Witham could get a £500,000 synthetic surface sports pitch.
If the plan goes ahead it will be laid next to the proposed £500,000 pavilion and changing rooms planned for Spinks Lane. The surface would adjoin the £2.5 million adult education centre which is being built next year on the same playing field.
Members of Braintree District Council's Witham area committee agreed on Tuesday to support a bid to obtain funding for the pitch from the Football Foundation New Opportunities Fund. The other buildings will be paid for by Essex County Council.
The floodlit pitch would be nearly 100 metres by more than 50 metres, surrounded by a three metre high fence, rising to five metres behind the goal posts.
The new facilities will be available to the John Bramston School during the day and to Bramston Sports Centre at other times.
Members heard access to the development will be from Spinks Lane. They hoped this would allay the fears of Stevens Road residents who had protested against the possibility of an increase of traffic along their narrow road.
Witham member Paul Heath said: ''It's something the town has been screaming out for for years. It's long overdue. I wish I had had facilities like this when I was playing 20 years ago."
Published Friday September 10, 2004
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article