‘Worst’ pitch finally being repaired
Changes are set to be made
Last updated 25th Aug 2026
A sports pitch in Blackburn that has been plagued by anti-social behaviour and fire-setting for years is set to be resurfaced again, but this time with extra security measures.
The multi-purpose playing area at the top of Troy Street in Bastwell has been damaged by several incidents in recent years, with it being branded the town’s ‘worst pitch’ in 2022 due to its numerous worn-down or destroyed patches of astroturf.
Thousands of pounds from a UK Levelling Up fund grant were then secured to resurface and improve the pitch in 2024, but less than a year later and before work began, the pitch was further ruined by a fire that appeared to have been started using school books.
But repairs are finally about to begin, with Blackburn with Darwen Council signing off on up to £125,000 of further improvements and better security for the pitch, citing the ‘danger that the facility presents in its current state’.
In a decision from the council’s executive on Friday, the authority stated that it intends to turn the Brookhouse Primary School-owned pitch into a ‘robust’ and safe new sports facility for the local community.
The decision also admitted that the area has attracted ‘high levels of anti-social behaviour’, stating: “Although the Council’s attempts to secure the site have reduced the number of incidents, this has led to the school/community being unable to use the facility due to both health and safety and safeguarding concerns.”
At present, the Troy Street pitch is closed off to the public due to concerns about the danger posed by its damaged state, with the multi-purpose astroturf also rendered unusable to the primary school’s students.
But once the outdoor sports facility has been laid with a new 4g deluxe Playturf, alongside fresh basketball and netball hoops, the council has stated that it will need to find community ‘custodians’ to oversee the pitch outside of school hours.
This will involve beefing up security at the anti-social behaviour-plagued pitch, through the creation of a booking system to manage its out-of-hours use. However, at present, no custodian has been identified to secure the Troy Street games area.
The executive’s decision notes: “However, expressions of interest have been sought and these will be assessed, in due course.”
Bastwell and Daisyfield ward councillors Shakeel Choudhry and Rana Gulistan Khan had pressed Blackburn with Darwen in recent months why the long-awaited repairs to the pitch had not yet taken place.
Cllr Quesir Mahmood, Executive Member for Growth and Development, welcomed the upcoming regeneration of the Troy Street sports pitch, confirming that work should start in October and be completed in a matter of months.
Cllr Mahmood said: “We’ve got a plan, we’ve got a contractor, everything is lined up.
“It’s a 10 week work programme and when it is completed, the community will have a facility that they will be able to use out of hours. We worked hard to get the funding in place and now we are even closer to getting a much-needed facility for the residents.
“We look forward to that coming to fruition for the people of Blackburn with Darwen, and so that the residents of Bastwell and Daisyfield can use the facility for many more years.”