Football ground set to get artificial pitch

Newbury (in orange and black shirts) returned initially to Faraday Road last November

A football ground's grass pitch could be replaced by an artificial one as part of a council's £1.25m plan.

West Berkshire Council plans to replace the current playing surface at Faraday Road in Newbury with the 3G pitch in a proposal it hopes will generate £70,000 profit a year.

Football returned to the ground in November 2023 after it was destroyed by a fire in August 2021.

Newbury FC returned to Faraday Road in November 2024 after the club was evicted by West Berkshire Council in 2018 in a row over the site's potential redevelopment.

Work could start early next year if planning permission is granted, the council's current leader Jeff Brooks said.

Councillor Nigel Foot, portfolio holder for leisure, said: "Heavy rain can lead to the grass surface needing to be handled with care and not to be over-played, while exceptionally dry weather, such as we have had this summer, can mean the playing surface is so hard, it is unsafe for matches."

West Berkshire Council's executive approved the pitch replacement plan but it can be called in for further discussion by councillors until Friday.