Preston Harriers and Uclan

[Symon]

I was hoping to find out from my own club how Uclan justify their own charges for the use of the athletics track.

It’s great that Harriers and Uclan have organised a deal during winter months, where we pay £2 for track use and train but once it comes to summer, why is it that Uclan can charge £5 for a day pass when we only get to use it for a couple hours... an hour on Tuesdays if we are lucky, since the footballers take priority at 8pm for the centre use of the track. (even though there is a load of pitches free.)

So basically they are saying; £5 for 60 mins use of a track. The permits are not much either.. £80 for 6 months use?! Like I say.. I have no problem paying the fees if I can see where the money is going.

We use battered hurdles that have seen better days and even on their website they brag its an 8 lane "International standard" athletics track. Safe to say they didn't even mention the back straight 100m that’s been dug up and patch replaced.

When you have facilities like Sportcity that charge £3 or so to use the indoor/outdoor... its hard to digest why Preston are being taken to the cleaners by Uclan. Uclan might say 'its for the flood lights being on' but sometimes I have seen myself and been told from other training groups that the lights are lit but nobody is using the track?!

Really not trying to start an argument here, but purely to understand how this system works and how it can benefit everyone at the track, as I know I speak for many who are too shy or scared to speak about the subject. I want to win another league title for my club but when you have steep unjustified charges, making training appearances become an issue.

Thanks guys!

Symon

Senior Preston Harriers sprinter

[stevemort]

Hi Symon,

We passed your comments onto UCLan and below is a response

Steve Mort


Permit Costs:
Adult Athletics Season Permit: £80
Valid from 1st April – 30th Sept and entitles the Athlete to use the track as many times as they wish during the following opening hours:

Mon – Thurs: 9am – 10pm
Fri: 9am – 7pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 5pm

If an Athlete trains for the following amount per week it equates to the following value:

(£80 / 26 weeks)

1 x Visit = £3.08 per week
2 x Visit = £1.54 per week
3 x Visit = £1.02 per week
And so on….

Adult Athletics Day Permit: £5
Allows an Athlete to train during the above dates/opening hours at £5 per DAY (not 60mins as mentioned!!).

During the above dates/opening hours Athletics has priority and no use of the infield is permitted by football/rugby etc.
The Infield is only utilised for other sports during Oct – Mar from 8pm (as part of the Winter Agreement with the Preston Harriers).

The above Prices have also been frozen for 3 years.


Floodlight Usage:
Floodlight usage is managed in accordance with the Winter Agreement with Preston Harriers. The lights are turned on when the designated member of the Club signs out the Track Keys and turned off when the Track Keys are signed back in (unless use of the Infield is taking place eg. Football training, Student usage etc).
This has proved to be a cost effective operational procedure and is the nucleus of the Winter Agreement incorporating winter training restrictions, use of the Infield and diversification of the use of the Athletics Track.
Very rarely is the Track lit without anybody using it, it may sometimes look empty, but……………. If you look very carefully Paul Noblett is normally hiding in the corner getting the hurdles out!


Track/Equipment:
The Track is currently UKA – Class A Certified (the highest standard we can achieve without popping a big Stadium around us!!). Each year we have an annual assessment from UKA and we are highly commended for the standards of our facility and equipment.
All equipment is of UKA standards, however…………
I will concede that the Adult Training Hurdles have seen better days. Each area of the Track is continually assessed and prioritised for upgrade etc………. and new competition hurdles have been ear-marked for next season. Current competition hurdles will then be utilised as Training hurdles, furthermore increasing the quality of equipment available to Athletes.
N.B. 20 new lightweight hurdles are currently on order to replace the blue/red training hurdles situated near the store for this season.

UCLan has also invested heavily in the repair of the running track. Recent works included full re-surfacing of Lanes 1&2, repair work to 100m Start area, repair work to 200m Start area, repair work to SC Water jump area and also rectifying the awful re-surfacing that had taken place on the 100m straight (Store side of the Track). This investment will pro-long the life of the Track and also retains our Class-A certification.

The Throwing Cage is currently being assessed for upgrade as part of our continuous investment……. Current quote is £30,000………ouch!


Facts/Figures:
Whilst I am restricted with the financial information I can provide for public knowledge…………. I can confirm in the last 3 years alone UCLan have invested over £70,000 into the Track.
This expenditure consists of:
· Full re-surface of lanes 1&2 and all other areas of repair
· Full re-marking of the Track
· Full clean and treatment of Track
· Annual equipment orders – Javelins, Hammers, Discus, Shot, HJ Stands etc (all to UKA/IAAF specifications)
· New Pole Vault bed
· New Pole Vault Shelter
· New High Jump Bed
· Installation of new Cabin and Disability ramp
· Adjustments to Throwing Circles to in-corporate Disability Events
· Upgrade of PA System

Further expenditure must also be considered (listed below) that UCLan subsidises on top of the above investment:
· Floodlight usage
· Running costs
· Staffing costs
· Maintenance/repair costs
· Service Level Agreements and Internal Re-Charges
· Damaged equipment and replacements


Moving forward, UCLan and Preston Harriers currently have a fantastic working relationship, and long may that continue. Every Club member is a valued customer and my aim is to provide a top class facility at an affordable rate.
May I take this opportunity to wish all Preston Harriers Members all the best for the 2013 Season.

Thanks

Richard Bell

Duty Manager
UCLan Sports Arena

[Symon]

So basically Preston harriers have not answered the question, just simply passed over to Uclan to do any the answers. ok.. just clearing that one up.

Throwing in prices doesn't change anything. I have been with Preston along time and its always the same of promising things that never happen to hide over the facts.

I know I am replying to an empty message and it will be brushed aside, but I don't understand why we don't have an agreement for the summer months. Harriers and Uclan with a set price and a fee for everybody else as a guest.

Well... I can't wait to use our top rated UKA class A Certified track this week.

The £5 day pass is for 60 mins in a way, as I don't use the track the whole day. Some have uni, some have work. why is there not an option for this like in winter?!

Preston want a decent turn up and performances from their athletes, but as soon as we speak out, nothing.

[mackers]

Was only £80 per year a few year back. Then uclan got greedy.
I voted with my feet. No way I'm paying , there's 4 of us.
What happen to the deal harriers had with Preston council

[Stephen Bennett]

One of the issues Mr Bell highlighted about the resurfacing of lanes 1 and 2 may have been to some extent self inflicted by UCLan. Their insistence on closing both these lanes in the winter months and placing heavy advertising blocks over the rubberized surface probably wasn't the best idea. It left dints and divets in both lanes. I remember the surface was pretty good for running on prior to that and didn't really need anything doing to it.... So that doesn't really stack up with me.

My issue is the inflated prices they charge for a day pass. I highlight the word day because no one uses a track all day. People have jobs to go to and things to do. I did 10 x 200m this morning which lasted all but 13 minutes and 33 seconds for a fiver... That's quite a bit for the time I was on there and it certainly kept me away from the track over winter. Why not have an hour pass for £2.50 or something similar? It makes a lot more logical sense....

I know they've got to cover their overheads etc etc. But you'd think the student fee's of 9k a year would cover some of it? They did at Loughborough..... Either way I'll cough up the coin because I love the sport, it just seems UCLans morals have got a bit lost along the way. I remember when it was £2 to get on... Inflation hasn't gone up that much in the 5 or so years I've been running...

[Stephen Bennett]

After having a further read of Mr Bells response it left me questioning what will happen when UCLan spend 30k on a new cage? Not saying that it couldn't do with an upgrade or anything like that - I'm just concerned that it'll justify him popping another quid on an already inflated day pass, or adding another 10 on a yearly pass.... That is not the correct way to run a business in my eyes. If he's so bothered about doing things in phases, i.e. the hurdle replacement. Why doesn't he plan his budget accordingly so that he can cover his costs and keep pricing competitive... Ahhh well.

[Symon]

I'm glad you see the problem Ste. Harriers have already lost most of the sprinters for the season due to the costs being too much. So come the weekend league matches, they don't want to do them, not race ready.

I've spoken to Wigan, Blackburn, Bolton, Blackpool, loughborough and sportcity Manchester. We out do them on cost for the day pass on facilities.

Whats ashame is that its very money driven with little put back into the sport. Uclan have no ambition for sports. Their prices are evidence of that. I speak out about this because i care about the athletes that run for Preston...

[Stephen Bennett]

Just to add emphasis to the cost difference at UCLan to somewhere such as Loughborough. I had access to all aspects of the facilities for £20 a year with an LSAC membership. Not £4 a day or £160 for a year... £20 quid....

[Symon]

After speaking to the Centre manager's for each athletics track only, here is what I came back with:

Sportcity - £2.80 (includ indoor track)
loughborough - £3.50 (International sports facility inc indoor track)
Trafford - £3.80
Wigan - £3.50
Blackpool - £3.25
Blackburn - £2.50
Preston - £5.00

Most clubs of our statue and same facilities without making it an essay, cost around £3. In terms of facilities, we prob rank the lowest but cost the most.

Sport City Manchester operate on a system that works for the athletes and still manage the upkeep of the indoor plus outdoor track, not to mention the stand maintenance and don't refuse blocks for athletes to use which Preston Uclan do.

It's got to a point for me that I'm thinking of ending my track season now and not compete for Preston due to track costs. 4 of my group have already quit due to this also.

I don't know what else to say, I just want a lil support for us guys.

I await your reply Preston....

[1]

are you all paid up members of preston harriers or does that not matter