Pulse Barrow five-a-side football club blames council for closure

Fencing around the football pitches at Pulse Barrow

A sports club has blamed a local authority for the abrupt closure of its five-a-side football pitches.

Pulse Barrow, which operates the pitches in Barrow, closed on Tuesday citing "health and safety concerns".

A company spokesperson claimed Westmorland and Furness Council is responsible for pitch repairs and had "always been aware" of the issues.

The council has previously stated it had was not involved in the decision to close the pitches.

A spokesperson for Pulse Barrow said it had repeatedly asked the council to fix the pitches and a member of the council's sports department had advised they should be "closed immediately" due to their condition.

"The council still didn't act upon the advice given so Pulse had no option than to close the centre to prevent any further accidents happening," they said.

"The council are, and always have been, aware of the aware of the health and safety issues at the centre."

The company claimed the council is responsible for pitch repairs

Images posted by the football club online show sections of torn-up turf and damaged fencing panels around the pitches.

On Thursday councillor Niyall Phillips called on the local authority to create a robust maintenance plan to allow people to access the facilities.

"Hundreds of young people are now having to look for other venues to participate in their regular activities."

A spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council has previously said that although it owns the facility it did not make the decision to close the pitches.

The spokesperson added that it was not involved in the health and safety assessment of the grounds.

Barrow's MP Simon Fell said it was a "priority" to restore the pitches and his inbox had been inundated with emails from those who use the facilities.