70 Dudley sports pitches not up to scratch

An investigation has found that only 87 of 167 pitches were found to be average or above condition and 70 were rated poor.

It comes as council chiefs revealed a scheme, worth up to £2 million, to create three new all-weather pitches to boost sports and fitness opportunities for adults and children.

But campaigners are urging for action over existing pitches.

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It comes after pitch hire fees were increased by two per cent this year - but only after a campaign by teams halted council plans to raise prices by 40 per cent.

Four pitches on King George V playing fields at Wordsley Park were among those found to be in a poor state, three of which are 'badly sloped'.

The report said changing facilities at the site were 'unsuitable for youth and female use'.

At Greenfields by Kingswinford Community Centre, the two adult football pitches are both rated as poor and are surrounded by overhanging trees.

Brian Sutton, a representative of the Dudley and Cradley Heath Football League who also sits on an advisory group to the council called Dudley Football Forum, said: "Money has not been spent on these pitches for years.

"That's why they are in the state they are in now."

New artificial grass pitches would be created at The Dell Stadium, in Pensnett, on land near Dudley College campus' off Priory Road and on land at Hillcrest School, in Netherton.

Money for new pitches will be sourced by the council from outside bodies such as the Football Association and talks are ongoing.

Dudley councillor Khurshid Ahmed, who is in charge of the borough's economic development, said: "We are passionate about encouraging people to lead healthy and active lifestyles through sport and the teams that play on pitches around the borough are a perfect example of this.

"We have to balance this with the significant cuts to our funding from national government, but we are working closer than ever with community groups to look at ways of delivering services differently.

"We have recently developed the playing pitch strategy to look at ways of getting the best out of the pitches and help bring in more external funding to improve access, identify more community use and improve the pitches themselves.

"We welcome feedback from people about priority areas that need looking at.

"We are already investigating the potential for extra funding from the FA to improve pitches in three areas of the borough, and welcome the opportunity to work with the community to attract more funding."