Our nomination for Sixways Stadium to be recognised as an Asset of Community Value has been submitted to Wychavon District Council for consideration. There is now an obligatory consultation process with owners, tenants, interested parties and local councillors. Our presumption is that this will include the likes of Begbies Traynor Group, the listed directors of Stadium Limited, Worcester Warriors Women RFC, Worcester Raiders FC, Worcester City Women FC and Atlas Worcester Warriors Rugby Club Limited. All these parties have a right to respond with their views on our application. A report is then sent to the Localism and Community Funding Advisory Panel for their consideration. The Panel's view will then be taken into account when the Planning and Infrastructure board members at the council make their final decision on whether to list the stadium. We will hear of their decision before the end of October 2023.
Although the Worcester Warriors Supporters' Trust has made the nomination it is our belief that, in doing so, we are speaking not only on behalf of Warriors fans but also the wider population of Worcestershire and beyond.
These are the reasons we have given for our nomination; many thanks again to all who contributed their ideas:
We believe that Sixways Stadium has a unique place in the local community and has immense value to that community as:
A CENTRE OF SPORTING EXCELLENCE
The location has been a sporting venue since 1975 and was developed under the ownership of the late Cecil Duckworth CBE to become the only major sporting stadium in Worcestershire.
For many years, until their recent demise in 2022, it had been the home of the elite level men’s Rugby Club, Worcester Warriors, which played in the English Premiership and European Club competitions. The club hosted an RFU Academy and was a major hub for the development of young players with Player Development Programmes from the ages of 13 to 18, as well as Junior and Senior Academies. It also partnered with Stourport High School to provide a Diploma in Sporting Excellence Programme.
Many international rugby fixtures have been held at the facility including England Under-21s and England Women’s National team matches. The stadium has also hosted the English Premiership U21 Finals day, the Allianz 15s Premiership final, the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the Landrover Premiership Rugby Cup. These national competitions, attracting many visiting supporters, bring much needed revenue into the local community.
Sixways is also host to the annual Modus Challenge Cup between RGS Worcester and King’s School Worcester, a fixture now in its 16th year.
Worcester Warriors Women Rugby team still train and play all their home matches at Sixways. They currently play in the elite level Allianz premier 15s league.
It is also the home ground for Worcester Raiders FC and Worcester City Women FC who have both signed tenancy agreements for the 2023/24 season.
The stadium is the only 10k+ capacity sporting facility located in the area between the Birmingham conurbation to the North, Gloucester to the South, Northampton to the East and Wales to the West.
Whilst the stadium is currently used primarily for rugby union and football, it would be relatively easy to facilitate the growth of other team sports at Sixways to match popular public demand. For instance it has, in the past, been used to host American Football matches. Other growing and evolving sports such as Speed climbing, Bouldering, BMX/Mountain Biking and Skateboarding provide an opportunity to reinvent the stadium and its land as a beacon for sporting development.
We believe it is vitally important that the Sixways site remains as a centre of sporting excellence for the foreseeable future and beyond, especially considering the population growth envisaged in the Worcestershire South West Development Plan (SWDP).
THE SPIRITUAL HOME OF THE WARRIORS FOUNDATION
The Worcester Warriors Community Foundation, the charity founded by Cecil Duckworth CBE, exists to help build a legacy for sport, education, health and social cohesion across our communities. Until very recently the charity, which provides help for around 10,000 vulnerable people a year, was based at Sixways Stadium. They have had to reluctantly relocate because of the ongoing uncertainty about the ownership of the stadium but are keen to retain links and would like to renew their presence at Sixways, given an appropriate and sympathetic ownership.
A PLACE TO MEET FOR BUSINESS AND PLEASURE
The Sixways facility has been used for numerous community events over many years, including business exhibitions, firework displays, dinner-dances, Christmas parties and New Year celebrations. It is also registered as a wedding venue.
Many local and national businesses have regularly used the purpose-built meeting rooms at Sixways, which has the huge advantage of being centrally located in the UK, close to excellent road and rail links.
Sixways has hosted regular live, public screenings of major international sporting events including Six Nations Rugby, European Football Matches and Rugby World Cup Matches. Many music concerts and other community events such as jobs fairs, motoring meets (eg Wheels on Wednesdays) and themed nights have been held at the Stadium.
We believe there is a huge opportunity to attract and host many other community events such as Comic/Games Fairs, Car Boot Sales, and Trades & Antique Fairs. Other newer activities such as Gaming, Drone Racing and other e-sports could also be facilitated.
LOCAL EMPLOYER
The Sixways facility, when fully functional is a significant local employer with over 200 full time employees. On match days this number rises significantly with employment of temporary staff for the likes of security, stewarding, catering and bar service.
HEALTH PROMOTION
Sixways has already proved itself to be a valuable asset in the management of the health of our local community. During the Covid-19 pandemic the site acted as a vital testing facility, benefiting from its ease of access and large open parking areas. The Worcestershire Ambassadors have also used the stadium to host their annual PSA testing programme. Sixways has also been used as a training centre for numerous Health and Safety courses and as a centre for medical training used by the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust.
For many people a day out at Sixways to watch a match is all about the social interaction with others, whether that be hosting business colleagues, a day out with the grandchildren or simply a catch up with friends. Regulars such as Season Ticket Holders will inevitably build up a rapport with those sitting around them. We have heard many anecdotes of how these people become “a small family of friends.” There are numerous studies showing the positive benefits of socialisation including improvement in mood, lowering the risk of dementia, promoting the feelings of safety & belonging and the opportunity to confide in others. With mental health problems being such a concern nationwide, it is extremely important that we do not lose facilities that are so important in promoting social interaction.
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
Sixways has become a cultural and sporting hub, of which local people are extremely proud. The stadium has become synonymous with the legacy of Cecil Duckworth CBE. Cecil is perhaps the most significant resident of Worcestershire in recent times and it is incredibly important for many people to do all they can to protect his legacy.
We believe that the stadium's designation as an Asset of Community Value acknowledges its importance in fostering community spirit and recognises its importance in shaping the community's identity.
Recognition that Sixways Stadium is an Asset of Community Value may provide some protection from potential future development that might negatively impact on the local community.
Thanks to https://www.facebook.com/worcesterfromabove/ for the great photo
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