Braintree District Council is investing in new smart locking technology at the community football pitches in Great Notley Country Park.
This will enhance security, improve access, and strengthen day to day management of the facilities.
The Smart Digital Locks project has been supported with £9,685 from the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The current manual key system is outdated and has led to security concerns, administrative delays, and occasional access issues for users. Installing smart locks at the 3G and MUGA sites will modernise the way these facilities are managed and help eliminate these challenges.
The new digital system will enable remote monitoring and management, reduce the risk of unauthorised access, and remove the need for staff to manually lock and unlock gates for prebooked sessions. Coaches and community groups will receive secure, time limited access codes for their bookings, making it easier and more efficient to use the pitches.
These upgrades will provide a more flexible, secure and sustainable approach to managing a high use community facility while supporting the council’s commitment to delivering modern, accessible and well maintained public spaces.
Cllr Tom Cunningham, Cabinet Member for Transformation, the Environment and Customer Services, and Deputy Leader at Braintree District Council, said: “This digital upgrade will help protect the pitches, reduce disruption, and ensure that local sports clubs and community groups can continue to enjoy high quality, reliable spaces for years to come.”
To carry out the works safely, the facilities will be closed for two weeks from 2 March 2026, and all bookings will be paused during this period. The council thanks residents for their patience while these improvements are completed.