Plans for a floodlit artificial football pitch in Northwich have been given the go ahead, despite concerns over lost opportunities for additional cricket provision.
Cheshire West and Chester Council’s planning chiefs rubber-stamped proposals to replace an existing grass pitch at the Moss Farm Sports and Leisure Complex with a new 3G artificial grass pitch (AGP).
The planning committee was told the complex currently has just one artificial pitch which is running at 97 per cent capacity.
The proposals - which were submitted by the council itself - are for a 106mx70m pitch along with spectator area.
Six, 15m-high LED floodlights replacing the existing eight floodlights, as well as fencing and additional car parking for 68 vehicles, bringing total provision at Moss Farm to 275.
The application said the new pitch will also provide training opportunities for local clubs who currently train at facilities that are not ideal, such as indoor sports halls, or have to train outside or up to nine miles away - which it said was causing 'significant issues' in neighbouring Winsford and Middlewich.
But concerns had been raised about the loss of a potential second cricket pitch.
The English Cricket Board (ECB) made an objection to Sport England - the government body responsible for grassroots sports - as the proposed AGP is on the site of a second cricket pitch.
It acknowledged the second cricket pitch had not been used for a while, but said Northwich Cricket Club had plans to bring it back into use.
But the committee was told the need for the 3G pitch 'outweighed' other considerations, with the application stating it would provide a good quality football facility that removed weather as a factor and ensured sports fixtures and general training are not cancelled due to adverse weather or ground conditions.
It said in addition, a football development programme would be implemented which would enable Cheshire Football Association programmes to be delivered including coaching, referee training, volunteering, women/girls football and disability football.
Committee member Cllr Gaynor Sinar, told the meeting: “Moss Farm is a particularly fantastic facility for the residents of Northwich and surrounding areas and the sooner this gets approved and put into action the better. It’s going to be of a benefit.”
The application said there was a current and future shortfall of 3G pitches that could only be met through increased provision. It said overuse of grass pitches was evident in Northwich and that an increase in 3G pitches could help reduce grass pitch shortfalls.
Committee member Cllr Stuart Bingham, told members: "I think it’s fantastic as well. The fact that we can invest in and develop sporting facilities in this day and age is brilliant. I wish we could do it across the borough but where we can do it. we should do it."
The 51-acre Moss Farm Leisure Complex is owned by Cheshire West and Chester Council and managed by Brio Leisure with sub-leases to sports clubs and other organisations.
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