Councillors approve pitch floodlights

The wider project is backed by £22.4m of government funding

Plans to install pitch flood-lights and refurbish a pavilion in south Hereford have been given the go-ahead by councillors.

The scheme at Belmont Wanderers' new 3G sports pitch is part of the Southside project.

One of the 15 Stronger Hereford projects, it is backed by £22.4m of government funding, with the aim of creating a mix of sporting and horticultural facilities on about nine hectares (22 acres) of open land along the Great Western Way footpath.

Newton Farm ward councillor Jacqui Carwardine said there had recently been "phenomenal" growth of the club's youth sides who would now benefit from the facilities.

"If this wasn't on my patch, I would have a lot more anti-social behaviour to deal with," she said.

One city resident, Owen Jenkins, said he "worried about the potential impact on local wildlife, especially the bats and owls that nest in the nearby trees" from the new lights.

But planning officer Heather Carlisle said the council's ecologist had not objected, adding: "Modern floodlighting is highly directional, and far less intrusive to the wider area," and would cease at the pitch at 22:00.

Councillors voted unanimously to approve the plans, which had been put forward by Growing Local, a community interest company and partner in the project.

Its project manager Louisa Foti said construction of the all-weather flood-lit pitch would soon begin alongside preparation of adjacent conventional grass pitches.

Growing Local meanwhile plans more facilities of its own including an on-site cafe, cook studio, vegetable cold store and volunteer facilities.

"For some children, coming here has been life-changing," Ms Foti said.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.