Call for 3G pitch safety probe
AN MSP has called for the Scottish Government to investigate the state of Scotland’s 3G artificial pitches, in the wake of calls for a ban due to health and environmental concerns.
Last week, The Herald reported the findings of Professor Andrew Watterson of the University of Stirling, which advised Scotland should follow the European Union, which last year banned the use of 3G “crumb rubber” infill in sports pitches from 2031.
Yesterday at First Minister’s Questions, Scottish Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr asked: “Do we know exactly how many pitches there are, or indeed where they are?
Will the First Minister commit the Scottish Government to co-ordinate and work with local authorities to determine the state of artificial pitches across Scotland and to publish the results?”
Prof Watterson’s report also called on the Scottish Government to “issue new guidance on crumb rubber health and environmental hazards to schools, sports bodies and local authorities based on existing European Union information and decisions”.
The government should also, it said, “examine purchasing and supply chain actions and funding restrictions possible to stop the installation of any new 3G pitches across Scotland now”.
Prof Watterson told the Herald: “We know that many chemicals in the crumb are a hazard. We know it contains substances that are carcinogenic, we know they may be teratogens and cause birth defects.”
He described the Scottish Government as “dithering”. “Scottish Government and local authorities could act immediately and stop funding the use of crumb rubber infills in new pitches and start planning on using alternative infills as well as increasing natural grass pitch development,” he said.
Prof Watterson’s report refers to “3G” pitches that use crumb rubber infill made from shredded “end-oflife” tyres.
At First Minister’s Questions, Mr
Kerr asked what actions the Scottish Government plans to take following the study. First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “We will, of course, give full consideration to the research in this area and we are supportive of efforts to examine evidence that has been commissioned by DEFRA on the wider impacts of microplastics.
“This report, expected early next year, will be material in helping shape regulation in this very area. One factor which will also help to shape our future action is the work of the EU on the phase out of rubber crumb in 2031. Sportscotland is also working with others to explore alternative artificial pitch systems and more suitable infill products to replace the spread of microplastics in the environment.”
Responding to Mr Kerr’s call, Prof Watterson said: “It is remarkable, that the Scottish Government can’t say now how many pitches there are, and where, considering the debate about them has been going on for years.
“The Scottish Government appears to lack confidence in its own agencies and advisors – SEPA, Public Health Scotland – and its own scientific civil servants, to make a judgment on microplastics. The Sepa-commissioned report on marine pollution and plastics should have been acted on to control the problem years ago.”