Rural Needs Impact Assessment: Cherryvale Playing Fields works to Pitch 1

Published in May 2023

Contents

Section 1 - Defining the activity subject to Section 1(1) of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016

1A. Name of public authority

Belfast City Council

1B. Please provide a short title, which describes the activity being undertaken by the public authority that is subject to the Section 1(1) of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016.

Cherryvale Playing Fields works to Pitch 1

1C. Please indicate which category the activity specified in Section 1B relates to.

Belfast City Council's activity relates to implementing a plan.

1D. Please provide the official title (if any) of the policy, strategy, plan for public service document or initiative relating to the category indicated in Section 1C.

Cherryvale Playing Fields works to Pitch 1

1E. Please provide details of the aims or objectives of the policy, strategy, plan or public service.

The project involves erection of ball stop nets, spectator fencing and a path at Pitch 1, Cherryvale Playing Fields.

Pitch 1 is used daily for Gaelic football, camogie and hurling. As the pitch lies adjacent to a children’s playground, there are safety concerns of a ball causing serious injury to a child or member of the public using the playground or playing fields. 

Furthermore, with unrestricted access to pitch 1, BCC has received reports of uncontrolled dogs frightening users, dogs digging holes on the pitch and dog fouling. 

The project aims to:

• increase health and safety of the area by minimising the risk of injury to children, parents, carers and the general public in the adjacent playground and playing fields;
• enhance enjoyment of sport by preventing unrestrained dogs disrupting training sessions, games and frightening users;
• improve the condition of the pitch by preventing dogs digging up the playing fields; and
• create opportunities to improve health and wellbeing by providing an accessible path around the eastern perimeter of the pitch suitable for walkers, buggies and wheelchair users. 

Section 2 – Understanding the impact of the policy, strategy, plan or public service

2A. Is the policy, strategy, plan or public service likely to impact on people in rural areas?

No

No. If the response is 'No', go to Section 2E.

2B. Please explain how the policy, strategy, plan or public service is likely to impact on people in rural areas.

This is not applicable.

2C. If the policy, strategy, plan or public service is likely to impact on people in rural areas differently from people in urban areas, please explain how it is likely to impact on people in rural areas differently.

This is not applicable.

2D. Please indicate which rural policy areas the policy, strategy, plan or public service is likely to primarily impact on.

If the response to Section 2A was 'Yes', go to Section 3A.

2E. Please explain why the policy, strategy, plan or public service is not likely to impact on people in rural areas.

The project involves erection of ball stop nets, spectator fencing and a path at Pitch 1, Cherryvale Playing Fields which is located in an urban area. The nature and scale of the works are unlikely to attract new users to the playing fields beyond the existing urban catchment area.

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Section 3 – Identifying the social and economic needs of persons in rural areas

3A. Has the public authority taken steps to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas that are relevant to the policy, strategy, plan or public service?

Yes
No   

No. If the response is 'No', go to Section 3E.

3B. Please indicate which methods or information sources were used by the public authority to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas.

3C. Please provide details of the methods and information sources used to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas including relevant dates, names of organisations, titles of publications, website references, details of surveys or consultations undertaken. 

This is not applicable.

3D. Please provide details of the social and economic needs of people in rural areas which have been identified by the public authority.

This is not applicable.

If the response to Section 3A was 'Yes', go to Section 4A.

3E. Please explain why no steps were taken by the public authority to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas.

The project involves erection of ball stop nets, spectator fencing and a path at Pitch 1, Cherryvale Playing Fields which is located in an urban area. While the pitch will be accessible to all, the scale of the works are unlikely to attract people beyond the existing urban catchment area.

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Section 4 – Considering the social and economic needs of persons in rural areas

4A. Please provide details of the issues considered in relation to the social and economic needs of people in rural areas.

No impact.

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Section 5 – Influencing the policy, strategy, plan or public service

5A. Has the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the policy, strategy or plan, or the design or delivery of the public service, been influenced by the rural needs identified?

Yes
No

No. If the response is 'No', go to Section 5C.

5B. Please explain how the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the policy, strategy or plan, or the design or delivery of the public service, has been influenced by the rural needs identified?

This is not applicable.

If the response to Section 5A was 'Yes', go to Section 6A.

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5C. Please explain why the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the policy, strategy or plan, or the design or the delivery of the public service, has not been influenced by the rural needs identified.

No rural needs identified.

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Section 6 – Documenting and recording

6A. Please tick to confirm that the RNIA template will be retained by the public authority and relevant information on Section 1 activity compiled in accordance with paragraph 6.7 of the guidance.

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