PLANS for a new £700,000 floodlit 3G football turf pitch in Launceston could soon become a reality.

Launceston College has been working with the Cornwall FA and the Football Foundation on the refurbishment of the existing redgra area, which is opposite the tennis courts and next to the current MUGA, to form a new 97 x 61-metre 3G community football artificial grass pitch, which will include new fencing, floodlighting, hardstandings and a car parking area.

The college hopes that the provision will allow local clubs and businesses to have access to a high quality sports area, which will be available all-year round, regardless of the weather. The facility will be available for adult, youth, girls, disability and walking football as well as to local clubs for other sports and activities.

Launceston College principal, Bryan Maywood, said: “I think that there’s been a real need for a 3G pitch in Launceston for a while. At the moment there’s just the MUGA pitch but we need something bigger to meet the demands of the community.

“Bill Glen (former Launceston College senior teacher) and Yvonne King from Southgate Colts Football Club looked into getting funding to begin with, but about a year ago, the Cornwall FA got serious about the idea.

“The Football Foundation, Cornwall FA and ourselves sat down and started talking about it in a serious way and it’s moved on from there.

“It will be built on the current disused redgra pitch and it would be the size of a full-size under 16 pitch.”

The funding of the new 3G pitch will come from three sources; the Football Foundation will pay for around two-thirds of the project provided the application meets certain criteria, £104,650 will come through Wainhomes’ Withnoe Farm housing development project in the town, while the college has to come up with the rest, which totals to around £150,000.

Cornwall Councillor for Launceston South, Jade Farrington, who worked with Cornwall Council and Wainhomes to obtain the funding from the Withnoe Farm project, said: “When large scale developments are applied for (such as Withnoe Farm), the developers have to build or contribute towards facilities such as play parks, affordable housing, pedestrian and cycling links, and education. This all gets written into a legal section 106 agreement (of the Town and County Planning Act 1990) and the money has to be spent on its agreed purpose.

“Launceston has lots of public open space for a town of its size, but fewer sports pitches than you would expect. Launceston College’s plans to bring a 3G pitch to the town for community use is fantastic news and should make a huge difference to the sporting chances and opportunities available locally. I hope the rest of the community will rally round and support them in their push for the final pieces of funding.”

Mr Maywood is calling on the local community to support the application, which will be sent in early April.

Mr Maywood said: “The company Robinson Low Francis (RLF), who are construction and property consultants, are used by the Football Foundation to ensure the quality and standard of any proposed build are of an equitable standard. They also look for a suitable tender to build it.

“But before that we’ve got to provide evidence to the Football Foundation that there’s a proper need for it and that we’re going to develop a sporting provision.

“We’ve sent out a letter to many local football clubs and sports clubs asking what they’d want from it and how many hours per week they’d potentially want to use it.

“The deadline for the final application to the Football Foundation is in April and that has to show there’s a need in the community and that it fulfils the targets they have, such as the emphasis on its usage and impact on the increasing football participation.

“We should find out in July whether we’ve been successful and then we could potentially start work by October but that’d depend on a number of factors. However it would be disappointing if there wasn’t a provision available by Easter 2019.”

Another part of the deal with the Football Foundation is that the college has to ensure that the project is sustainable.

Mr Maywood said: “We have to prove to the Football Foundation that it’s a long-term project and as part of that, the proviso is regarding the refurbishment of the carpet (3G pitch turf).

“We’ve got to raise around £25,000 a year for ten years to ensure that wear and tear from use can be repaired. We need to provide clear evidence to the Football Foundation that it’s a long-term thing.

“We’re delighted to be over 40% of the way to the overall target but over the next few months the college will be leading some sponsorship events to help secure this facility.”

Looking ahead, Mr Maywood has high hopes for the facility and hopes it will become a key sporting arena for the local area.

He said: “We’ve already got support from Plymouth Argyle. They’ve promised to support to help us with the Sports Development Plan, which includes primary schools and local football clubs.

“In the long run it’d be great to be able to host regional matches and bigger competitions and become a hub for sport in North Cornwall. We’re really excited; it would be great to have such a first-class facility in Launceston.”

To find out more about the project or to get involved, email [email protected]