THE deputy mayor of Launceston has welcomed news planning permission is being sought for a sports pitch — but urges ‘this new facility must be available to all local residents who would wish to hire it, and at a locally affordable hire charge’.

A report of sport in Launceston was put together by Cllr Dave Gordon, and received at the annual parish meeting in the town hall on April 18.

In this report Cllr Gordon referred to plans for the new floodlit artificial grass pitch.

The Post previously reported that Launceston College has been working with the Cornwall FA and the Football Foundation on plans for the pitch, on the college playing fields and below the tennis club.

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.

Cllr Gordon said: “In recent weeks the town council planning committee has received and supported an application from Launceston College. This is a welcomed and much needed addition to sporting facilities in Launceston, however, this new facility must be available to all local residents who would wish to hire it, and at a locally affordable hire charge.

“With many planning applications there are concerns regarding the additional parking spaces that would be needed on the site, but I am hopeful that this can be overcome by all parties concerned with compromise.

“Launceston falls short of sporting facilities compared to other towns in Cornwall of comparable size, but this addition will go someway to bridging that gap.”

The planning application is awaiting a decision from Cornwall Council.