New all-weather 3G football pitch for Longridge moves closer - here's what it would be like

The creation of a new all-weather pitch for footballers in Longridge has moved a step closer.

After an investment of £1.45m was approved last year by Ribble Valley Borough Council (RVBC) for the work at the Brian Holden Memorial Playing Field (formerly Mardale Playing Fields), a full planning application has now been entered.

If approved, it would mean the loss of a turf pitch for an artifical turf pitch (ATP), which would provide a playing area of 91 x 55m with additional FA recommended 3m safety run off and shock pad system.

The proposal would also see the installation of goal storage/spectator areas around the pitch, a storage container to house pitch maintenance equipment, a new twin bar panel fencing system 4.5m (maximum) high around the surround of the pitch, and a LED floodlighting system.

FA standard

The facility is designed to meet the FIFA Quality Performance Standard, for admittance to the FA Register to host league games. The pitch could support at any one time, one 11v11 match, one 9v9 match, two 7v7 matches, and four 5v5 matches.

A planning statement says: “The proposals will result in the loss of a natural turf playing pitch, however the provision of the new STP (synthetic turf pitch) will provide increased potential usage in comparison to the existing natural turf surfaced pitch, for benefit of current and potential future users of the facility, both during the day and evenings / weekends via pre-arranged and structured community access.

“Synthetic Turf Pitches are more durable compared to natural turf, especially during winter weather conditions, which offers increased opportunity for sports use to improve the health and wellbeing of the local community. The proposed facility will offer a variety of football pitch sizes and training areas suitable for a range of age groups within the same enclosed playing space. This supports grassroots sport development plans as well as meaning the pitch can cater for a wide array of potential users (in comparison to the existing pitch).”

The proposed hours of use for the development are 8am to 10pm on all days.

How would it look?

The proposed pitch surface will be a long pile length, tufted synthetic turf, coloured grass green, partially in-filled with stabilising and performance material. New ball stop fencing will be installed around the perimeter of the pitch. This includes 4.5m high twin bar panel fencing, with noise reducing dampeners, finished to a dark green colour.

LED floodlighting will be installed, comprising of six 15m high columns fitted with a total of 12 Philips OptiVision LED gen3.5 floodlights. The lighting system will be operated during evenings of permitted use, after dusk, and up to the approved curfew hour.

A new Emergency & Maintenance Vehicle/Pedestrian access route is proposed to provide access from the existing car park to the proposed STP. A new pedestrian pathway will connect the spectator area of the pitch to the car park.

A planning statment adds that “Participation in football remains strong across Ribble Valley, with a large number of affiliated junior, youth and adult teams operating within the Borough and surrounding areas” and that the proposal “would increase local playing capacity, reduce pressure on existing grass pitches across the Borough and support the strategic objectives of Ribble Valley Borough Council, the Football Association and Sport England in delivering sustainable, high-quality sports infrastructure.”

A decision will be made in coming weeks by RVBC.

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