New £600k football pitch approved - but keep off it

Tuesday 24 June 2014

Plans for a new artificial pitch at Springfield Stadium have been approved – along with a 3.2 metre fence to keep people off it.

Environment Minister Rob Duhamel has over-ruled his Planning panel, who rejected the plans last month, and has approved the plans.

The FA are going to stump up half the cost of the new 3G pitch, but would not have done so if the fence had not been in place. The cost of the development – which includes some landscaping and parking changes – has been estimated at £600,000.

Deputy Duhamel visited the site with a Planning Officer before making his decision.

In a statement released yesterday, he said: “With the changes agreed I am confident that Springfield Stadium will continue to offer an important community facility while catering for the changing needs of our sporting public.

“The creation of a 3G pitch will extend the stadium’s use for a wide variety of community, sporting and schools users and for the NatWest Island Games XVI – Jersey 2015.”