, responsible dog ownership events, 

bag and flag days, and enforcement days are all regularly 

carried out in the Sportsground. Dog fouling is also 

monitored using NPI 195 standard by officers (results 

from these surveys show the levels of control). 

The playground equipment is inspected weekly by the 

grounds staff and an annual independent inspection and 

report is also carried out – both produce a written report. 

Routine repairs are instructed as required. A programme 

for the renewal of all play equipment is also in place. 

All sports pitches are marked out and mown once a week 

during the season. The football pitches are harrowed and 

slit once a month, with sand applied weekly to goal 

mouths and centres during wet periods. Goals are 

installed during the football season, lining out and goal 

nets put up for games. During the cricket season, the 

square and outfield is cut once a week, and wickets three 

times a week; wickets are prepared the day before each 

match. Fertiliser and pesticides are applied as required. 


Table 4 Continued 

Bowling Green 

All Weather Training 

Area 

Park Furniture 

Pavilion 

Car park and paths 

Trees & Woodland 

Graffiti Control 

Fly Posting 

Fly tipping 

Abandoned vehicles 

The green is maintained by the club under a 

management agreement. 

The sand filled artificial pitches are topped up with sand 

and litter picked as required. Fencing, goals, and lighting 

are also checked. 

All park benches and bins are checked and washed 

monthly, and re-painted annually if required. 

The sports pavilion is managed and maintained under an 

agreement with the LSBU. Cleaning is carried out weekly 

and after use. 

Paths are regularly inspected and surface repairs carried 

out in rotation as required. 

Mature trees are surveyed and assessed on a regular 

basis by independent and qualified arborists. Reports are 

prioritised for risk and action taken accordingly. Young 

trees have been planted and maintained by volunteers. 

Graffiti education events take place in local schools. 

Graffiti is controlled by prompt painting over or removed 

with cleaners, we also use specialist companies for large 

scale cleaning. 

The Council has set targets for graffiti removal: 

2 days – offensive graffiti 

7 days – in the town centre & high profile areas 

14 days – highly visible routes 

28 days – all other areas 

Graffiti is also monitored using NPI 195 standard by 


control). Graffiti is tolerated on the skate park equipment, 

provided that it is not offensive. 

Removed as seen during routine monitoring of the site. 

Enforcement letters sent out to offenders if required. Fly 

posting is also monitored using NPI 195 standard by 


control). 

There is a telephone report line (01732 874922) for the 

public to call and report incidents of fly tipping. Removed 

and disposed of within a target time of 48 hours. 

There is a telephone report line 01732 874922 for the 

public to call and report incidents. The Council has set 

targets to remove and dispose abandoned vehicles within 

24 hours if dangerous, seven days if not dangerous, 

longer times apply if the vehicle has a tax disc. 


Building Maintenance – The Council has a planned maintenance programme for 

the sports pavilion that is implemented by the Council’s Property Services 

department. This includes aspects like internal and external decoration, routine 

maintenance and urgent repairs. Plans are currently being progressed to refurbish 

the main pavilion. The only exceptions to 

this regime are the buildings and land 

leased on the site, namely the Bowling Club 

buildings and Tonbridge Angels Football 

Club stadium and Cricket Club building 

which are the responsibility of the respective 

leaseholders. 

Tree Management – The Sportsground 

contains a mixture of native (oak, ash etc) and 

exotic (Norway Maple, flowering cherries etc.) 

species of trees; some mature oak and ash 

specimens are also present. See Table 4 for 

maintenance details. 

Land Drainage and Flooding – The site has a 

stream running along two sides and drainage 

ditches along the other boundaries. Being a low 

lying area, flooding does occur on occasions 

and during the winter months the stream can 

overflow its banks, flooding the car park, 

ballcourt and All Weather Training area. 

Equipment Maintenance – Most machinery 

is owned and maintained by the grounds 

maintenance contractor. The GMC and 

contract bid give details of the machinery 

used in this contract and conditions. 

Monitoring of the contractor’s machinery 

operation and health and safety is 

undertaken by Council Officers. 

A field drainage pipe system is installed under the sports areas to allow drainage 

from these sports pitch areas. 


5.0 – Sustainability 

Corporate Policy – The Plan has been written in accordance with the Council’s 

Climate Change Strategy and Corporate Purchasing Policy and also takes into 

consideration the Council’s biodiversity duty under the 

Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. 

Chemical Use – Chemical usage is vetted and, where Recycle 

possible, is kept to a minimum. Alternative methods of 

pesticide control are always considered and remain 

under annual review. A limited number of chemicals are 

used at the Sportsground to control turf pests and 

Reduce 

diseases, weeds, as disinfectants and for graffiti 

removal. The Control of Substances Hazardous to 

Health and Risk Assessments are carried out and kept 

on file as necessary. All chemicals are stored in a locked and purpose built store, 

with all usage logged in a chemical application book. A summary of the chemicals 

currently used in the Sportsground are listed in Appendix 7. 

Peat Use – No peat is used on site and purchases of nursery stock are normally as 

bare root plants. All planting compost used on site is recycled green waste. 

Travel – The public are encouraged to visit the Sportsground by sustainable means 

either cycling or on foot. These alternatives are offered when promoting the Site. 

Energy Efficiency – Meter readings for all electricity and water usage are taken 

manually on a regular basis and monitored with any higher than normal usage 

investigated. All staff are aware of the importance of reducing energy consumption 

and are regularly reminded of the need to ensure that energy usage is kept to a 

minimum and to turn off lights and taps. 

ISO 14001 – The Grounds Maintenance contractor, KCC, have achieved the 

standard ISO14001, the contractor uses low sulphur fuel, and electric vehicles. 

Recycling – A public recycling centre is present 

in the car park catering for glass, cans/tins, 

newspapers/magazines, textiles, and plastic 

bottles. The site is also used monthly as a 

public collection point for household bulky 

waste. 

Litter generated by visitors is usually placed in 

the litter bins, or clean up. This waste is very 

mixed and as a result is disposed of via the 

municipal waste stream and incinerated to create energy off site. 

Safety tiles – Used within the play area and are made from re-cycled tyres. 

Reuse 


6.0 – Conservation And Heritage 

Site History – TFS was originally farmland and 

was constructed as a purpose made 

sportsground, officially opening in 1984. The land 

was acquired by the Council to replace land lost 

due to town centre redevelopment in the 1980’s. 

The Tonbridge Bowling Club, Tonbridge Cricket 

Club, and Tonbridge Angels Football Club were 

all originally located near the town centre High 

Street, where the main car park, Angel Centre 

and shops are now located. The Clubs were all 

re-located to TFS, with a public sportsground 

provided alongside these facilities. 

Since this time TMBC has worked in partnership 

with the TSA to enhance the Sportsground for the 

benefit of sports clubs and the wider public but 

always having sports use as a primary purpose of 

the site. 

Habitat and Landscape Structure – The site consists mainly of grassland, 

surrounded with a loop of paths lined with trees and hedgerows. There is also a 

limited amount of rough grassland, and woodland. Some mature trees are present 

and some deadwood has been left standing or in situ. Young woodland has been 

planted near the play area and several ditches and streams run along the 

boundaries. 

The drainage ditches are dry in summer, and a stream runs with water throughout 

most years. The small drainage pond, near the All Weather Training Area, dries out 

most summers. Some areas of longer grass have been left along the boundaries. 

The car park area has well established trees. These habitats are at present 

managed in harmony with recreation and visitor management. Preliminary surveys 

of the site for this Plan (Appendix 8), listed over sixty species of plants, and as 


stated there are a variety of habitats. Many food sources for animals were also 

present with food like Hawthorn, Rosehip; and Acorns; and sheltering/nesting 

opportunities such as hedgerows were also present. 

There is however only a limited amount of information available at present 

(Appendix 8) and this reflects the lack of surveys to date. Even with the primary use 

as a sportsground, it is evident that because of the close proximity of the 

countryside and the range of habitats present, the site has good potential for 

attracting wildlife. The key habitats have been noted in Table 5. The Council aims to 

increase biodiversity within parks and open spaces in line with the Council’s Open 

Spaces Strategy. 

Table 5: Key Habitat Types Present 

Importance 

Habitat type 

International 

/ European 

National 

Regional 

/ Local 

Approx. 

area of TFS 

Hedgerows 

* 

7.0 – Community Involvement 

Customer Survey – Carried out in 2006; the 

objective was to profile visitors and provide 

information on customer satisfaction, facilities and 

suggested improvements. 

Key results from the 2006 survey are: 

377 face-to-face interviews were completed with 

users of the Sportsground between the end of July 

and August 2006. The survey included those 

participating in formal sports. Below is a summary of 

the results: 

• 81 percent of users were satisfied with their visit overall 

• Half the users visited once a week 

• The catchment area of TFS is north Tonbridge with most users 

travelling less than two miles 

• The main reasons for visiting were to sit and relax, walk the dog and to 

visit the play area 

Almost two thirds of users would like to see the TFS improved. 

Comments from users were as follows: 

• Leave it alone, it’s fine as it is 

• Not a very attractive place, but existing facilities seem popular 

• Good sports facilities but not much for the person who wants to sit and 

relax 

• Facilities well maintained, just more needed 

Suggestions for improvements include: 

• Improvements to catering facilities 

• Provision of public toilet facilities 

• Increase the number of seats/ picnic benches 

• Increase the presence of wildlife 

• Improvements for young people play facilities/ skate park etc. 

• Improve sense of security on site 

• More signage 

In response to this survey the Council has already made the following changes: 

• Advertised for a Mobile Refreshments Service at TFS in 2007, unfortunately 

no offers were made by contractors at that time. 

• Replaced the ballcourt 


• Installed car park flood lighting 

• Increased the number of dog and litter bins 

• Installed additional picnic benches 

• Line marking car park areas 

• New signage 

• Ballcourt flood lighting 

• Enhanced the CCTV coverage 

• Installed more paths 

• Considering adding pubic toilets when the pavilion is refurbished 

• Improved the play area with more equipment and skate park equipment 

• New play area gates 

• Arranged for a Ranger to visit the site 

• Increased enforcement for dog fouling 

• Replaced the All Weather Training Area 

• Provided a youth shelter 

Tonbridge Sports Association – The Association are actively involved in the 

management and development of sports clubs using the Sportsground and meet 

with the Council every six weeks to discuss issues. 

Public Engagement – The Tonbridge Farm Sportsground User Panel was 

established in February 2009 to enable Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council to 

consult users and stakeholders on day-to-day management issues in the 

Sportsground. It was intended that the Panel would comprise Sportsground users, 

Borough Councillors (Ward members and the Cabinet Member for Leisure), sports 

clubs (who utilises the site), maintenance contractors and other interested parties. 

The Panel have met on several occasions, and members have been updated on 

recent operational management: consulted on future projects and ideas; and 

encouraged to discuss any relevant issues regarding the management of the 

Sportsground. A number of key issues have been indentified and these are being 

progressively addressed. Due to the low numbers of attendants at meetings, 

alternative methods of public engagement may need to be considered. 

Tonbridge Bowling Club – The club have a management agreement with the 

Council. The club self manage this facility. 

Volunteering – At present the community is involved in ad-hoc one-off events. 

Tonbridge and Malling Access Group – The community group (made up of 

people with various disabilities) carried out an access audit of the Sportsgound 

(excluding the bowling green and Tonbridge Angels Football Club) during 2008. The 

resulting report and findings are shown in Appendix 3. 


Local Educational Establishments – Tree 

planting is always a popular event with school 

children and a number of local schools have 

been involved on several occasions over the 

years. Before refurbishing the play area, 

children from a local school were involved in the 

selection of new equipment. 

Consultation on the Management Plan – 

Involvement of external parties in the 

production of this document was essential to 

engaging all users, and the programme for the 

consultation for the draft of this Plan was 

developed and is outlined in Table 6. 

Table 6: Timetable for Consultation 

Action 

Timescale 

Consultation with Local Council Ward Aug-Sept 2010 

members the TSA, LSBU and 

Tonbridge Historical Society 

TMBC – Leisure and Arts Advisory 22 Sept 2010 

Board to approve consultation draft 

Public Consultation – including all key Sept 2010 

stakeholders 

Plan amended to reflect consultation Nov 2010 

comments 

TMBC – Leisure & Arts Advisory Board 13 Dec 2010 

to adopt final Management Plan 

Publication of final Management Plan Jan 2011 

Copies of the Management Plan Consultation Draft were sent to: 

• Stakeholders (see Table 8) 

• All other interested persons 

The Consultation Draft of the Management Plan was made available to view at the 

Council offices at Kings Hill, Tonbridge Castle and at the Tonbridge Town Library 

(Reference section). The Plan was also available on the TMBC website at 

www.tmbc.gov.uk. All comments about the Consultation Draft Plan were considered 

by the Council and amendments made as required. Amendments were fed back to 

the consultees who made comments. 


8.0 – Marketing 

Publications – The Council markets the 

Sportsground as a local facility with the 

principle means of marketing being 

through; the Leisure Guide; via the 

Council’s website 

www.tmbc.gov.uk/TFS, and the Angel 

Centre website www.angelcentre.co.uk , 

through press releases; in the Council’s 

Here & Now residents’ magazine; 

through onsite notice boards; and event 

publications. All publications are 

available from Tonbridge Castle 

Gateway, and on the Council’s website 

www.tmbc.gov.uk 

Events – The site has limited space to run public events and the car park can, on 

occasions, be at capacity with users from the Tonbridge Angels Football stadium, 

when home fixtures are played. A number of events are run at the Sportsground 

each year most of these are run by local community volunteers, typical events are 

listed in Table 7. 

Table 7: Typical Annual Events held: 

Event 

It’s a Knock Out 

Sponsored run 

Tonbridge Garden Show proposed from 2011 

Trench and Longmead Family Day 

Tug of war 


9.0 – Management 

Management Structure – Major policy issues will be determined by the Council 

through recommendation made by the Leisure & Arts Advisory Board to the 

Council’s Cabinet. Implementation will be undertaken by Leisure Services. 

The TMBC officer management structure is shown below: 

Chief Leisure Officer 

(Head of Service) 

Leisure Services 

Manager (Outdoor) 

Other Leisure Managers 

Senior Parks Officer 

(Day-to-day site 

management) 

Other Parks Officers 

Ranger 

Part time for TFS, TRS and 

Haysden Country Park 

Senior Parks Officer – Day-to-day site management, overseeing: contract 

procurement and grounds maintenance management (engages other contractors 

and specialists as required) budget control, health and safety, capital projects, 

events, main customer contact, attends the TFS User Panel and covers for the 

Ranger when this person is off duty. 

Ranger (part time) – A part-time (17 hours per week) Ranger post was created in 

2006, to work across the Borough to enable on site community contact, enforcement 

of dog fouling and littering regulations, monitoring of site cleanliness, updates of the 

notice board and carries out some basic grounds maintenance tasks like graffiti 

removal and litter picking. 

Out-of-Hours – The Council operates an ‘out of hours’ emergency call out system 

on the normal council telephone number 01732 874522. The operator can answer 


some questions from a set script and in exceptional cases has a contact list for 

Council staff. For non-urgent items there is the Council’s website with Report Forms 

at www.tmbc.gov.uk Minicom 01732 874958, or SMS (text) 07781 482959. 

Staff & Volunteer Training – This is identified through the annual performance 

appraisal for each member of staff. Individual and corporate training needs are part 

of the assessment process and the outcomes are recorded and signed off by both 

parties. Training needs can vary from year to year but typically they might include 

First Aid at Work, Diversity training and Health and Safety training. 

Contractors are assessed on staff training and competence as part of the tender 

evaluation process. Only contractors of sufficient competence are employed. 

Future training needs are discussed with contractors on an ongoing basis. 

Volunteers also have opportunities to learn new skills like tree planting. 

The following companies contribute to the management of the site: 

• Leisure Services Business Unit – pitch bookings and all weather area 

• KCC Landscape Services – Grounds Maintenance Contractor 

• Cleanaway Limited – Dog Bin Maintenance Contractor 

• Kent County Council (West Kent Area Office) – Public Rights of Way 

• Veolia – recycling 

Stakeholders – Various groups have an interest in the site and have been 

consulted on the development and production of this Management Plan. These 

groups will also be consulted on issues relating to the ongoing development on site 

and are listed in alphabetical order in Table 8: 

Table 8: List of Stakeholders 

Name of Organisation 

Emergency Services 

Environment Agency (EA) 

Fairlawn Estates 

Kent County Council – Landscape Services 

Kent County Council - Public Rights of Way – West Kent Area Office 

Kent Wildlife Trust 

Leisure Service Business Unit TMBC 

Local Schools 

Police mainly via the Police Community Support Officers 

Tonbridge Angels Football Club 

Tonbridge and Malling Access Group 

Table 8 continued 

Tonbridge Baptist Church 



Tonbridge Civic Society 

Tonbridge Cricket Club 

Tonbridge Farm Sportsground User Panel (local residents, local councillors, 

contractors, resident clubs) 

Tonbridge Sports Association for the Resident Sports Clubs 

Sportsground Budget – Maintenance of the Sportsground is currently met through 

the Council’s Revenue Budget and is around £173,600 per annum. The budget 

provides for ground maintenance, running costs, repairs, administration and 

essential services. Income in the region of £55,000 is generated from pitch hire and 

from leases (income recovers 33 percent of the sportsground running costs.) A 

breakdown of the budget for 2010/2011 (the baseline figures for this Plan) can be 

found in Appendix 9. At present the income generated from the sports use of the 

site offers only limited income recovery. The infrastructure elements of the 

Sportsground require expenditure such as replacing dog bins, resurfacing paths, 

and replacing play equipment. With the exception of the play equipment, there is 

limited additional funding available for this. 

The budget is reviewed annually and this needs to take into account any price 

increases in the contracts. As for all Council services, the sportsground competes 

for resources alongside other services provided by the Council. 

Budget for Tonbridge Farm Sportsground 

44% 

7% 2% 

4% 

9% 

Salaries and on costs 

Wardening 

Utilities 

Building repairs and 

insurance 

Maintenance of grounds 

34% 

Capital charges 

Capital Budget – The site has benefited from a large amount of the Council’s 

capital funding over the last few years, these projects are listed in the section 

Community Involvement. Some larger value items such as replacing children’s play 

equipment are funded under the Capital Renewal Scheme. The Council also has a 


system of bidding for capital work to fund larger projects, which will fund the pavilion 

refurbishment. 

External Funding – Where practical, funding will be sourced from outside the 

Council, and this can take the form of public sponsoring seats, grant bids and 

developer contributions. Examples of where this type of funding has been used in 

the past at the Sportsground are: the public sponsoring new seats; play area 

improvements from developer contributions, and funding re-invested in children’s 

play equipment after the sale of land at Welland Road Play area. 

Rules – We ask that sportsground users abide by a few rules because the 

sportsground is used by a large number of people; this ensures that a few people do 

not affect the enjoyment of everyone else using the sportsground, these rules are 

set out below: 

Water Safety Rules – After the Water Safety Policy was developed a number of site 

specific recommendations were made including publishing water safety information 

for users. 

No Barbeques – In line with all the Council’s public open spaces, and to both 

reduce the likelihood of fires and to avoid inconveniencing other users, barbeques 

are not allowed in the sportsground. 

No Camping – The public are not allowed to camp in the sportsground. 

No Motorbikes – Motor bikes are permitted in the designated car park but are not 

permitted in all other areas of the sportsground. 

Anti-social behaviour – Aspects such as littering, dog fouling, fly posting, fly tipping 

and graffiti have already been covered in Table 4. 

Compartments – For the purpose of this Plan, the site has been divided into four 

compartments to reflect their different management needs and uses. The 

compartment descriptions outline the current condition and features (Appendix 2). 

Compartment 1 – Informal Recreation: - consisting of the car park, children’s play 

area, ballcourt, All Weather Training Area and skate park. This area is mainly 

amenity grassland. The area is bounded by mixed species hedgerows, a stream, 

trees with a small drainage pond in one corner and a recently planted woodland. 

There are a wide variety of trees present in this compartment many are ornamental 

species, but native trees are inter-planted and are also present along the boundaries 

in the hedgerows. Dragonflies Anax impertor have been sighted near the new 

woodland. 

Compartment 2 – Main Fields: - The area contains the football pitches, cricket 

pitch and main pavilion. The grassland is close mown to accommodate these sports. 


Open drainage ditches surround some of the outer pitches and mixed species 

hedgerows and trees are present around the outer boundary. The ditch along the 

north boundary contains Meadowsweet Filpendula ulmaria, the drainage pond 

Yellow Flag Iris Iris pseudacorus, and Lords and Ladies Arum maculatum are 

present along the boundaries. The butterflies Meadow brown Maniola jurtina and 

Speckled Wood Parage aegeria have also been noted. Mature Oak Quercus robur 

and Ash Fraxinus excelsior trees are present. The southern field contains some 

large poplar trees Populus species, an area of nettles and deadwood (sump and 

standing tree) which together form a good habitat for wildlife. There is potential in 

this area to leave more areas of wildflowers along the wide boundary margins, 

mowing only occasionally after the summer. 

Compartment 3 – Football stadium and bowling green: - Land area covered by 

the leases to Tonbridge Angels Football Club and Tonbridge Town Bowling Club. 

Public access is restricted to ticket holders and members. The area consists of a 

football stadium, pavilions, sports pitches, car park and bowling green. 

Compartment 4 – Poplar Meadow: - Field to the south of the site is leased to the 

Tonbridge Cricket Club and contains a cricket pitch and a sports pavilion. The area 

is maintained as close mown grassland to accommodate sports use and surrounded 

with mixed species hedgerows. A mature Field Maple Acer Campestre is located 

near the pavilion, and a mixed species boundary of mainly native plants containing 

Hawthorn, Crataegus monogyna, and Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa. 

10.0 – Constraint Factors And Swot Analysis 

Flood Plain – Being part of the River Medway flood plain, the Sportsground is 

subject to significant periodic flooding. Restrictions on building and changing levels 

also exist, because the site lies within the flood plain. 

Site Designations – TFS is designated within the Local Development Framework 

as Greenbelt and is Open Space to be Protected - Policy OS1. 

Sports Use – The majority of the site is set out and used on a seasonal basis for 

various sports for example football, and cricket. This means that in simple terms 

there needs to be large open ‘fields’ of closely mown grass, with limited scope for a 

more varied landscape, apart from around the field margins. 

Restrictive Covenants – The covenants that run with the land place restrictions on 

building on the land: 

• No tent, caravan, house on wheels, encampment hut or temporary dwelling 

(except for temporary agricultural workers) should be placed on the land. 

• No brickmaking or noisome or offensive trade or business or rubbish should 

be deposited that might cause a nuisance to adjacent landowners. 


Existing Leasehold/Agreements – The following clubs are long-term/ established 

leasehold users for parts of the site: 

• Tonbridge Angels Football Club – football stadia and surround 

• Tonbridge Bowls Club – bowls green buildings and surround 

• Tonbridge Cricket Club – Pavilion and Popular Field 

• KCC Landscape Services – maintenance building 


Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) – Summarising the 

information so far, Table 9 identifies the main strengths, weakness, opportunities 

and threats at TFS. 

Table 9: Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats 

Strengths Weakness 

• TSA partnership 

• High level of recent financial investment 

• Good relationship with clubs 

• High use of sports pitches by young people 

• Year round use 

• Skate and ballcourt 

• Easy access from town centre 

• Large equipped play area 

• Little pesticide use 

• Customer survey carried out with high 

levels of customer satisfaction 

• DDA audit and improvement plan 

• Highway signage in place 

• Attractive site with established trees and 

hedges 

• High levels of CCTV coverage 

• No public toilets 

• Dog fouling 

• No catering 

• Low attendance at User Panel 

• Demand for more junior football pitches 

• Limited marketing 

• No full surveys of flora and fauna 

• Limited shade in play area 

• Limited volunteer opportunities 

Opportunities 

• Enhanced Ranger presence 

• Developer contributions 

• Address the flooding issues – protect All 

Weather Training Area 

• New bylaws 

• Dog Control Orders 

• Increase shade from sun in play area 

• Improved drainage for playing pitches 

• Survey of wildlife and flora 

• Habitat creation to increase biodiversity 

• On site public toilets 

• Community engagement 

• New leaflet 

• Site enlargement 

• Refurbishment of the main Pavilion 

• KCC Cycle route link to the London Road 

Threats 

• Anti social behaviour 

• Financial constraints 

• Seasonal flooding (All Weather 

Training Area is vulnerable.) 


Conclusion – The above table identifies and number of possible areas for 

improvement and where possible these have been taken forward in the sections that 

follow within the ‘Aims’ for the site. 


Part 2 – Where do we want to get to 

This section of the plan describes our vision for TFS and 

sets out our management aims and objectives. 

As highlighted in Section 1 the Council intends 

managing the site in accordance with the GFA 

standards and as such our aims and objectives are 

reflective of the GFA criteria. 

11.0 Management Plan Aim & Objectives 

Management Plan Overall Aim – To provide a sportsground facility for the health 

and enjoyment of the local community. This is to be achieved through management 

focused on the following aims: 

• A well managed sportsground 

• A welcoming sportsground 

• A healthy, safe and secure sportsground 

• A clean and well maintained sportsground 

• A sustainable sportsground 

• A sportsground that addresses conservation and heritage 

• A sportsground that encourages community involvement 

• A well marketed and promoted sportsground 

Each ‘Aim’ is broken-down into component parts, called objectives, making it easier 

for us to achieve. Objectives underpin the aim, and describe more specifically how 

the people responsible for the site intend to achieve the aim. Each objective will 

focus on the specific issues indentified at the Sportsground and each objective may 

give rise to several projects and tasks: 

1. A well managed sportsground - Objectives: 

1a. To retain and enhance the existing budget for the site (including 

external funding opportunities) 

1b. To adopt new Bylaws for the site 

1c. Work towards the Green Flag Award standards at the sportsground 

1d. To investigate any opportunities for site enlargement 

1e. To keep sports pitch usage under review when compared to 

demand 

1f. To prepare an Annual Action Plan each year 


2. A welcoming sportsground - Objectives: 

2a. To provide sports opportunities for young people 

2b. To endeavour to provide equal access for all users improving 

access where appropriate 

2c. To enhance existing and provide new facilities as budgets allow 

3. A healthy, safe and secure sportsground - Objectives: 

3a. To provide on site patrol staff 

3b. To carry out regular health and safety inspections 

3c. To keep the site facilities safe and secure 

3d. To provide and maintain a wide range of play equipment and park 

furniture to meet customer needs 

3e. To meet all legal obligations and adopt good health and safety 

practices 

4. A clean and well maintained sportsground - Objectives: 

4a. To maintain high levels of site cleanliness 

4b. To reduce anti social and criminal damage 

4c. To ensure that the field drainage system is working 

4d. To keep buildings in good order 

4e. To keep sports and playground surfaces in good condition 

5. A sustainable sportsground - Objectives: 

5a. To reduce, reuse, or recycle waste 

5b. To reduce pesticide use where practical 

5c. To avoid the use of horticultural peat 

6. A sportsground that addresses conservation and heritage - 

Objectives: 

6a. To not plant ornamental non native plants at the southern end of the 

site 

6b. To protect field and water course margins for wildlife where practical 

6c. To maintain the hedgerow boundaries 

6d. To retain and enhance flora and fauna by habitat management, and 

planting 

6e. To consider biodiversity before changes are made or works carried 

out 

6f. Monitor and record wildlife and flora present in the Sportsground 

6g. To control pest species: plants/ animals such as Himalayan Balsam, 

Giant Hogweed, ragwort and rats 


7. A sportsground that encourages community involvement - 

Objectives: 

7a. To provide opportunities for healthy living 

7b. To engage the community in the management and development of 

the Sportsground 

7c. To allow a number of appropriate community events at the 

Sportsground, in liaison with the TSA. 

8. A well marketed and promoted sportsground - Objectives: 

8a. To improve marketing and promotion of the Sportsground to local 

people 

8b. To research our customers’ needs 


Part 3 – How will we get there 

This section sets out how we are going to achieve our aims 

and objectives. A Five Year Work Programme sets out longterm 

targets and Annual Action Plans, focusing on each year, 

will flow from this. 

12.0 Five Year Work Programme 

Each objective, identified earlier at 11.0, will require a range 

of Projects to achieve them and these are highlighted within the Five Year Work 

Programme at Table 10. 

Projects are specific areas of work that may require investigation, costing, 

identification of funding and in some cases several tasks to complete them. The 

feasibility stage of this process will ultimately determine if the project is 

implemented. 

The Programme indicates the Compartment in which specific projects will be applied 

and the estimated year they will be implemented. The Compartments are shown on 

the Master Plan (Appendix 2) and each Project has been linked to its 

corresponding objective. All projects have also been given years for implementation 

and a priority which is based around the Council’s objectives, and where funding is 

the limiting factor, these priorities will be used to determine which projects go ahead. 

As highlighted at Table 4 – Grounds Maintenance, regular maintenance tasks are 

specified within the Council’s GMC and due to the scale of the GMC it would be 

inappropriate to include this within this Plan. It is, therefore, recognised that as part 

of the management of the Sportsground the GMC will need to be implemented and 

monitored alongside this Plan. 

13.0 Annual Action Plans 

A more detailed one-year Action Plan will be drawn up on an annual basis and will 

be produced in accordance with the Five Year Work Programme. The Annual Action 

Plan contains details of what exactly is to be done, when and by whom. 

. 


Table 10: Five Year Work Programme 

Key: R= Revenue, C=Capital, G=Grant, S=Sponsorship (income), I=Income, K=in kind donation of time 

Objectives 

KEY 

Proposed 

Completed ̌ 

Project 

1f 

1. Annual Action Plan – Prepare 

Annual Action Plans prior to the 

commencement of each year. 

1a, 4d 2. Budget Control/Review – 

Manage expenditure in line with 

the agreed site budget. Prepare 

1c, 2a, 3c, 

4a, 4e, 5a, 

5b, 5c, 6c 

annual budget estimates. 

3. Grounds Maintenance – 

Implement and monitor the 

Council’s GMC. 

3e, 5a, 7c 4. Events – Encourage and 

support applications for appropriate 

events from recognised 

organisations and clubs. Consult 

the TSA on proposed events. 

Priority 

Compartment 

Expenditure / 

income 

Year 1 

2011 

Year 2 

2012 

Year 3 

2013 

Year 4 

2014 

Year 5 

2015 

 

1 All R 

1 All R 

1 1-2 R 

3 1 R 

8b 

5. Customer Survey – Carry out 

an on site customer survey to seek 

the views of visitors. 

1 All R 

 

1c, 2a, 2b, 6. Community Engagement – 1 All R 


Objectives 

KEY 

Proposed 

Completed ̌ 

Project 

7b, 7c Continue to investigate suitable 

methods for community 

engagement of Sportsground 

users. 

3a, 3c, 3e, 7. Ranger – Review the level of 

4a, 4b, 7b site based staff (Rangers). 

3b, 3c, 3e 8. Health and Safety – Carry out 

an annual formal site inspection 

and an annual review of risk 

assessments (including all clubs). 

Ensure that organisations using the 

site have current public liability 

insurance cover at an appropriate 

level. Act on any findings within the 

Report. 

3e 

9. Site Specific Risk 

Assessments – Develop a suite of 

site specific risk assessments. 

3b, 3e 10. Basic Tree surveys – Carry 

out basic tree inspections in line 

with the Tree Strategy and 

implement as appropriate. 

Priority 

Compartment 

Expenditure / 

income 

Year 1 

2011 

Year 2 

2012 

2 All R 

Year 3 

2013 

Year 4 

2014 

 

Year 5 

2015 

1 All R 

1 All R 

2 All R 

3b, 3e 11. Tree inspections – Carry out 

tree inspections in line with the 

2 All R 


Objectives 

KEY 

Proposed 

Completed ̌ 

Project 

Tree Strategy and implement as 

appropriate. 

1b, 3e 12. Bylaws – Investigate, develop 

and adopt new bylaws to cover the 


2b, 5a 13. Seating Provision – Review 

the current level of seating 

2b, 2c, 3c, 

3e 

2c, 3c, 4c, 

4e 

provision. 

14. Access Audit – Implement 

remaining actions where practical 

from the 2008 audit in 2011. Carry 

out a review of the 2008 audit with 

the Tonbridge and Malling Access 

Group in 2012. Then implement 

actions arising from the site 

specific audit. 

15. Land Drainage – Keep the 

land drainage systems in working 

order keeping drains and culverts 

unblocked. Consider flood 

protection measures where 

necessary. Dig out the drainage 

pond to improve drainage make 

this more attractive to wildlife. 

Priority 

Tonbridge Farm Sportsground Management Plan 2011-15 40 

Compartment 

Expenditure / 

income 

Year 1 

2011 

2 All R 

Year 2 

2012 

Year 3 

2013 

Year 4 

2014 

 

2 All S 

2 All K/ R 

 

Year 5 

2015 

 

1 All R 

2b, 7a, 7b, 16. Healthy Walks Programme – 3 All R

Objectives 

KEY 

Proposed 

Completed ̌ 

Project 

8a 

Consider developing the walks 

programme starting from the 

Sportsground perhaps utilising the 

nearby Public Rights of Way 

network, encouraging the 

involvement of volunteer walk 

leaders. 

8b 17. Feedback From Clubs – 

Investigate opportunities to seek 

feedback from user sports clubs 

6b, 6e, 6d, 

6f, 6g, 7b 

about pitch quality. 

18. Habitat Management – 

Commission a baseline survey of 

wildlife and flora to indentify key 

species present. Consider leaving 

uncut margins along some field 

boundaries1-2 metres wide, to 

increase biodiversity and planting 

wildflowers in these areas in liaison 

with the Kent Wildlife Trust and 

others. Avoid cutting hedges in the 

bird nesting season February-July. 

3e, 5b 19. Pesticide and chemical use – 

Investigate alternative pest, weed 

control methods and chemicals 

Priority 

Compartment 

Expenditure / 

income 

Year 1 

2011 

2 All R 

 

Year 2 

2012 

3 All R 

Year 3 

2013 

Year 4 

2014 

 

Year 5 

2015 

 

2 All R 


Objectives 

KEY 

Proposed 

Completed ̌ 

Project 

where appropriate and practical 

with the grounds contractors and 

others. 

3e, 4a 20. Review Dog Bin Provision – 

Review the current level of dog bin 

provision. 

2b, 8a 21. New Leaflet – Design and 

2c, 3e, 5a, 

8a 

produce a promotional site leaflet. 

22. Site Signage – Review the 

current site signage and 

replace/upgrade where 

appropriate. 

2a, 2b 23. Pitch Bookings – Encourage 

and promote the booking of sports 

facilities in accordance with agreed 

policies and tenancy agreements. 

1c, 1e, 1d, 

2a, 2b, 

6a, 6e, 6f, 

7b 

24. Tonbridge Sports 

Association – Attend regular TSA 

meetings, to seek views of users 

on how the site is managed and 

future improvements linked to 

demand. 

25. Monitor Wildlife – Record 

species visiting and present in the 

Sportsground and report the 

Priority 

Compartment 

Expenditure / 

income 

Year 1 

2011 

Year 2 

2012 

Year 3 

2013 

Year 4 

2014 

 

Year 5 

2015 

1 All 

3 All R 

3 All R 

2 All R 

1 All R/K 

3 All K 


Objectives 

KEY 

Proposed 

Completed ̌ 

Project 

findings to the Kent Biological 

Records Centre. Set up a 

monitoring programme, paying 

particular attention to any rare and 

protected species, and where 

possible record the location of 

sightings. Work with volunteers 

and other agencies like the Kent 

Wildlife Trust and use this 

information to inform the 

management of the habitats in the 


3e, 5b, 6g 26. Control of Pest Species – 

Keep pest species (non natives) 

and those classed in law as ‘pests’ 

under control for example: Giant 

Hogweed, Himalayan Balsam, 

rabbits, ragwort (Ragwort Control 

Plan), and rats. 

2b, 2c, 3b, 

3c, 3e, 4a, 

5a, 8b 

2c, 3b, 3c, 

3d, 5a, 8b 

27. Cafeteria Service – Explore 

opportunities for on-site catering 

facilities. 

28. Play Equipment Replacement 

– Replace play equipment and 

impact absorbing surfaces before 

Priority 

Compartment 

Expenditure / 

income 

Year 1 

2011 

Year 2 

2012 

Year 3 

2013 

Year 4 

2014 

 

Year 5 

2015 

2 All K 

2 1 I 

1 1 C 


Objectives 

KEY 

Proposed 

Completed ̌ 

Project 

they come to the end of their life, 

as required. Note: consider DDA 

provision when replacing 

equipment and surfacing. 

Priority 

Compartment 

Expenditure / 

income 

Year 1 

2011 

Year 2 

2012 

Year 3 

2013 

Year 4 

2014 

 

Year 5 

2015 

2a, 2b, 2c, 

5a 

1a,1d, 2b, 

2c 

5c, 6a, 6c, 

6d, 6e 

3d, 5a, 5c, 

6a 

29. Refurbishment of the main 

pavilion – Internal and external 

refurbishment of this pavilion. 

30. Site enlargement – Give 

consideration to site enlargement if 

the opportunity arises. 

31. Plant more trees and hedges 

– where space permits replace 

fences with hedgerows, and plant 

more trees. 

32. Shade in the play area - 

Consider options to improve shade 

in the play area. 

2b, 7a 33. Support the proposed new 

cycle route links to London Road 

and Wellend Road. 

1 1 C 

4 ALL C 

3 ALL R 

2 1 R 

3 1 C 


Part 4 – How will we know when we have arrived 

The final section looks at how we will track progress and how 

the Plan is updated. 

It is important to realise that a Management Plan is only a 

snap shot in time and may need periodic updating to keep it 

relevant. This may include alterations to reflect policy 

changes, new innovation, changes in resources or feedback 

from users and others. 

14.0 Green Flag Award 

The Plan has been written to meet the criteria for the GFA. Its appropriateness 

can be assessed against the outcome of any future application. 

15.0 Monitoring Progress 

Progress will also be monitored against each Annual Action Plan, at contractor 

meetings. 

16.0 Annual Management Plan Review 

In order to keep the plan relevant, prior to the start of each year, an annual 

review will be carried out. Much of the site description, policy and aims are 

unlikely to change from year to year, but the final sections of the plan are more 

dynamic and the whole plan will need reviewing and updating where necessary. 

The most important part of the review will be to look at the Five Year Work 

Programme and, from this, draw up the one-year Annual Action Plan for the 

coming year. 

17.0 End Of Plan Review 

Prior to the expiry of this Plan on 31 December 2015 a full review and rewrite will 

be carried out to develop a further Five Year Management Plan. 


List of Appendices 

Appendix 1 - Location Map 

Appendix 2 - Master Plan 

Appendix 3 - Access Audit 

Appendix 4 - Map of Legal Aspects 

Appendix 5 - Example Risk Assessments 

Appendix 6 - Asset List 

Appendix 7 - Chemicals used at TFS 

Appendix 8 - Species list for TFS 

Appendix 9 - Sportsground Budget 

Appendix 10 - Annual Action Plan 


Location Map: Tonbridge Farm 

Sportsground 

© Crown copyright and database rights 2011 

Ordnance Survey 100023300

TONBRIDGE FARM SPORTSGROUND AND PAVILION – ACCESS AUDIT 

IMPROVEMENT PLAN 

Inspected by: Chris Fox John Dicker, Duncan White, and members of the Tonbridge & Malling Access Group 

Date of site inspection: 24 June 2008 – updated in June 2010 Priorities 1=High, 5=Low 

Weather conditions: Sunny 

This assessment is based on the Fieldfare Trust’s guidelines and those of Wicksteed Leisure (for the play area) 

Issue Comment/Recommendation Cost (approximate) Priority 

1) Car 

Parking 

Comment 

A large area for parking divided into sections by trees and bollards, no 

specific disabled parking. Speed ramps and sleeping policemen present 

though are not clearly marked. 

Recommendations 

1. The below items are all to be considered as part of the Capital Scheme 

for the Sportsground. 

2. Designated disabled parking bays to be marked out with road paint. 

3. The bollards in the car park need marking with reflective material, to aid 

visibility. 

4. The speed ramps need clearly marking to avoid them being found 

unexpectedly. Mark out with road paint. 

£300 

£500 

£500 

1 

2 

1 

2) Paths Comment 

Many hard-standing paths are provided within the park and some are in need 

of remedial works. 

Recommendation 

1. Identify any pot holes and repair as required. 

2. Uneven paving slabs and a raised drain cover by the main entrance to 

the pavilion need addressing. 

3. Two areas near the paths with unguarded steep drops into ditches 

where ditches cross over paths need preventative measures to stop 

this . 

£500-1000 

£500 

£500 

1 

1 

2

3) Width restrictions Comment 

Vegetation like brambles growing over paths can cause an obstruction to 

paths. 


Keep paths and gates clear of overhanging vegetation as required. No additional cost 1 

4) Pavilion Comment: 

The pavilion was opened in 1984, and was not therefore built to the current 

disable access standards. The now front of the building was intended to be 

the back of the building, hence some of the facilities like entrance, and toilets 

are now located at the rear of the building. The approach to the building was 

felt to be uninviting, with no signage, or indication that this was a public 

building. Inside the building the walls were exposed brick with a dark floor tile, 

light levels were generally low. There are male and female toilets and a 

separate disabled toilet within the building but there is no disabled/ unisex 

changing area. 


1. All the below items are to be considered within a broader review of 

the Building. 

2. Lighting in particular within the entrance lobby was poor, low light 

levels needed improvement, as this makes the building difficult to use. 

3. Directional signage inside the building was very limited and in some 

cases out of date and need replacement, this makes orientation within 

the building difficult for those unfamiliar with the building. 

4. Consider highlighting the bottom of the wall and floor tiles in 

contrasting colour to make this more visible. 

5. Consider highlighting the door surrounds internally and externally in 

lighter contrasting colour to make them more visible. 

6. Subject to demand consider converting one changing room into a 

unisex/ disabled changing area with wet room and toilet. 

Costs to be considered as 

part of the broader 

building review. 

1 

2 

1 

1 

2 

5) Toilets Comment 

A separate disabled toilet is provided within the pavilion but located at the 

rear of the building, not clearly sign posted and the pavilion is rarely open.

(see notes on the pavilion) The nearest accessible toilet to the site is at 

Tonbridge Cemetery which is approximately 1000 meters (just over half a 

mile) from the site. (The Ridgeway toilets have no disabled toilets.) The 

bowling green and Tonbridge Angels Football Club were not visited on this 

occasion but are assumed to have their own toilet facilities open to users of 

those facilities only. 


1. Consider options for providing toilets at the Sportsground. Within the 

broader review of the building. Perhaps consider redesign of the layout of the 

pavilion, swapping the disabled toilet at the rear of the building with the 

existing first aid room at the front of the building and opening this part of the 

building for public access to the toilet. If this cannot be achieved look at other 

options. 

6) Signs outdoors Comment 

There is one main sign and four others in the children’s play area, limited 

directional signage. 


Consider installing finger post signage towards the main features in the 

sportsground like Angels Football Club, Bowling Green, and pavilion, 

consider with the Capital Scheme for the Sportsground. 

7) Places to rest The site has a limited number of seats (none with arm rests) and benches. 

The sportsground is included in the sponsored seat leaflet. 


1. More seating to be considered as part of the Capital Scheme for the 


2. New seating should be installed as required. It is recommended that 

new seats are set near to the main paths with hard surfaces leading 

to them and aim to be no more than 200 metres apart. 

3. Promote sponsored seat leaflet 

8) View points On some pitches near the pavilion, there are purpose-made car parking 

spaces available at the pitch side to view matches from your car. Permission 

is required to use these spaces as access is via a locked gate. 

Costs initially to be 

considered as part of the 

broader building review, if 

this cannot be achieved 

other options to be 

considered. 

1 

£1.5K 2 

£2000 

1 

£650 per seat 

2 

No additional cost 

2


Under the DDA Act, less able people should not be made to feel they 

need special permission to live their lives. Recommend a RADAR key 

lock for this gate to make it more accessible and remove the need to ask 

permission. 

£10 1 

9) Bowls Club & 

Tonbridge Angels 

Football Club 

These facilities are leased by Tonbridge Bowling Club and Tonbridge Angels 

Football Club and were not inspected on this occasion. 

- - 

10) Web site No access information provided. 


Update the web site and include information on access. No additional cost - 

11) Promotional 

literature 

At present there is very limited promotional literature published regarding the 



Ensure that any new and amended published information about this site 

considers accessibility. 

No additional cost - 

12) Children’s Play 

Area 

Key issues arising from a detailed inspection are as follows: 


1. The below items are to be considered as part of the Capital Scheme 

for the Sportsground and also as part of the Capital Renewals. 

2. Install more paths between the play equipment - minimum width of 

1200mm 

3. See separate inspection report (Annex 1) which are also 

recommendations: 

The play area was refurbished in 2009 and consideration was given to 

DDA. 

Total play area scheme 

cost £70K 

1

PLAYGROUND CHECK LIST FOR DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ACT COMPLIANCE 

Annex to DDA Audit 

Annex 1 

Playground Site: 


Date of Inspection: 24 June 2008 

Name of Inspector: 

Position 

Chris Fox 

Leisure Services Officer 

Entrance/Gates 

OK 

Action 

Required 

(a) 

Is the surface of at least one entrance into the play area level, firm 

and stable and of tarmac or concrete construction 

Comments: Tarmac surfaces. 

✔ 

(b) Does the gate have a minimum clearance width of at least 1m 

Comments: Yes. ✔ 

(c) 

(d) 

Is the entrance free of gullies, drains and protrusions and has no 

overhanging plants or trees 

Comments: None. 

Is the entrance susceptible to having standing water problems 

Comments: Puddles have caused problems at one entrance in 

past. 

✔ 

✔ 

(e) 

(f) 

(g) 

If there is a dog grid at the entrance, is it of the correct design and 

is it installed correctly, for example the right way round (Incorrect 

installations can cause potential wheelchair, walking stick and pram 

traps). 


Do users of the play area need to cross over extensive grassed 

areas to get to the entrance 

Comments: No. 

What action needs to be taken to improve entrance/gates into the 

play area to ensure children and their parents/carers of all abilities 

can gain access 


✔ 

✔ 

✔

Paths and Routes within Play Area 

OK 

Action 

Required 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

Is there a route within the play area which is firm and stable, of 

tarmac or concrete construction and provides access to each of the 

items of play and other facilities 

Comments: Improvements to path network. Completed as part 

of the play area refurbishment in 2009. 

Is there a clear minimum path width throughout the route of at least 

1.2m 

Comments: Some paths are only 1m wide. Completed as part 


Is the route free of gullies, drains and protrusions and has no 

overhanging plants or trees 

Comments|: Yes. 

Is any part of the route susceptible to having standing water 

problems 

Comments: Unknown. 

✔ 

✔ 

✔ 

(e) 

(f) 

(g) 

Are there steps within the route that cannot be avoided 

Comments: None. ✔ 

Are there warning signs on the surface of unavoidable steps, for 

example painted step edges and/or tactile surfacing to the first and 

top step 

Comments: N/A. 

Are there continuous support handrails alongside unavoidable 

steps, with a maximum external diameter grasp of 45mm and 

50mm Do they extend 300mm beyond the top and bottom step 

and do they curve downwards and under where the rail finishes 

Comments: N/A. 

✔ 

✔ 

(h) 

(i) 

Is there room for a straight ramp to be installed as an alternative to 

unavoidable steps, with a gradient of 1:15 and a minimum width of 

1.2m 

Comments: N/A 

What action needs to be taken to improve paths and routes around 

the play area to ensure children and their parents/carers of all 

abilities have access to all appropriate play equipment and other 

facilities 

Comments: Wider and more paths required. Completed as part 


✔ 

✔

Signage/Warnings 

OK 

Action 

Required 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

Are there signs within the play area that are at a height that can be 

read by all play area users, including people in wheelchairs 

Comments: One is missing. Replaced as part of the play area 

refurbishment in 2009. 

Do the signs make it clear that all children of all abilities are 

welcome to use the play facilities 

Comments: Yes. 

Are the signs in written as well as in a graphical or pictorial format 

Comments: No, consider when signs are replaced. Replaced as 

part of the play area refurbishment in 2009. 

✔ 

✔ 

✔ 

(d) 

(e) 

Are the signs tactile and/or audible 

Comments: No, consider when signs are replaced. ✔ 

Are the signs clear, with good colour definition 

Comments: No, consider when signs are replaced. Replaced as 

part of the play area refurbishment in 2009. 

✔ 

(f) 

(g) 

Are there warning signs in appropriate places, allowing for children 

and carers with limited vision For example, swing barriers painted 

in a vibrant colour such as yellow, surface variations where a kerb 

is level with a pathway, at safe crossing points, etc 

Comments: No swing barriers in place. Installed barriers as part 


What action needs to be taken to ensure signage is accessible to 

children and their carers of all abilities and to improve signals to 

identify routes and any potential dangers 

Comments: Improve graphics and tactile elements when signs 

are replaced. 

✔ 

✔

Play Equipment 

Note: ‘Like or similar’ play experiences should be available to all site users, for example if there are 

slides, rockers and roundabouts in a play area, then all users should be able to have sliding, rocking and 

rotating experiences, even if some users cannot access all play items or features. 

For example, a disabled child may not be able to play on a seesaw because of body support problems, but 

would be able to have a similar rocking experience on a sit-in spring mobile. 

(a) 

Are the following play experiences currently available within the play area 

Swinging ✔ Sliding ✔ 

Rocking ✔ Rotating ✔ 

Climbing/Agility ✔ Balancing ✔ 

Crawling 

Viewing 

Counting ✔ Touching ✔ 

Social Play 

✔ 

(b) 

Are the following play experiences currently accessible by children of all abilities 

Swinging ✔ Sliding 

Rocking ✔ Rotating 

Climbing/Agility ✔ Balancing 

Crawling Viewing ✔ 

Counting ✔ Touching 

Social Play 

✔ 

(c) 

What action needs to be taken to allow accessibility by children of all disabilities to all types of play 

experiences 

Comments: Improve accessibility when installing new equipment is installed. Provide more 

low level equipment for easy access with balancing, rocking, climbing and crawling activities. 

Consider as part of the refurbishment in 2009.

Furniture 

OK 

Action 

Required 

(a) 

(b) 

Can the seating within the play area be accessed by children and 

their parents/carers of all abilities 

Comments: Install seats with backs and arms. 

Can picnic tables be accessed by children and their parents/carers 

of all abilities 

Comments: Only provided by ball court, more could be provided 

in the junior and toddler areas of the play area. Completed as part 


✔ 

✔ 

This checklist is designed to provide practical help to playground owners and/ or operators 

when they are deciding what steps they need to take to ensure their play areas meet the 

requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. 

This should not be regarded as a definitive checklist. 

The checklist is based on the Wicksteed Leisure ‘A Guide to the Disability Discrimination Act 

1995’ published in 2003.

This drawing is for illustration 

purposes only, always refer to the 

legal documents for exact areas. 

© Crown copyright and 

database rights 

2011Ordnance Survey 

100023300 

Legend 

Title: Management Plan for 


Sheet title: Map of legal 

aspects 

Site Boundary 

Lease to Tonbridge 

Angels Football Club 


Bowls Club 

Drawn By CF 

Date 07/08/10 

Scale Not to Scale 

N 


Cricket Club

Example Site Risk Assessment 

(NB many more Risk Assessments are available) 

RISK ASSESSMENT FOR: 

Children’s Play area at Tonbridge 

Farm Sportsground 

ASSESSORS NAME AND SIGNATURE 

Chris Fox 

(S) SEVERITY X 

(L) LIKELIHOOD = 

(RR) RISK RATING 

DEPARTMENT: 

Leisure Services 

DATE OF INITIAL 

ASSESSMENT: 

16/12/99 

REVIEW DATE: 

April 2011 

No. ACTIVITY/ 

PROCESS/ 

OPERATION 

HAZARDS AND 

PERSONS 

AFFECTED 

RISK 

RATING 

EXISTING 

CONTROL 

MEASURES 

RISK RATING 

ADDITIONAL CONTROL 

MEASURES (ACM) 

REQUIRED 

DATE 

OF ACM 

IN 

PLACE 

1 Children’s play 

equipment and 

the surrounding 

Falls from the play 

equipment leading to 

head and limb injuries. 

S L RR 

4 3 12 The play 

equipment 

provided 

S L RR 

4 1 4 

1 

08/04/11

areas including 

fencing etc. 

2 As above Slips, trips and falls 

on the play surfaces. 

3 As above Collisions with the 

equipment leading to 

head and limb injuries. 

conforms to the 

current British 

(EN) Standards 

Impact 

Absorbing 

Surfaces are 

installed in all 

areas in 

accordance with 

the current British 

(EN) Standards 

All work to 

equipment and 

safety surfacing 

must comply with 

the requirements 

of BS)EN) 1176 

and 1177 

1 2 2 As above. 1 1 1 

4 4 As above in 1, 

plus the play area 

layout and any 

guards required 

is considered 

before installing 

new equipment. 

4 3 12 

2 

08/04/11

4 As above Entrapment injuries 

caused by catching 

fingers etc in the 

equipment. 

4 4 16 Weekly and 

Annual safety 

inspections 

undertaken by 

trained 

Registered 

Inspectors of 

equipment are 

carried out and 

recorded by a 

competent 

contractor. 

Equipment is 

either repaired 

at the time or 

taken out of 

service until full 

repairs can be 

undertaken. 

3 

4 3 12 

08/04/11

5 As above Illnesses arising from 

contact with dog 

faeces which could 

lead to blindness. 

6 As above Dog bites from unruly 

or unrestrained dogs. 

7 As above Cuts from sharp 

edges on equipment 

or glass and other 

sharps discarded 

carelessly or wilfully in 

4 3 12 Areas are 

suitably fenced 

and gated in 

accordance with 

guidance issued 

by RoSPA/CIEH 

to reduce access 

by dogs 

Dogs which are 

excluded from the 

play area by 

signs and the law 

Suitable 

receptacles for 

litter and dog 

excreta are 

provided nearby. 

These are 

emptied monthly 

or add hoc if full. 

3 3 9 As above dogs 

excluded. 

4 3 12 Ranger inspects 

the site and 

removes any 

likely obstructions 

and reports 

4 

4 2 8 

3 2 6 

4 2 8 

08/04/11

the play area. these. 

Weekly sweep 

area is 

undertaken and 

litter is removed. 

8 As above Chemical usage in 

the play area (see 

chemical usage RA) 

injury either though 

direct contact during 

the operation or latent 

contact with residues. 

3 3 9 Grounds 

maintenance is 

carried out 

without recourse 

to the use of toxic 

chemicals. 

5 

3 1 3 

08/04/11


Asset list 

Asset Supplier No Compartment 

All weather Trevor May Contractors 1 1 

training area Ltd 

Car park N/A 1 1 

CCTV 

Not stated for security 

reasons 

Dog waste bins Glasdon UK Ltd 8 Various 

Field gates Various makes 4 2 

Flood lighting all Lightmain Company Ltd 1 2 

weather training 

area & skate park 

Seats 

Streetmaster Ltd and 9 1 & 2 

others 

Picnic tables Park Leisure Ltd and 6 1 

others 

Litter bins Streetmaster Ltd 19 1 & 2 

Play equipment Wicksteed Leisure Ltd, 22 1 

SMP Ltd, Recreational 

Supply Services Ltd 

items 

Skate equipment 7 items 1 

Teen shelter Monster Play Systems 1 1 

Kick about pitch 1 1 

Overhead barrier 1 1 

Self closing gates Medway Galvanising 5 1 

Company Ltd 

Signs Various 10 1 & 2 

Sign Entrance Weddle and Co 1 1 

Pavilions N/A 3 3 & 4 

Recycling area - 1 1 

Cycle stands 5 1 

3 Valleys Access Fearn Truck Bodies Ltd 1 1 

Barrier 

Fencing Various makers Post and 2 

rail and 

knee rail 

Paths Tarmac 1 & 2

List of Chemicals used at TFS 

Location Control Required Trade Name Chemical Active 

ingredient 

ARTIFICIAL SURFACE Algae, Moss and Lichen 

Control 

BOWLS GREEN 

CRICKET SQUARE / 

OUTFIELD 

Algae, Moss and Lichen 

Control 

Qualgex Dialkyldimethyl 

Ammonium Chloride 

9.9% w/w + Citric Acid + 

Penetrant. 

Armillatox polyalkyl phenolic types 

(soap) 

1 

Application Time 

Growing Season 


Total Weed Control Gallup Hi-Aktiv Amenity Glyphosate Growing Season 


Selective Weed Control Greenor 40g fluroxypyr, 20g 

clopyralid and 200g 

MCPA per Litre 

Selective Weed Control Junction Florasulam and 2,4-D Growing Season 

Fungicide Mascot Contact Chlorothalonil Year Round 

Fungicide Masalon 45g/litre myclobutanil Year Round 

Worm Control Barclay Ringer Carbendazim As Required 

Moss Control Armillatox polyalkyl phenolic types 

(soap) 

Moss Control Lawn Sand Ferrous Sulphate plus 

Ammonium Sulphate 


As Required 

Moss Control Mascot Soluble Iron Ferrous Sulphate As Required 







Masalon 45g/litre myclobutanil Year Round 


08/04/11


ingredient 

GENERAL GRASS 

AREAS 

HARD SURFACES 


(soap) 




Moss Control 






Selective Weed Control Finale Glufosinate ammonium Growing Season 


Fungicide Masalon 45g/litre myclobutanil Year Round 



(soap) 



Spot Weed (i.e. Thistle) Gallup Hi-Aktiv Amenity Glyphosate Growing Season 

Brushwood Timbrel 480g Triclopyr per Litre Growing Season 

Brushwood 


Control 


Control 

Qualgex Dialkyldimethyl 

Ammonium Chloride 

9.9% w/w + Citric Acid + 

Penetrant. 

Armillatox polyalkyl phenolic types 

(soap) 



Total Weed Control Gallup Hi-Aktiv Amenity Glyphosate Growing Season 

Total Weed Control Discman CDA Biograde Glyphosate Growing Season 

Total Residual Weed Nomix Dual Glyphosate Growing Season 

2 

08/04/11


ingredient 

SAND PIT 

LITTER BINS 

SIGNS / BENCHES 


Control Sulfosulfuron 

Cleaning Liquid Bleach Sodium Hypocloride As Required 

Disinfectant General Disinfectant As Required 

Cleaner / Degreaser Lifeguard Detergent Detergent As Required 

NB. The principle of using the least harmful chemical is applied. Alterative methods of pest control have been considered but are not viable at this 

time, but will remain under review. 

3 

08/04/11

Tonbridge Farm Sportsground Management Plan 2011-2015 

Sportsground Species Lists 

Birds 

Common name 

Species name in Latin 

Importance 

Carrion Crow 

Green Woodpecker 

Pied Wagtail 

Wood pigeon 

Corvus corone corone 

Picus viridis 

Motacilla alba 

Columba livia 

International/ 

European 

National 

Regional 

/ Local 

Plants 

Common name 


Importance 

Acacia 

Apple 

Ash 

Beech 

Beech 

Black popular 

Blackthorn 

Broad leaved dock 

Brooklime 

Bramble 

Buttercup 

Cherry 

Crab apple 

Creeping thistle 

Common Fleabane 

Common Mallow 

Common nettle 

Creeping cinquefoil 

Dandelion 

Dog rose 

Dogwood 

Dogwood 

Elder 

English Oak 

Field Maple 

Great willow herb 

Guelder rose 

Hazel 

Hawthorn 

Acacia species 

Malus sylvestris 

Fraxinus excelsior 

Fagus sylvatica 

Fagus sylvatica Purpurea 

Populus x canadensis 

Prunus spinosa 

Rumex obtusifolius 

Veronica beccabunga 

Rubus fruiticosus agg 

Runculus repans 

Prunus avuim 

Malus speices 

Cirsium arvense 

Pulicaria dysenterica 

Malva sylvestris 

Urtica dioica 

Potentillia palustris 

Traxaxacum officinale 

Rosa canina 

Cornus sanguinea 

Cornus alba 

Sambucus nigra 

Quercus robur 

Acer campestre 

Epilobium hirsutum 

Viburnum opulus 

Corylus avellana 

Crataegus monogyna 


European 

National 

Regional 

/ Local

Himalayan balsam 

Hogweed 

Honey suckle 

Hornbeam 

Horse chestnut 

Ivy 

Lords and ladies 

Mare’s Tail 

Meadowsweet 

Norway Maple 

Pine species 

Poplar 

Ragwort 

Ramanas Rose 

Redshank 

Red clover 

Rowan 

Sallow 

Selfheal 

Small leaved lime 

Smooth Hawks beard 

Smooth sow thistle 

Sycamore 

Toad rush 

Turfed vetch 

Wayfaring Tree 

White dead nettle 

White popular 

Whitebeam 

White clover 

White willow 

Wood avens 

Woody nightshade 

Yallow 

Yellow flag iris 

Impatiens balsamifera 

Heracleum sphondylium 

Lonicera periclymenum 

Carpinus betulus 

Aesculus hipocastanum 

Hedra helix 

Arum maculatum 

Hippuris vulgaris 

Filpendula ulmaria 

Acer platanoides cultivars 

Pinus species 

Populus spp. 

Senecio jacobaea 

Rosa rugosa 

Polygonum persicaria 

Trifolium pratense 

Sorbus aucuparia 

Salix caprea 

Prunella vulgaris 

Tilea cordata 

Crepis cappillaris 

Sonchus oleraceus 

Acer pseudoplatanus 

Juncus bufonis 

Vica cracca 

Viburnum lantana 

Lamium album 

Populus alba 

Sorbus aria 

Trifolium repens 

Salix alba 

Geum avens 

Solanum dulcamara 

Achillea millefolium 

Iris pseudacorus 

Invertebrates 

Common name 


Importance 

Emperor dragonfly Anax impertor 

Large white butterfly Pieris brassicae 

Meadow brown butterfly Maniola jurtina 

Roman snail 

Helix pomata 

Speckled wood butterfly Parage aegeria 


European 

National 

Regional 

/ Local 

Mammals 

None noted.

Amphibians & Reptiles 

None noted, but the site has some potential with ditches and a small pond. 

Acronyms used in the text 

BAP = Biodiversity Action Plan 

† = Rare as a breeding bird 

Grading (significance) 

High *** 

Medium ** 

Low *


Revenue Budget 2010/2011 

2010/11 Notes 

Estimate 

EXPENDITURE £ 

Salaries & oncosts 7,059 Officer time 

Wardening 4,000 

Building repairs expenditure 16,050 

Electricity charges 4,349 

Water charges 3,296 

Maintenance of grounds 58,152 Grounds maintenance 

and other contract 

costs 

Information technology 97 Central office costs 

Central salaries & admin 1529 allocated over all 

Departmental admin 3,034 Council facilities 

Capital charges 76,000 

Total expenditure 173,566 

INCOME 

Rights over water/ land 6,600 Rents 

Miscellaneous concessions 0 

Sports pitch hire & casual sport use 48,344 Football, Cricket, all 

weather training area 

Total income 54,944 

Net Expenditure 118,622 

NB. These figures are the ‘baseline costs’ at the start of the management plan. As 

Tonbridge Farm Sportsground budgets are not broken down specifically within the Budget 

Book the above costs are based on our experience. Income from sports is paid directly to 

the LSBU.


Annual Action Plan Year 1 (2011) 

In accordance with the Tonbridge Farm Sportsground Management Plan 2011/15 – this document outlines the various tasks that are 

expected to take place over the 12 month period. Like all working documents it must be recognised that weather, seasonal changes and 

other factors can all have an impact on the programme. 

The Green Flag Criteria are: Key 

1 A Welcoming Place Proposed month 

2 Healthy Safe and Secure CLO Chief Leisure Officer 

3 Clean and Well Maintained CPM Community Partnerships Manager 

4 Sustainable LSO Leisure Services Officer 

5 Conservation and Heritage SDO Sports Development Officer 

6 Community Involvement SLSO Senior Leisure Services Officer 

7 Marketing LSMD Leisure Services Manager Development 

8 Management LSMO Leisure Services Manager Outdoor 

WMO Waste Management Officer 

Cross reference to 

the Five Year 

Work Programme 

Detailed description of action 

to be carried out in 2011 

including what, where, and 

who is carrying out the action 

Reference to objective currently highlighted in 

the 2011 - 2015 Management Plan. 

Timeframe for 

the work 

J=January etc. 

Project Ref Project Specific Tasks Month 

Ref 

1

Project 

Ref 

Project Specific Tasks 

1 Annual Action Plan LSO to create next Annual Action Plan to 

incorporate all key actions identified for the 

relevant year. 

2 Budget Control SPO to manage budget and prepare budget 

estimates for the next financial year and monitor 

expenditure. 

3 Grounds Maintenance 

and other contracts 

SPO to monitor the progress within the Grounds 

Maintenance Contract works. 

4 Event Management SPO to encourage and support events 

applications for appropriate events. 

5 Community Survey SPO to instruct consultant to carry out a Market 

Survey of users. 

6 Community Involvement SPO and SLSO to arrange six -monthly meetings 

with User Panel or consider other community 

groups to attend as alternatives. 

8 Health and Safety 

Annual health and safety report for the site 

carried out by the TM Health and Safety Officer, 

with SPO present. (Including checks of clubs 

insurance cover.) Act on findings of the report. 

SPO to commission a consultant to carry out an 

annual independent health and safety written 

inspection of the children’s play area and any 

indentified faults to be acted upon. 

Month 

J F M A M J J A S O N D 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

Project 

Ref 


9 Site Specific Risk 

Assessments 

SPO to develop a suite of site specific risk 

assessments. 

10 Tree Surveys Follow-up work on the trees noted in the 

inspection report – SPO to seek quotes and 

instruct tree surgery as required, working on the 

highest priority trees first, take advice on bat 

roosts as required. 

12 Bylaws LSMO and SPO to investigate and adopt Bylaws 

as appropriate for the site. 

14 Access Audit SPO to implement the findings of the DDA audit 

as funding allows in accordance with the 

priorities. 

15 Land Drainage SPO to assess and keep field drainage systems 

16 Healthy Walks 

Programme 

river/ ditch channels in good working order as far 

as reasonably practical. 

SPO and CPM to consider the development of a 

Healthy Walks Programme starting from the 

Sportsground utilising the nearby Public rights of 

Way network and volunteer walk leaders. 

17 Feedback From Clubs Investigate opportunities to seek feedback from 

users of the sportsground about pitch quality. 

19 Pesticide and Chemical 

Use 

SPO and GMC and others to investigate 

alternative pest control methods including the use 

of the least harmful pesticide where practical. 

Month 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

Project 

Ref 


20 Review Dog Bin 

Provision 

SPO with WMO to review the level of provision its 

effectiveness and the consider options for 

changes. 

21 New Leaflet LSO with SPO to design and produce a 

promotional site leaflet. 

22 Signage SPO to inspect the site and consider replacement 

or new signage if felt necessary. 

23 Pitch bookings SPO and General Manager Angel Leisure Centre 

to encourage and promote the booking of sports 

facilities in accordance with the agreed policies 

and tenancy agreements. 

24 Tonbridge Sports 

Association 

SPO, SDO, LSMD, LSMO and CLO to attend 

regular TSA meetings, to seek views of users on 

how the site is managed and future 

improvements linked to demand. 

26 Control of Pest Species SPO to monitor and keep pest species under 

control within the Sportsground. 

29 Refurbishment of the 

Pavilion 

General Manager Angel Leisure Centre to 

implement refurbishment of the pavilion. 

30 Site Enlargement SPO to give consideration to site enlargement if 

the opportunity arises. 

31 Plant More Hedgerows SPO to arrange planting of more trees and 

hedges where space permits. 

Month 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

Tonbridge Farm Sportsground - Tonbridge and Malling Borough ...

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