3G pitch extension in Rugeley given the green light
Football players can look forward to a larger artificial grass pitch and more car parking in Rugeley when they are able to return to more regular leisure activities.
Currently team games such as football are off the schedule for residents as the Government has brought in restrictions on mass gatherings in a bid to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
But Cannock Chase Council is carrying on despite the pandemic with its plans to improve facilities at Rugeley Centre – and on Wednesday a remote meeting of the planning committee gave the green light for a 3G artificial grass pitch (AGP) at the Burnthill Lane site.
Floodlighting, fencing, a storage container, access pathways and a floodlit car park extension are also part of the proposals approved when 15 planning committee members took part in a telephone conference instead of meeting in the council chamber at the Civic Centre.
An existing small sided 3G pitch is set to be enlarged to create a full sized 3G pitch. This will address the current shortfall of one 3G pitch identified in the council’s Playing Pitch Strategy, a report to the planning committee said.
The report added: “Sport England considers that the proposal meets a strategic need and it is designed to the relevant design guidance. Whilst the proposal will result in a short disruption for existing users the proposal will ultimately provide a facility that will help meet identified need and accommodate greater number of users.
“To ensure that the sports related benefits for the local community are secured a community use agreement (or extension of the existing joint use agreement for the leisure centre) needs to be secured to provide community access, including for local football clubs.”
A supporting statement submitted to the council in relation to the car parking plans said: “The current car park accommodates 125 car park bays, two bus bays and three parent and child spaces.
“This planning application proposes a car park extension which would provide an additional 44 car park bays. This will provide capacity to accommodate the new 3G pitch development.
“Whilst it is acknowledged that the proposed development is within greenbelt land, it is important to recognise that the car park extension is an integral element of this project. The design of the car park extension will be sympathetic to the overall aesthetics of the site.
“A levelling operation will form neatly shaped batters to ensure the car park blends in neatly with the surrounding land. Planting provision is proposed in order to offer a degree of screening to the car park.
“The extension will be located off the main access road on to the site, which currently leads into the existing car park area. The extension will not represent a significant change to what a reasonable area of the site is currently used for, ie car park provision.”
