Accessible and Flood Resilient Access, Pelsall Cricket and Sports Club, Walsall

This is a project to improve drainage and re-surface the driveway and car park at Pelsall Cricket and Sports Club. Currently, the club’s accessibility and flood resilience are a problem. The driveway is aggregate
surfaced, potholed, and has no drainage. This has resulted in heavy spells of rain flooding the
clubhouse and resulting in being forced to temporarily close the building. The driveway and
car park are extremely difficult to navigate for elderly users, especially those with walking aids and it is inaccessible to wheelchair users. This project will install drainage at the front of the
building and re-surface the driveway and carpark with a tarmac surface. Pavements with dropped kerbs will be installed so that there can be safe access to the club and wheelchair friendly. Marked disability parking spots will be created.

The club is open all year round, serving a wide range of community groups on a weekly basis along with hosting live music every Friday. It supports eleven cricket teams, comprising over 120 junior and senior teams, including two South Asian teams, and attracts over 250 people every week. The cricket club also enjoys strong community support, drawing over 100 spectators every Saturday, particularly families and the elderly.

Located in an area of significant deprivation, ranking in the bottom 20% nationally for income, health, and child and elderly deprivation, the affordable facilities and services are crucial for the physical and mental well-being of the local community. With the recent closure of two social venues and the disbanding of the local football club, Pelsall Villa FC, the club has become even more vital to the community. In both 2022 and 2023 it was temporarily closed due to flooding. During these closures the community, sporting and social users could not access the facilities. To ensure the club can continue to provide this essential support, it must enhance accessibility and flood resilience through this project, safeguarding the facility from potential future closures and ensuring it remains accessible to those with mobility challenges.