Unfortunately the University are now looking to charge us for the use of pitches for the lunchtime Departmental League. Below is a copy of the email sent out by Roger Peabody, League Secretary:

Dear All

Re: STV to charge us for use of the astro pitches from October 2006.

Catherine Evans, the Sports Facilities Development Officer, has informed me that the STV intends to start charging us for use of the astro pitches from October this year. See below for the full text of two emails I have received, which explains the rationale for this change in policy.

I don't know whether there is anything we can do about this? If we cannot overturn this policy change, then we will need to decide whether we wish to keep the league going, and if so, how to run the League in the future. The cost per pitch for an hour will be about £26 (i.e. just under £2 per player). Clearly if we book the pitches we will need to use them (currently the Tuesday pitches are hardly ever fully booked). There will the administrative issue of dealing with the financial side of things.

In addition to this change in policy for the Tuesday and Friday pitches, I have also been informed that the charge would apply to the Thursday booking, although Catherine thought that someone booked this each Thursday morning using the 'free access policy'. Does anyone know how the Thursday pitch gets booked?

In the first instance I am just letting everyone know the situation, and invite responses and ideas.

Regards

Rog