Artificial pitch plan is lodged

A THRIVING youth centre in Hinckley has lodged plans to upgrade their artificial pitch.

Leaders of the Green Towers Hinckley Club 4 Young People hope to replace a grassed five-aside pitch with the modern, multi-purpose training area.

The aim is to provide more opportunities for youngsters in the borough to get involved with football and other sports and be able to play and train all year round.

A planning application has been submitted to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council.

An agent on behalf of Green Towers says in the submission: “The provision of the new external 3G artificial turf pitch will provide increased perfor- mance and usage in comparison to the existing area for the benefit of Green Towers Hinckley Club 4 Young People and its partner organisation and community groups during the daytime and the evenings.

“The grassroots football club complete a lot of their autumn and winter training at Hinckley Academy as the facilities at Green Towers are limited and cannot facilitate a number of the teams and age groups.”

The new pitch is seen as a boon not only to the club but to the community.

As well as the homegrown Green Towers teams, providing for more than 400 children aged three to 16, the facilities would be used by pupils from Dorothy Goodman, members of walking football clubs and the borough’s schools sports net- work.

The submission adds: “Consultation with Dorothy Goodman School staff is also ongoing and their needs to increase participation of students in physical activities, in particular students at the school are keen to develop their football skills and need a new, secure and quality facility to support this.

“We have also discussed with the co-ordinator at Hinckley and Bosworth school sport and physical activity network the possibility of expanding the use of the centre to more interschools sports events including the use of 3G facilities.

Proposals include perimeter fencing floodlights with state-of-the-art downlighters to prevent light pollution.

The application is yet to be considered by planning officials.